Ipswich, Queensland
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Ipswich is a city and Local Government Area situated 40 kilometres to the west of the Australian state of Queensland's capital, Brisbane on the Bremer River. As of 2005, the city has a population of approximately 137000 persons, and covers an area of some 1207 square kilometres.
The area was first explored by European colonists in 1826, when Captain Patrick Logan, commandant of the Moreton Bay penal colony, sailed along the river and discovered large deposits of limestone and other minerals. In 1827, the first convicts and overseers arrived to mine the area, and the town that built around this industry became known as Limestone, and is remembered by one of the main streets through the city centre named Limestone Street to this day. In 1843, the settlement officially became known as Ipswich, making Ipswich the oldest provincial city in Queensland.
Mining of coal and other valuable minerals continued well into the 20th century, and it is cynically (if somewhat accurately) said by locals that the reason many of the outlying suburbs are so hilly is because the area was used as a dumping ground for waste originating from the mines. Ipswich has suffered somewhat from this establishment as a mining city, but recent efforts have rejuvinated its reputation somewhat.
Ipswich was proclaimed as a municipality on March 2, 1860, and became a city in 1904. It is the site of the RAAF Base Amberly, the largest operational Royal Australian Air Force base in Australia. Based here are the 1st and 6th Squadrons, flying F-111 strike aircraft, and the 38th Squadron's Carubou aircraft.
Ipswich is also home to a satellite campus of the University of Queensland and the annual Ipswich Cup horse races. Ipswich is also the location of The Workshops Railway Museum to commerate the first trainline in Queensland which was from Ipswich to Grandchester, approximately 25km to the west. Being developed in the Springfield,_Australia area is a large shopping complex which was, when designed (and possibly when completed), the largest shopping centre in the southern hemisphere. Accompanying this is a satellite campus of the University of Southern Queensland, which has its primary campus in Toowoomba.
Prominent Locals
Ipswich is the birthplace of many of Australia's great sportspeople. Former Kangaroo, Queensland, Brisbane and Ipswich rugby league player Allan Langer was born in Ipswich, along with his football playing brothers. The state and national rugby league representative Walters brothers (Kevin, Kerrod and Steve) were also born in Ipswich. Australian Test cricketer Craig McDermott was also born in Ipswich and attended, like the Walters brothers, Ipswich Grammar School.
Ipswich is also the home of the controversial former federal policitian Pauline Hanson.
Education
Colleges and universities
- University of Queensland, Ipswich
- Bremer Institute of TAFE, Ipswich, Bundamba & Goodna
- University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich (Opening 2006)
Secondary schools
- Bremer State High School
- Boonah High School
- Bundamba State Secondary College
- Ipswich Grammar School, established in 1863, first school to open as a result of the Grammar Schools Act of 1860
- Ipswich State High School
- Lowood State High School
- Redbank Plains State High School
- Rosewood High
- Saint Edmund's College
- Saint Mary's College
- The Springfield College
- Woodcrest College/Springfield State School
- West Moreton Anglican College, Karrabin
Primary schools
- Brassall State Primary School, Ipswich
- Collingwood Park State School
- St Josephs Primary School
- Karalee State Primary School
- Kruger State School
- Redbank Plains State School
- Woodcrest College/Springfield State School
External links
- Travel article on Ipswich (http://www.walkabout.com.au/theage/fairfax/locations/QLDIpswich.shtml) from The Age
- City Council website (http://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/)
- Independently run information site (http://www.ipswich-city.com/)