Possibly one of the most beautiful flowers to burst out of spring would have to be the tiny town of Roadvale in the Scenic Rim. Here’s a story about a tiny town that once flourished, with a busy CBD – I’m talking the works – butcher, baker, churches etc. You name it, they were here and then they were gone!
Just recently this town has started to spring back to life. This is one of those little places that you drive past all of the time and think “there ain’t nothing goin’ on here”. Well, you’d be wrong. I stopped and asked the question, why is this place even here, only to discover that its’ history is much more fascinating than you might have thought.
The thing I love about these little towns is that the resilience, country charm and the welcoming nature is all apparent when you take the time to stop and appreciate where the town came from. From what I can gather, the town wasn’t actually “settled” as such until the late 1800’s. Since then Roadvale has suffered with fires (the most significant being the great fire of 1915 which started in a grain store and took out nearly the whole town) and the death of the school principal who lost his life crossing the local railway line. This railway line ceased to exist in 1964, which is a real shame because the railway and its’ history usually adds so much character to towns and helps a town continue to thrive.
When Roadvale suffered the great loss to business in the 1915 fire, it was the School of Arts that opened its’ doors and allowed those businesses space to continue trading for a time. Unfortunately, the School of Arts would also tragically burn down in 1968. This is not the only event that would rock the town though; an explosion at a local gathering also proved to be a tragic event.
Little remains of the original township, but what Roadvale lacks in size, it more than makes up in heart. The little pub is coming back to life as what definitely appears to be the hub of the community and it is absolutely beautiful. The old church is now serving as a bed and breakfast and whilst I was there, I heard whispers that the general store may be given a new lease on life, with a new owner who has plans to add value to the township.
There are a few books floating around about the town and the surrounding areas and, whilst they are rare finds, they are a wonderful source of historical information. The locals have such pride in their home and they are happy to talk to you and share tales of a bygone era. But, if you ask me, this tiny town has a bright future and is a shining example of the resilience and tenacity of the Australian people.
The purpose of this article and corresponding videos is to leave a trail of breadcrumbs and even tasty little morsels, to entice you to, shall we say, go for a drive in the country and see what you can find. In the case of Roadvale, I knew there had to be more to the story than meets the eye and they certainly have a fascinating story, which I wouldn’t have known, had I not put the stand down on my bike, dismounted and asked the question.
A lot of these little towns go through a period of diminished population and people settle into the idea that, that’s all there is. Just another quaint little place to ride or drive through. I can see Roadvale coming back to life and I will certainly be keeping an eye on the improvements. Don’t leave it all up to me though. Get on your bike or in your car and get out there and explore Roadvale and the surrounding towns for yourself. Let us know through our socials or website what you find. We’d love to hear from you.
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