Pratten

History

The town is named after either the settler Thomas Pratten or his son G.L. Pratten, a surveyor. It was previously known as Darkey Flat, because it was the site of an Aboriginal campsite. St James' Anglican Church opened on Sunday 31 July 1881 at Darkey Flat. Pratten Presbyterian Church was officially opened on Monday 21 October 1901 by Reverend Kerr. On Sunday 10 September 1905, the new Patrick Leslie Memorial Presbyterian Church was opened by Reverend Kerr. It commemorates Warwick district pioneer, Patrick Leslie. It was in Elliott Street. Following the cessation of services in Pratten, in September 1954, the church building was relocated to 16 Braemar Street in Warwick. While passing through Cunningham, the church building slipped on the back of the semi-trailer carrying it, overturning the semi-trailer, and blocking the Cunningham Highway for a day. On 22 October 1909, the Pratten School of Arts at 104 White Street was officially opened by Francis Grayson, the Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Cunningham. It is now a private home.