Crows Nest

History

Jarowair (also known as Yarowair, Yarow-wair, Barrunggam, Yarrowair, Yarowwair and Yarrow-weir) is one of the languages of the Toowoomba region. The Jarowair language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Toowoomba Regional Council, particularly Toowoomba north to Crows Nest and west to Oakey. The origin of the name is uncertain. One claim is that it was named after an Aboriginal man, Jimmy Crow, who gave directions to early European settlers. He lived in a big hollow tree near the police station, which became known as Crows Nest. It became a popular overnight camp for the bullock teams hauling timber, which in turn attracted farmers and settlers. Another claim is that the name derives from the indigenous name for the area Tookoogandanna, meaning "the home of crows". Some researchers acknowledge there are many possible origins of the name. The town was originally centred around Albert Street and South Street (approx ). The construction of Crow's Nest Provisional School was completed on 2 February 1877. Provided by the local community, the building was with a shingle roof and veranda. The school opened on 12 March 1877. On 25 October 1880, it became Crows Nest State School. It was on a site on the western side of Dale Street (now Dale Street South, approx ). In December 1880, the Primitive Methodist Church purchased of land for a church. The church opened on Easter Sunday on 17 April 1881. On Sunday 31 December 1905, a new Crows Nest Methodist Church was officially opened by Reverend Henry Youngman, replacing the 1880 church. The 1905 church was with two classrooms at the rear, each . The land cost £160 and the building £360, a total of £520. In 1956, the church was remodelled. After the Methodist Church amalgamated into…

Geography

east of the town is the Crows Nest National Park.

Most-observed species

• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  1,506
• Noisy Miner

  Manorina melanocephala (Latham, 1801) · Aves
  1,438
• Torresian Crow

  Corvus orru Bonaparte, 1850 · Aves
  1,158
• Pied Currawong

  Strepera graculina (Shaw, 1790) · Aves
  1,115
• Magpie-lark

  Grallina cyanoleuca (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  1,061
• Rainbow Lorikeet

  Trichoglossus haematodus (Linnaeus, 1771) · Aves
  1,057
• Laughing Kookaburra

  Dacelo novaeguineae (Hermann, 1783) · Aves
  1,030
• Galah

  Eolophus roseicapilla (Vieillot, 1817) · Aves
  1,022