Stanthorpe

Stanthorpe is a rural town and locality in the Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia.

Stanthorpe is a rural town and locality in the Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Stanthorpe had a population of 5,406 people.The area surrounding the town is known as the Granite Belt.

Prior to white settlement, The Kambuwal were an indigenous Australian people of the state of Queensland. Norman Tindale estimated that the Kambuwal's territory stretched over some 3,700 square miles (9,600 km2). They straddled the border between Queensland and New South Wales, from south of Millmerran, and Inglewood to Bonshaw.[1] Their eastern flank ended around Stanthorpe, Wallangarra and the western scarp of the Great Dividing Range.[1]

Stanthorpe was founded by tin miners. People came from many countries to mine tin from 1872. Prior to 1872 this area boasted some large pastoral runs and a few prospectors in bark huts.At that time, the area was known as 'Quart Pot Creek'. The Private Township of Stannum existed in the area along one side of the present main street. With the discovery of tin and the influx of miners and new businesses, a 'more suitable' name was sought by the town fathers. Thus, Stanthorpe became the name which encompassed all, as this area became for a time, the largest alluvial tin mining and mineral field in Queensland. Stanthorpe literally means 'tintown', as Stannum is Latin for 'tin' and thorpe is Middle English for 'village'. The Queensland Surveyor General, Augustus Charles Gregory, is credited with coining the name in 1872.When the tin prices fell, many miners turned to farming. The subtropical highland climate was very suitable for growing cool climate fruits and vegetables. Grapes were first planted here in the 1860s with encouragement from the local Catholic parish priest Father Jerome Davadi to produce altar wine. His Italian descent made grape growing and wine production a familiar pastime and the notion caught on in the area. There were plenty of Italian settlers and wine was made for home enjoyment.

Mount Marlay was namedafter Edward Marlay, a selector and tin miner. On 3 July 1872 he purchased Allotment 1, Section 1in the Town of Stanthorpe.St Joseph's Catholic School was established in October 1872 by four Sisters of Mercy: Sisters M Agnes, Emilian, Muredach and Malachy.Stanthorpe State School opened on 9 March 1874.The railway reached Stanthorpe in May 1881.The Post Office with a clock tower and an elaborate coat of arms was constructed in Maryland Street in 1901 in the Arts and Crafts style. Following Federation, the Commonwealth Government took charge of post and telegraphic services. However, they contracted the construction of post offices in Queensland to the Public Works Department of the Queensland Government and the Stanthorpe Post Office is believed to be one of the first ordered by the Commonwealth Government. It was designed by the first Commonwealth Government Architect John Smith Murdoch.The cool dry climate was valued as an aid to health from the early nineteenth century especially for those suffering from tuberculosis or chest conditions. Following the First World War, Stanthorpe was a major resettlement area for soldiers recovering from mustard gas exposure. Many of these Soldier Settlers took up the land leased to them in the areas around Stanthorpe which now bear the names of First World War battlefields.

Stanthorpe State High School opened on 23 January 1961.Stanthorpe Adventist Primary School opened on 25 January 1982 and closed on 2002.The College of Wine Tourism was opened in 2007.In the 2016 census, Stanthorpe had a population of 5,406 people.

Owing to its elevation, Stanthorpe features a subtropical highland climate (Cfb). At an altitude of 811 metres (2,661 ft), Stanthorpe holds the record for the lowest temperature recorded in Queensland at -10.6 °C (12.9 °F) on 23 June 1961. Sleet and light snowfalls are occasionally recorded, with the most significant snowfall in over 30 years occurring on 17 July 2015.

Stanthorpe and the surrounding Granite Belt and Granite Highlands area of South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales are the centre of a booming winery and national parks tourist destination. There are more than 50 wineries in the Granite Belt area. The Granite Belt national parks are Girraween, Bald Rock, Sundown, and Boonoo Boonoo. The region operates its own wine and tourism marketing body named Granite Belt Wine Country.

There is a wide range of restaurants, accommodation places and other tourist venues. Backpacking is popular and there is large demand for fruit and vegetable pickers from November until May each year.Several private art galleries operate in Stanthorpe including the Glen Aplin Art Gallery which supports emerging artists and musicians who wish to display new works and perform at public functions.Storm King Dam offers some good angling opportunities for Murray cod, yellowbelly and silver perch.