Clifton is a town in the Darling Downs. The town is situated just west of the New England Highway, about south of Toowoomba and west of Brisbane. Bange's Airfield, six kilometres west of Clifton, is a centre for ultralight aircraft, and home to the Lone Eagle Flying School and the Darling Downs Sport Aircraft Association Inc. Boab trees are an important cultural heritage feature, particularly alongside the main street.
History
The lands around the town was first settled by Europeans in 1840. The town takes its name from a pastoral run named by John Augustus Milbourne Marsh around 1844. Clifton Post Office opened on 20 April 1869. In 1877, were resumed from the Clifton pastoral run and offered for selection on 17 April 1877. The Clifton War Memorial is located on the corner of King and Edward Streets. Clifton Colliery Provisional School opened on 11 December 1876. It became Clifton Colliery State School on 7 October 1878. It closed in 1936. Clifton Homestead Area State School opened circa 1879 and closed circa 1918. Clifton State School opened on 19 September 1892. On 28 January 1964 it opened a secondary department, an arrangement which continued until Clifton State High School opened on 24 January 1966. An undated map shows allotments for sale in the township of King's Creek, situated on the Clifton Estate. The allotments were adjacent to the railway line, close to King's Creek railway station, and King's Creek. An article in the Darling Downs Gazette on 20 June 1885 notes the sale of allotments at the new township of King's Creek. St Francis De Sales' School opened on 25 February 1917 with the arrival of four Sisters of the Good Samaritan. The original Clifton Catholic Church was moved to Tooth Street and was renovated to become the school. In 1979 the Sisters ceased to operate the school and it is now under lay leadership. The Clifton Library opened in 2002.
Education
Clifton State School is a government primary school for boys and girls at Tooth Street. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 100 students with 10 teachers and 10 non-teaching staff. Clifton State High School is a government secondary school for boys and girls at 32 East Street. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 240 students with 30 teachers and 17 non-teaching staff. Clifton Cluster Special Education Program is a primary and secondary special education program at Clifton State High School at 32 East Street. St Francis De Sales School is a Catholic primary school for boys and girls at 16 Meara Place. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 53 students with 7 teachers and 4 non-teaching staff.
Facilities
The Clifton Library is operated by the Toowoomba Regional Council. The library is located on Meara Place and is open five days a week. Clifton Historical Museum is located in the old butter factory where there is a range of early agricultural tools and machinery on display. It is staffed by volunteers. The Clifton branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 72 Clark Street.
