Unlike many townships in the Charters Towers area that developed around a goldfield, Richmond Hill was intended to be a residential area and was situated away from the mining areas. A number of schools opened in the area. St Columba's Primary School for girls was opened in 1876 by the
Sisters of Mercy (a Catholic order). In 1882 the Sisters established St Mary's College. Later these schools were operated by the
Sisters of the Good Samaritan (another Catholic order). On 14 April 1902 the
Christian Brothers (also a Catholic order) opened Mount Carmel College for boys. In 1998 the three schools combined into
Columba Catholic College operating from the three campuses (including the Mount Carmel campus in Richmond Hill); the church is now operated by the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Townsville through
Catholic Education. Richmond Hill State School, opened 9 September 1895. The Presbyterian and Methodist Churches opened
Thornburgh College as a boys boarding school on 1 June 1919. In 1978 Thornburgh College merged with Blackheath College (a Presbyterian and Methodist girls school in Charters Towers) to create an independent co-educational Christian college,
Blackheath and Thornburgh College, on the site of Thornburgh College in Richmond Hill. == Demographics ==