Council to consider future of Old Tallegalla School property
Published on 17 September 2025
Ipswich City Council will consider a recommendation to seek expressions of interest for an organisation willing to take on a lease of the century-old Old Tallegalla School in the city’s west.
The recommendation has been made by the Finance and Governance Committee which on Tuesday considered a report on the outcomes of community engagement about the future of Old Tallegalla School.
Finance and Governance Committee Chairperson Councillor Paul Tully said the community engagement showed clear support for the 146-year-old building to remain in community hands.
“We have undertaken significant community engagement in relation to the potential surrender of trusteeship of the Old Tallegalla School, located at 2 Tallegalla Two Tree Hill Road, Tallegalla,” Cr Tully said.
“The engagement aimed to raise community awareness, clarify council’s financial responsibilities should it retain the property, and assess community sentiment regarding the site's future use.
“A total of 117 respondents provided input on this matter.”
Cr Tully said almost three-quarters of the respondents preferred council retain trusteeship rather than give it back to the Queensland Government and an unknown outcome for the building and land.
“The community feedback strongly supports council retaining trusteeship of the Old Tallegalla School, highlighting its heritage value and potential for future community use, specifically focussed on aligning the trust purposes of heritage, historical and cultural,” Cr Tully said.
Division 4 Councillor Jim Madden said the estimated cost to upgrade the Old Tallegalla School building and facilities to meet current standards would be about $120,000.
“There will be an additional $180,000 needed, which is anticipated for ongoing operational maintenance over the next 10 years,” Cr Madden said.
“While refurbishment and maintenance costs are significant, they should be considered alongside the long-term benefits of preserving the site.
“Should council retain trusteeship of the land, these costs would need to be funded through public resources.
“Proceeding with an expression of interest would help identify potential lessees who can contribute to or assume responsibility for these financial obligations, thereby reducing the long-term burden on ratepayers.”
The Old Tallegalla School was established in 1879 and for about 115 years, it was both an educational institution and a central hub for local gatherings.
The school has been closed since 1992, with council responsible for maintaining the property since 1998 when it was granted trusteeship by the Queensland Government.
Division 4 Councillor David Martin said council was keen to preserve such an important part of Ipswich’s history, heritage and culture.
“Key themes emerging from the community consultation included strong support for heritage preservation, concerns about council’s financial capacity to rehabilitate the site, and a wide range of suggestions for future use—such as educational programs, community spaces, tourism, and accommodation,” Cr Martin said.
“While 73 per cent of respondents preferred council to retain trusteeship, views were mixed on which entity would best manage the site in alignment with community expectations.”
The main school building is an example of Ipswich’s earliest colonial history and the growth of small bush communities in the 1800s.
“The timber weatherboard-clad main building of the school was once used as a place of learning for the children of the townships to the west of Ipswich and is a great reminder of the way things were,” Cr Martin said.
“But given the current state of the buildings, it must be considered whether another organisation is better placed to meet the restoration requirements of these buildings.”
The Finance and Governance Committee recommendation will be considered at Ordinary Council on Thursday 25 September.