Ministerial Statement: Ipswich - 150 years young!

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Minister for Local Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
The Honourable Desley Boyle
03/03/2010

Ipswich - 150 years young!

Local Government Minister Desley Boyle today toasted one of Queensland's oldest councils but predicted the best was still to come for Ipswich.

"Ipswich is celebrating its 150th birthday and I encourage residents to get out and enjoy Ipswich Day as well as all the other events planned in the coming months ," Ms Boyle said.

"Queensland's second oldest municipality has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a mining town of just under 3000 residents.

"Today, Ipswich has almost 150,000 residents and covers more than 1200 square kilometers.

"Ipswich is still growing and I congratulate Mayor Paul Pisasale and his councillors on their hard work and their vision for the future.

"In recent years we've seen Ipswich accept high-rise buildings while still retaining the city's unique character and iconic buildings."

Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan said Ipswich was great for a number of reasons.

"Ipswich housed Queensland's first defence force, the State's first secondary school and railway, had the first pumped water supply and held the first eisteddfod," Ms Nolan said

"Queensland's first electrical coal cutter made its debut at Box Flat mine while the first towels made in Australia were bath towels from East Ipswich.

"Ipswich has had an illustrious past but an even brighter future awaits. The Bligh Government is working closely with the council to take pressure off coastal areas by encouraging population growth in the Western corridor.

"One of the grand old dames of our past will be one of the shining jewels of Queensland's future."

Ipswich followed hot on the heels of Brisbane as only the second settlement in Queensland to take advantage of the Municipalities Act of 1858.

Ipswich Council elections were held for the first time on April 12 1860 and John Murphy was elected its first Mayor.

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A nice birthday present would be some more trains ...