St Ruth is a locality split between the Western Downs Region and the Toowoomba Region in Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census St Ruth had a population of 139 people.[1]

St Ruth Queensland
St Ruth
Coordinates	27.3169°S 151.2572°E / -27.3169; 151.2572
Population	139 (2016 census)[1]
• Density	0.6373/km2 (1.651/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4405
Area	218.1 km2 (84.2 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)	Western Downs Region Toowoomba Region
State electorate(s)	Warrego Condamine
Federal division(s)	Maranoa Groom
Suburbs around St Ruth: Nandi Dalby Bowenville Springvale St Ruth Formartin Cecil Plains Tipton West Prairie

History

The locality was originally called St Ruth's after the parish name which was in turn named after the St Ruth's pastoral run taken up as part of Cecil Plains pastoral run by Henry Stuart Russell in 1842. It was separated from Cecil Plains in 1842 by Richard Jones, probably for the Aberdeen Company. Later the name was simplified to be St Ruth.[2]

In 1877, 9,000 acres (3,600 ha) of land was resumed from the St Ruth pastoral run to establish smaller farms. The land was offered for selection on 24 April 1877.[4]

St Ruth Provisional School opened circa 1888. In 1918 it became a half-time school in conjunction with West Prairie Provisional School (meaning the schools shared a single teacher). In 1919 it returned to full-time school status but then closed in 1920.[5]

In the 2016 census St Ruth had a population of 139 people.[1]

Road infrastructure

The Dalby–Cecil Plains Road (State Route 82) runs through from north to south.[6]

References