Rising Sun

If you are in the area of Highfields, (part of which used to be called Koojarewon) [1], and heading north, on the right you can now see an old building, The Chocolate Shop, which used to be the Rising Sun Hotel building. The school (Highfields Number 1 opened in 1872) is the next building to the north.

A licence for the Rising Sun at Highfields was given in 1866 to Daniel Moss (and renewed it in 1867). There was property for sale (12 Oct 1867) around the hotel.

Moss must have left, for in 1868 there was an application for a publicans general licence for the Rising Sun on Highfields Road (4 bedrooms and 4 sitting rooms exclusive of those required by my family.... I have held a publicans licence before 2 April 1868 William Dunege)

Highfields School (site of Rising Sun Hotel) in a paddock nearby in 1970’s

Note Highfields School and Por 19 and 18 to the east and north east of the school

1869 & 1870 articles talk of the property near Rising Sun Hotel (portion 18 & 19 is in the parish of Geham west of the current Borneo Barricks, DD Gazette Oct 1869), so I am not sure what that means, unless it is an error and means Por 19 and 19 in Churchill (see map) which IS near the school.

In 1876 (ad for sale of "Henry Stuke's Farm" in DDG 14 Oct 1876 p3) Sub 2 of Por 120 consisting of 26 acres and 20 perches with the National School standing "in the next paddock". This 6 acres, as part of Sub 2, may have been the Hotel position, but I cannot confirm this.

The above article names portions 123, 133, and 134, which is the neighbouring Parish of Churchill (see highlights in map); DD Gazette 1867 and in 1870)

A dinner at the Victoria Mills at Geham was held for the Governor in 1869. On the way they stopped at the Rising Sun Hotel (DD Gazette 10 March 1869). Note the reference to Five Mile Camp (now Cabarlah).

A "violent storm" visited Highfields in Jan 1868 and the Rising Sun Hotel lost its roof "The Rising Sun hotel had perforce became a setting sun, the entire roof having been taken off and blown a long distance away; the whole of the verandah was served in a like manner. The house was a complete wreck, causing a great loss to Mr Dungege, the proprietor"

In October 1869 the Rising Sun was purchased by the Education Department and a confirmation of a donation of £50 for school was given by Mrs Palmer of Range View.

Figure above shows the "Highfields School" (Sub 2 Ag 1174). It became Highfields No 1 school from 1871.

There was a Rising Sun licence from at least 1872, but was at Gowrie Rd. This hotel changed its name from the Rising Sun to the Gowrie Road Hotel in 1878.

[1] The post office at Highfields in 1877 was changed to Koojarewon (DDG 15 Dec 1877 p 5) and the School in 1907. Interestingly another school at Mt Eerwak Qld was originally going to be called the same name (Chronicle and North Coast Advertiser 8 Aug 1913. p.5). A property was also called that 1892 – 1900 Ralahyne | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government. I cannot find the origin of the name.

Google Sites

Report abuse