Middle Ridge, Queensland

Middle Ridge is located 6 kilometres (4 mi) from the Toowoomba city centre.

The Great Dividing Range passes through Middle Ridge from the north-west to the south-east. The area west of the range is on the Darling Downs at 660 to 670 metres (2,170 to 2,200 ft) above sea level and is a residential area. The area east of the range falls rapidly to as low as 420 metres (1,380 ft) above sea level.^[3]

Middle Ridge was named in the 1860s, as the area between East and West Creeks where the teamsters who camped at Toowoomba turned their teams loose to graze.^[2]

The Shire of Middle Ridge, a local government area, existed from 1880 to 1917.^[4][5] The shire's centre was at the intersection of Stenner and Hume Streets (27.5934°S 151.9521°E / -27.5934; 151.9521 (Intersection of Hume Street and Stenner Street, Middle Ridge (centre of the historical Shire of Middle Ridge))) now the north-western corner of the locality of Middle Ridge where there was the shire hall, the school and a church.^[6]

Middle Ridge State School opened on 27 May 1884.^[7]

Between 1958 and 1961 three motor racing events took place at Middle Ridge, to coincide with the Carnival of Flowers in September.^[8] A rectangular circuit using Stenner Street-Mackenzie Street-Alderley Street-Rowbotham Street was run in an anti-clockwise direction.^[9] There have been several reasons given why racing stopped after 1961 - local farmers claimed that the races stopped their chickens laying eggs; the carnival organisers believed that loud racing engines were incompatible with flowers; or that the races were pulling spectators away from other Carnival events.^[8]

In the 2016 census, Middle Ridge had a population of 7,141 people.^[10]

In the 2021 census, Middle Ridge had a population of 7,595 people.^[1]

Middle Ridge State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 203 Spring Street (27.6017°S 151.9564°E / -27.6017; 151.9564 (Middle Ridge State School)).^[11][12] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 827 students with 65 teachers (53 full-time equivalent) and 33 non-teaching staff (20 full-time equivalent).^[13] It includes a special education program.^[11]

The Tooowoomba campus of OneSchool Global (formerly known as the Agnew School) is at 40 Gerrard Street, Middle Ridge (27.5987°S 151.9562°E / -27.5987; 151.9562 (OneSchool Global)). It is a primary and secondary school (Years 3-12) operated by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.^[14][15] As at 26 October 2024, it has an enrolment of 66 students.^[14]

There are no government secondary schools in Middle Ridge. The nearest government secondary school is Centenary Heights State High School in neighbouring Centenary Heights to the north.^[3]

Middle Ridge is home to the heritage-listed Gabbinbar homestead 344-376 Ramsay Street (27.6115°S 151.9597°E / -27.6115; 151.9597 (Gabbinbar Homestead)).^[16]

The Toowoomba Golf Club is at 245 Rowbotham Street (27.6022°S 151.9767°E / -27.6022; 151.9767 (Toowoomba Golf Club)).^[17] It has an 18-hole golf course.^[18]

Other sporting facilities at Middle Ridge include: the Echo Valley Motor Sport Complex (home to the Toowoomba Auto Club and Toowoomba Motocross Club) and the Valleys rugby league club.^[19]

The Middle Ridge branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 95 Preston-Boundary Road, Preston.^[20]