Rubyvale, Queensland
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2016}}
{{GeoGroup}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = town
| name = Rubyvale
| state = qld
| image = Rubyvale-gemfields-outback-queensland-australia.jpg
| caption = Main street of Rubyvale
| coordinates = {{coord|-23.4191|147.6983|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title|name=Rubyvale (town centre)}}
| pop = 518
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| established =
| area = 337.1
| postcode = 4702
| timezone = AEST
| utc = +10:00
| dist1 = 62.1
| dir1 = WNW
| location1 = Emerald
| dist2 = 332
| dir2 = W
| location2 = Rockhampton
| dist3 = 894
| dir3 = NW
| location3 = Brisbane
| lga = Central Highlands Region
| stategov = Gregory
| fedgov = Flynn
| elevation =
| maxtemp =
| mintemp =
| rainfall =
| near-n = Argyll
| near-ne = Carbine Creek
| near-e = Fork Lagoons
| near-se = Sapphire Central
| near-s = Anakie Siding
| near-sw = Willows
| near-w = Argyll
| near-nw = Argyll
}}
Rubyvale is a rural town and locality in the Central Highlands Region, Queensland, Australia.{{cite QPN|29264|Rubyvale|town in Central Highlands Region|accessdate=17 July 2020}}{{Cite QPN|50496|Rubyvale|locality in the Central Highlands Region|accessdate=17 July 2020}} In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the town of Rubyvale had a population of 518 people.
Rubyvale was one of three towns within the locality of The Gemfields (the others being Sapphire and Anakie) until 17 April 2020, when the Queensland Government decided to replace The Gemfields with three new localities (Rubyvale, Sapphire Central and Anakie Siding) based around each of the three towns respectively. The boundaries of Argyll were also modified to accommodate the introduction of the locality of Rubyvale with an area of {{Convert|337.1|km2||abbr=}}.{{Cite web|date=17 April 2020|title=Recent place name decisions: Job number 18-115: The Gemfields|url=https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/title/place-names/proposals-decisions/decisions#18-115|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717022359/https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/title/place-names/proposals-decisions/decisions#18-115|archive-date=17 July 2020|access-date=17 July 2020|publisher=Queensland Government}}{{Cite web|date=2019|title=Proposed Locality Boundaries and Names: Anakie Siding, Argyll, Emerald, Gindie, Lochington, Minerva, Rubyvale and Sapphire Central|url=https://www.dnrme.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/1457327/18115-qpn1401-proposed.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717023517/https://www.dnrme.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/1457327/18115-qpn1401-proposed.pdf|archive-date=17 July 2020|access-date=17 July 2020|publisher=Queensland Government}}{{Cite web|date=17 April 2020|title=Locality Boundaries and Names: Anakie Siding, Argyll, Emerald, Gindie, Lochington, Minerva, Rubyvale and Sapphire Central|url=https://www.dnrme.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1478741/18115-qpn1401-decision.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717024018/https://www.dnrme.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1478741/18115-qpn1401-decision.pdf|archive-date=17 July 2020|access-date=17 July 2020|publisher=Queensland Government}}
Geography
The town is located near the south-east boundary of the locality.{{Queensland Globe|accessdate=17 July 2020}} The town is approximately {{convert|61|km|mi}} west of Emerald. Sapphires are mined extensively in the area.
History
The name Rubyvale derives from a ruby weighing {{convert|5 to 6|dwt}} found near the town by miner William Dunn in the early 1900s. Dunn was very proud of the ruby and did not sell it but showed it to people he trusted; after his death the ruby could not be found.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50044996 |title=The State's mystery town of wealth |newspaper=The Courier-mail |location=Queensland, Australia |date=18 November 1950 |access-date=23 April 2020 |page=2 |via=Trove }}
Rubyvale Provisional School opened on 19 October 1908. On 1 January 1909 it became Rubyvale State School. It closed in 1963.{{Citation|author1=Queensland Family History Society|title=Queensland schools past and present|publication-date=2010|edition=Version 1.01|publisher=Queensland Family History Society|isbn=978-1-921171-26-0}}
Rubyvale was one of three towns within the locality of The Gemfields (the others being Sapphire and Anakie) until 17 April 2020, when the Queensland Government decided to replace The Gemfields with three new localities (Rubyvale, Sapphire Central and Anakie Siding) based around each of the three towns respectively. The boundaries of Argyll were also modified to accommodate the introduction of the locality of Rubyvale with an area of {{Convert|337.1|km2||abbr=}}.
Demographics
In the {{CensusAU|2006}}, the town of Rubyvale had a population of 510 people.{{Census 2006 AUS|id=UCL349600|name=Rubyvale (UCL) (Urban Centre/Locality)|accessdate=21 July 2009|quick=on}}
In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the town of Rubyvale had a population of 640 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=UCL321097|name=Rubyvale (UCL) (Urban Centre/Locality)|accessdate=22 February 2020|quick=on}}
In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the town of Rubyvale had a population of 518 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=UCL321089|name=Rubyvale (UCL) (Urban Centre/Locality)|accessdate=18 June 2024|quick=on}}
Amenities
Rubyvale has a convenience store/news agents, post office, hotel and take-away bottle shop, as well as a variety of accommodation and fossicking areas. Some popular places to go fossicking are the Bob n John Mine, Bobby Dazzler and Pats Gems.
The Central Highlands Regional Council operates a public library at 7 Burridge Road ({{Coord|-23.4200|147.6998|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Rubyvale library}}).{{Cite web|url=http://www.centralhighlands.qld.gov.au/facilities-recreation/libraries/locations/|title=Locations|website=Central Highlands Regional Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131041006/http://www.centralhighlands.qld.gov.au/facilities-recreation/libraries/locations/|archive-date=31 January 2018|url-status=live|access-date=31 January 2018}}
Education
Climate
The area can get up to {{convert|40|C}} during summer, and can reach {{convert|0|C}} in winter.
Heritage listings
Rubyvale has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- Argyll (but nearest town is Rubyvale): Tomahawk Creek Huts{{cite QHR|29257|Tomahawk Creek Huts|602661|accessdate=7 July 2013}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite book |title=And then there was one : Anakie 1885-1985. |vauthors=((Anakie State School.)) |date=1984 |publisher=Anakie State School}} — via [https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/tqqf2h/alma997643424702061 State Library of Queensland]. Includes Sapphire State School, Rubyvale State School, Bogantungan State School, Lochington State School, Taroborah Provisional School, and Withersfield State School.
External links
{{commons category|Rubyvale, Queensland}}
- {{cite web|url=http://queenslandplaces.com.au/rubyvale|title=Rubyvale|website=Queensland Places|publisher=University of Queensland}}
- [http://cqgemfields.nqld.net/Rubyvale.htm Map and facilities list]
- [http://www.gemfields.com/ A Gemfields home page]
{{Central Highlands Region}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Mining towns in Queensland