Ipswich (/ˈɪpswɪtʃ/ⓘ) is an urban centre[2][3][4] within theCity of Ipswich inSouth East Queensland, Australia. Situated on theBremer River, it is approximately 40 km (25 mi) west of theBrisbane central business district. Ipswich is renowned for its architectural, natural and cultural heritage, and the city preserves and operates from many of its historical buildings, with more than 6000 heritage-listed sites and over 500 parks.[5] Ipswich was founded in 1827 as a mining settlement, and soon developed into a major commercial and population centre.[6][7] Thesuburb of the same name serves as the city’scentral business district.[8] In the2021 census, the population of the urban area of Ipswich was 115,913 people.[1]
Prior to the arrival of European settlers, what is now called Ipswich was home to many indigenous language groups, including the Warpai tribe,[13] Yuggera andUgarapul Indigenous Australian groups.[14] The area was first explored by European colonists in 1826, when CaptainPatrick Logan, Commandant of theMoreton Bay penal colony, sailed up theBrisbane River and discovered large deposits oflimestone and other minerals.[15]
Waterfield; an early West Ipswich residence pictured in 1868
The town began in 1827 as a limestone mining settlement and grew rapidly as a major inland port. Ipswich was initially named "The Limestone Hills" and later shortened to "Limestone", however in 1843 it was renamed after the town ofIpswich in England.[16] The population was 932 in 1851 and had risen to 2459 by 1856.[17] It became a municipality in 1858. Ipswich had been a prime candidate for becoming the capital of Queensland from about 1847 when the Rev.John Dunmore Lang had toured both Ipswich and Brisbane, and noted the strength of Ipswich as a port town with access to the wool suppliers of the Darling Downs, but Brisbane was instead chosen due to its mercantile and colonial interests.[18][19] Brisbane was declared the capital of the new Crown Colony of Queensland in 1859. It was proclaimed a city in 1904.[20]
The city became a major coal-mining area in the early 19th Century, contributing to the development of railways in the region as a means of transport. The first recorded coal mines in the central Ipswich area started at Woodend in 1848.[21] Triassic aged dinosaur footprints were found in underground coal mines in the vicinity of the suburbs of Ebbw Vale and New Chum[22] while large numbers of Jurassic aged dinosaur footprints have been reported from the suburb of Rosewood.[23]
A view of Ipswich in 1887
From the 1840s onward, Ipswich was becoming an important river port for growing local industries such as coal and wool from theDarling Downs and a regular paddlesteamer service from Brisbane Town,The Experiment, was established in 1846.[24] This, and other steamer services,[25] remained the primary form ofmass/bulk transport between the two cities until 1876, when the construction of the originalAlbert Bridge, spanning the Brisbane River atIndooroopilly, completed the railway line begun between Ipswich and Brisbane in 1873.[26]
Ipswich Railway Station in 1865
Ipswich was proclaimed a municipality on 3 March 1860 and became acity in 1904.[27]
By April 1873 there were numerous churches in Ipswich: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Primitive Methodist, German Lutheran, and Wesleyan Methodist.[31]
In March 1888, 239 allotments of the "Liverpool Estate" were advertised to be auctioned by E. Bostock in conjunction with Arthur Martin & Co.[33] A map advertising the auction shows the proximity of the estate to the railway workshops and the Bremer River.[34]
Brisbane Street around the start of the 20th century
In June 1911, 26 building sites of "East Ipswich Station Estate" were advertised to be auctioned by E. Bostock & Sons.[35] A map advertising the auction shows the location of the estate in proximity to the railway line.[36]
Ipswich Post Office
In 1914, 65 garden allotments were advertised to be auctioned by E. Bostock & Sons. The area was called the "Orangefield Estate". It was formerly an orchard ofJames Alexander Jackes, and the real estate map advertised that the estate was well stocked with fruit trees.[37][38][39] It was reported in theQueensland Times that 20 allotments were sold. This article also listed the buyers.[40] Unsold allotments were advertised in theQueensland Times.[41]
In 1922, 12 allotments were advertised in theQueensland Times to be auctioned by Bacon & Co. Auctioneers in conjunction with H. J. Hargreaves & Co.[42] The area was called the "Whitehill Road Estate". A map advertising the auction shows the estate is across the road from the intersection of Whitehill Road and Griffith Road.[43] Both street names are still in use. By July 1922 theQueensland Times advertised that only six allotments were left.[44]
In October 1925, several allotments in the "Fiveways Estate" at East Ipswich were advertised to be auctioned by Jackson & Meyers in conjunction with Bacon & Co.[45] A map advertising the auction states that the lots were ideal for residential sites, convenient to the East Ipswich Railway Station and water, gas and electric light was available.[46]
In 1928, 211 allotments were advertised to be auctioned by E. Bostock & Sons and W. B. Parkinson. The area was called the "Cribb Estate" and on the estate map it was noted that it was on the eastern slopes of Limestone Hill.[47] The auction was advertised in theQueensland Times[48][49] and it was also noted in the notes of the Council Meeting published in theQueensland Times that approval had been granted to gravel new roads in the estate before it was sold.[50] It was reported in theQueensland Times that 40 allotments sold on the day of auction and some of the buyers were listed.[51] By the end of 1928 it was reported in theQueensland Times that another 20 allotments had been sold.[52]
In 1930, the Abermain Estate, Tivoli, was advertised to be auctioned by E. Bostock & Sons.[53] The estate map noted that the area comprised the Abermain Colliery containing 1295 acres and farms.[54] It was reported in theToowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette, andThe Brisbane Courier, that there was no bid for the coal mine but some farms had sold on the day of auction and some of the buyers were listed.[55][56] It was also reported later in theBrisbane Courier of further items sold.[57]
Damaging floods have occurred on numerous occasions in Ipswich, the largest being the1893 Brisbane flood peaking at 24.5 metres (80 ft), and more recently during the1974 Brisbane Flood, (peaking at 20.7 metres (68 ft)) and2010–11 Queensland floods (peaking at 19.4 metres (64 ft)) on 12 January 2011.
Around 35 people died in the floods in the1893 Brisbane flood. The Brisbane River burst its banks on three occasions in February of that year and a fourth event several months later. Seven workers were killed at a colliery in north Ipswich as the Bremer River broke its banks.[65]
Fourteen people died in flooding in January 1974, during theAustralia Day weekend. Two people were killed in Ipswich.[66] About 1,800 residential and commercial premises in Ipswich were flooded.[67]
The Bremer River at Ipswich reached a height of 19.5 metres (64 ft) on 12 January, inundating the central business district and thousands of houses. 38 people died as a result of the floods. At Minden, on the border of Ipswich City, a four-year-old boy was swept away by floodwaters when he fell from a rescue boat.[68] A man in his fifties died when he accidentally drove into floodwaters in the Ipswich suburb of Wulkuraka.[69]
The worst affected areas of Ipswich were the suburbs of Goodna and Gailes.[70] The flooding allowed bull sharks to reach the centre of Goodna; one was spotted swimming in Williams Street, and a second in Queen Street.[70]
A multibillion-dollar class action lawsuit is underway against dam operatorsSeqwater,SunWater and the State of Queensland. Law firm Maurice Blackburn have lodged the suit on behalf of 5,500 Ipswich and Brisbane residents who lost their homes or businesses during the floods.[71] Modelling released in 2013 claimed flooding of Ipswich CBD would not have been as extreme if Wivenhoe Dam operators had operated the dam correctly.[72]
Ipswich was a major mining centre, particularlycoal mining. The city is the 'cradle of coal mining in Queensland'.[78] Other secondary manufacturing industries includedearthenware works,sawmills,abattoirs andfoundries, while the region is also rich agriculturally.
Ipswich remains a strong manufacturing region, with more than 14% of workers employed in the manufacturing industry, compared to just 7.6% for regional Queensland.[79]
Extensive growth is predicted in Ipswich and the Western Corridor region in years to come, the economy is projected to be worth $12.7 billion by 2026.[80] Global giantGeneral Electric moved its Queensland headquarters into a $72 million building in Springfield in 2015.[81]
Ipswich is the site ofRAAF Base Amberley, theRoyal Australian Air Force's largest operational base. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron and No. 6 Squadron (operating the F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler), No. 33 Squadron (operating the Airbus KC-30A) and No. 36 Squadron (operating the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III jet transport). In addition, a number of ground support units are located at Amberley.[citation needed]
The mansion at the Woodlands of Marburg, Ipswich, 2015
Ipswich is recognised for its important collection of historic buildings. Historic house types range from Early Colonial/Victorian (1850 onwards) to Queensland Bungalow (until 1935), with the city showcasing many markers and plaques outside heritage and historical locations.[citation needed]
The traditional Ipswich dwelling has always been a detached home on land, and is frequently portrayed in the paintings ofd'Arcy Doyle, however this is changing as modern housing developments increase. The city is the fastest-growing area in South East Queensland (SEQ).[87]
Two major developments, underway at Springfield and Ripley, will be central to housing this growth. The multibillion-dollarGreater Springfield development was awarded World's Best Master Planned Community 2010 and is designed to grow to an ultimate population of 85,000, with a projection of 105,000 total residents living in the area by 2030. Greater Springfield is positioned as the gateway to the western corridor of the south-east. At 2,860 hectares it is the largest master planned city in Australia.[88]
Robelle Domain Springfield Central Parklands
TheRipley Valley Development is master planned to be a model community for a projected population of 120,000 people.[89]
In March 2016, Ipswich's digital innovation and startup hub, Fire Station 101, was officially launched. Owned by Ipswich City Developments and operated by Ipswich City Enterprises, Fire Station 101 willposition the region as a leader of the digital economy. More than fifteen members had signed up prior to the opening.In 2015, Ipswich was named in the world's Top 7 most Intelligent Communities by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) in New York.[90][91]
Ipswich is home to the "Safe City" camera network, which commenced in 1994. More than 200 cameras are monitored all-hours from a facility situated within the CBD.[92]
TheIpswich City Council Safe City Monitoring Facility has hosted representatives of law enforcement agencies from the Netherlands, Taiwan, Great Britain and approximately twenty-five local authorities from across Australia to inspect theclosed-circuit television (CCTV) camera monitoring system.[93]
Ipswich Hospital is the major public hospital.[94] St Andrew's Private Hospital and Mater Private Hospital Springfield are local private hospitals.[citation needed]
Ipswich has direct access to the Ipswich Motorway (linking to Brisbane); the Cunningham Highway (linking to Warwick); the Warrego Highway (linking to Toowoomba); the Logan Motorway and its connection to the Pacific Motorway (linking to Logan and the Gold Coast); and the Centenary Highway (linking Springfield and the Ripley Valley to Brisbane).[citation needed]
Ipswich has more than 500 parks and conservation estates, including Nerima Gardens, which was designed in consultation with Ipswich's Japanese sister city,Nerima. In 2015, Orion Lagoon opened in Springfield Central.[citation needed]
Brookwater hosts theBrookwater Golf and Country Club. The par 72 golf course, designed by Greg Norman, measures 6,505 metres and has been voted as Queensland's number one golf course in Golf Australia magazine's best 50 courses.[citation needed]
TheIpswich Council operates a public library and a separate children's library in the $250 million Nicolas Street Precinct 2017 upgrade located in the heart of the Ipswich CBD.[95]
Ipswich has had a number of sporting successes at a state and national level.[citation needed] In 2022 theBrisbane Lions, one of just two Queensland clubs playing in the nationalAustralian Football League (AFL) competition moved its headquarters to its new purpose-builtSpringfield Central Stadium, the stadium is now the home ground for theclub's women's side playing in theAFLW, which played its first match in the a sell out AFLW Grand Final,[96] the highest level of women's competition. In 2015, the local rugby league club,Ipswich Jets, won their maidenIntrust Super Cup title and took the NRL State Championship.[97] The win fuelled interest in aWestern Corridor NRL bid.
Australian rules football:Springfield Central Stadium is the headquarters of theBrisbane Lions (AFL). InAFL Queensland competitions theIpswich Eagles play in Division 2,Collingwood Park Power play in Division 3 while theIpswich Cats and the Greater Springfield Storm play in Division 4. The Ipswich Miners play in the under 18 competition of AFL Queensland. Collingwood Park (Power), Ipswich Central (Cats), Limestone Eagles (part of the Ipswich Eagles) and Springfield Lakes play in the junior competition of AFL Brisbane Juniors.[citation needed]
Motorsport:Drag racing is conducted atWillowbank Raceway year round with events open to both professional and amateur racers, including a series conducted to facilitate newcomers to the sport.[citation needed]
Rugby league: TheIpswich Jets play in theQueensland Cup competition, FOGS and FOGS Colts. Ipswich Diggers are the junior representative teams playing all other QLD regions in theMal Meninga (under 18s) and theCyril Connell (under 16s) statewide Cups. Ipswich also has a local league competition,Ipswich Rugby League, which include four grades of Seniors and every age group of juniors (multiple divisions). Clubs include West End Bulldogs, Brothers, Swifts, Goodna Eagles, Springfield, Norths Tigers, Laidley Lions, Fassifern Bombers, Redbank Bears, Lowood Stags, Twin Rivers, Rosewood Roosters and Brisbane Valley.[citation needed]
Softball: Ipswich Softball Association located in the suburb of one mile has softball teams ranging from Tee Ball through to A Grade Mens and Women. Notable teams include Outlaws, Raiders, Rebels, Demons, Tigers, Ipswich Stingers, Southside Stingers, Bombers, Murri Taipans and Black Cats The season runs during the summer generally between October and March. The association also has Representative teams competing in State titles from Under 14 boys and girls through to Open Men's and Women's teams.[citation needed]
The first Ipswich Annual Show was held on 2 April 1873 by the Queensland Pastoral and Agricultural Society. There had been shows staged by the Ipswich and West Moreton Horticultural and Agricultural Society as early as 1868. Originally held at the sale yards situated at Lobb St,Churchill, the show moved to its present home at the Ipswich Showgrounds in 1877.[citation needed]
The Ipswich Festival is an annual multi-disciplinary festival. First staged in 1998, the program for the Ipswich Festival includes live bands, concerts, art exhibits, fireworks, theatre, jazz, multicultural celebrations, interactive displays and a range of family-based events to encourage participation by all age groups whilst attracting day tourism to the region.[citation needed]
The Ipswich Festival runs for two weeks at the end of April and beginning of May with the majority of events free.[102]
The Fuchs Winternationals is an annual event, typically held around June atWillowbank Raceway, part of theIpswich Motorsport Precinct. The four-day event is one of the largest drag racing festivals in the southern hemisphere and has drawn crowds of more than 40,000 people in previous years.[103]
Luke Keary, NRL player for Sydney Roosters, grew up in the suburb of Raceview, attended St Mary's Primary School, played for Brothers Ipswich JRLFC
Noel (Ned) Kelly, rugby league, played for Goodna, Railways, Brothers Ipswich, Western Suburbs Magpies, Queensland and Australian Kangaroos (1959–60; 1963–64 & 1967–68). Hooker in Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century, attended St Edmund's College
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This Wikipedia article incorporatesCC BY 4.0licensed text from:"Jagara".Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map.State Library of Queensland. Retrieved23 January 2020.