D
IS
COVER IPSWICH 2015
6
Y
oumightnotbeable to stillhear the
soundsofhorses’ hooves, carts rolling
alongunpaved roads, the shrillwhistleof
steam trainsormarvel at theeleganceof ladies
dressed in thefinerybustling to the shops, but for
loversofhistoryandheritageavisit to Ipswich,
Queensland’soldestprovincial city, isamust-do.
Thereareplentyofoptions togoback to ‘yeolden
days’ –walkinganddriving self-guidedheritage
trails, bus toursand specialplacesof interest in
keepingwitha theme suchaschurches, pubs
orcemeteries. Toexplore thecityon foot, the
energeticcandropbytheIpswichVisitorInformation
Centre forbrochures thenyoucanstartwalking
using theCityCentreThen&Nowguide.
You’ll learn that Ipswichwasestablished in 1827as
aconvictout-station toquarry limestone,witha
reminderbeing the twocairnshonouringexplorer
AllanCunninghamandpoliticianThomas
GlasseyperchedonCunninghamsKnoll. There’s
abeautiful,panoramicviewandnearby inhistoric
QueensPark is theunique IncineratorTheatre,
designedbyWalterBurleyGriffin, renowned
architectof thenationalcapital,Canberra.
The IpswichCityCentrehasawealthofelegant,
heritagebuildingsallwithina fewblocksso it’sa
very ‘do-able’walk. InBrisbaneStreet, the
handsomePostOffice,with itsclock towerhaving
given locals theright timesince 1901, standsnext to
theOldTownHall,originallyaSchoolofArtsback
in 1861. Situated inside therestoredTownHallwith
theentranceviad’ArcyDoylePlace is the Ipswich
ArtGallery. The localsare justifiablyproudof this
award-winninggem that’scrammedwith
thousandsofhappychildreneveryschoolholidays
thanks to its legendaryworkshopsandexhibitions.
A few stepsaway inLimestoneandEllenborough
Streets, checkout theRSLMemorialHall and
TechnicalCollege, bothdesignedbycelebrated
Ipswicharchitect,GeorgeBrockwellGill. The
collegewasofficiallyopened in 1901 to
commemorateQueenVictoria’sDiamond Jubilee
andhasundergone refurbishment foranexciting
dining, retail andbusinessprecinct.
Then thereare themanychurcheswithheritage
valueand interestingstories to tell. The Ipswich
CityUnitingChurch is theoldestchurch in
FOR LOVERS OF HISTORY
ANDHERITAGE A VISIT TO
IPSWICH, QUEENSLAND’S
OLDEST PROVINCIAL CITY,
IS AMUST-DO.
Heritage
Trails
&
Tours
REMEMBERWHEN
YOUCOULDN’TWAIT
TO FINDWHATWAS
HIDDEN AROUND THE
NEXTCORNER.
StPaul’sAnglicanChurch
Memories&Mementos
