Oaklands, Tivoli: Wright Family Federation Queenslander from Ipswich’s Coal Boom

Oaklands matters because it anchors the Queensland Heritage Registered Wright Family Houses on Mt Crosby Rd, Tivoli.

The Wrights were Tivoli’s coal family.

They built 3 timber homes side by side so family and work lived in one place.

• Built. Late 1890s timber Queenslander on 1.42 hectares at 100 Mount Crosby Road.
• Why here. Above/close-by to Wright-owned Perseverance mine and Eclipse Colliery. Next door to Tivoli State School.
• The trio. Middle home in a 3 house Wright family group at 98, 100, and 106 Mount Crosby Road. All unique, all heritage protected.
• Today. Private home. Sold by auction for ~$650,000 in 2015 as part of an estate sale.
• Standout. Morgan family stewardship from 1926 to 2015, nearly ninety years of continuity.

Find out more →

Ipswich Solar Revealed: The City's Top 30 Powerhouses

Did you know covering 21% of Queensland in solar panels could power the entire world?

What about this one.

Covering an area 3x the size of Ipswich is enough to run the whole of Australia.

And.

Did you realise Australia's biggest solar farm is less than a 3-hour drive from Ipswich—out at Hopeland in the Western Downs?

As you can tell, we're heading down a solar rabbit hole today.

We mapped every major solar roof (and 1 ground array at Churchill) from Yamanto to Carole Park—accurately sized, zero guesswork.

Then we stacked Ipswich solar against Queensland’s big hitters: UQ’s Warwick Solar Farm, the Western Downs Green Power Hub, even the Swanbank battery that sponges solar by day and lights the city by night.

Each solar system gets an easy to scan image graphic with punchy details—price, panel counts, daily energy, and a fun local fact to fuel conversations.

Ready to see who tops Ipswich's solar ladder?

See Ipswich Top 30 →

Top 30 Ipswich solar installs mapped: accurate system sizes, daily output, no guesswork, standout sites from Yamanto to Carole Park. See top 30 →

“BLUE NOSED SHARK. Colledge’s Crossing Find.” — Queensland Times, 29 July 1935, p.5. Reports “a blue nosed shark, 5ft. 6in. long, was found on a sandbank near the Colledge’s Crossing Bridge,” found by Mt Crosby schoolboys, c. 80 lb. Mr Dann of the Mt Crosby pumping station said it likely came up from Moreton Bay, noting shark sightings at Indooroopilly and Riverview.

$1.6m est. East Ipswich. 1893 'Eastcourt' on 1,447 sqm: five beds, three baths, two car. Wraparound verandah, 13 ft ceilings, hoop pine floors, granite kitchen, fireplaces, resort pool. See full listing →

🗳️ Vote

🤔 Trivia

🧩 Scramble

Unscramble your GuessWhere hint

📍 GuessWhere

How to play: Look close at the photo, guess where it was taken from in Ipswich. Click the link and drop your pin to see how close you can get.

GuessWhere →

🍽️ Heisenberg Haus Will Not Renew Lease In December

Top of Town favourite Heisenberg Haus says its final day of trade will be in December after a decade in the CBD. Expect farewell specials and a last chance to book. Heisenberg Haus Annoucement →

🚍 Stage One Ipswich Bus Upgrades Begin 17 November

Translink and Council will roll out Stage One of the Ipswich bus network changes on 17 November 2025, bringing new and renumbered services across Springfield, Redbank Plains, Ripley and Ipswich Central. Check new timetables now so your Monday commute is not a guessing game. Translink Update →

🏥 Ripley Specialised Inpatient Services Opens This Month

West Moreton Health’s new Ripley Specialised Inpatient Services opens in late November at 150 Botany Drive, adding rehabilitation, older persons care, palliative and medical beds and easing pressure on Ipswich Hospital. West Moreton Health → (Open day pics →)

🎄 City Of Ipswich Christmas Lights Competition Now Open

Entries are open until 9 am Friday 28 November. People’s Choice voting runs 1–9 December, with “lights on” through December across the city. Enter Here →

💰 Nicholas Street Precinct Hits Two Million Visits

Ipswich Central recorded 2.12 million precinct visits in the past year, including 521,000 at the Venue building as HOYTS, General Public and Hotel Commonwealth marked one year. Council says CBD foot traffic is up about 30 percent since 2020. Media Release →

Quick-fire snippets—local buzz & chatter:

• 📰 Ipswich Media Acquires Ipswich Tribune And Sister Titles →
• 🌺 107th Remembrance Day →
• 🎗️ Ipswich Hospice Marks 30 Years Of Care →
• 💸 Community Projects Funding Round 2 Offers Up To $15k →
• 🌳 Have Your Say On Flinders–Goolman Masterplan →
• 🎾 Ash Barty To Enter Queensland Sports Hall Of Fame →
• 🏃‍♂️ New Athletics Facilities Open At South Ripley →
• 🏉 Ipswich Sports Awards Honour Top Achievers →
• ♻️ Browns Plains Recycling Plant Build Progresses Under 3-Council JV →
• 🖼️ Ipswich Art Awards Winners And Exhibition Details →
• 🎗️ Icon Cancer Centre Springfield Celebrates Ten Years →
• 🗳️ Apply For 2026 Ipswich Youth Advisory Council →
• 🍷 Monte Lane Welcomes New Owners →
• 📘 Annual Report 2024–2025 Released →
• 📈 Sport Use Surges Across Ipswich Facilities →
• 🏟️ Silver Jubilee Clubhouse Opens At Spring Mountain →

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Support Scouts at the Moreton Region Scouts Pop-up Market, Raceview Scouts Den. Family-friendly stalls, makers, free entry, 9:30am-2:30pm, all welcome Facebook

Wednesday (12 November)

💵 Springfield Lakes Community Centre - Seniors program, ALL WEEK 8 AM onwards (free - $10) schedule

🆓 Council Building Level 1, Nicholas St - Ipswich Art Awards Exhibition 10am-4pm info

🍻🍽️ Banshees Bar and Artspace - Open Mic 6 PM info

🍻🍽️ General Public - Trivia 6:30 PM info

🆓 Booval Freemasons Centre - Meditation, stress relief 7-8 PM details

Thursday (13 November)

🍻🍽️ Ipswich Turf Club - Race Day noon info

🍻🍽️ Club Services Ipswich - Trivia 6:30 PM info

🍻🍽️ Orion Hotel - Trivia 7-10 PM ($1) details

🍻🍽️ Banshees Bar and Artspace - Karaoke 8 PM info

Friday (14 November)

🆓 Ipswich Art Gallery - Toddler Time 10am info

💵 Imbibis Craft Distillery - Tour and tasting 2pm ($15) details

💵 Tivoli Sporting Complex - Trivia fundraiser, Muskeydome 6-10pm info

💵 Sketchy Stuff Studios, Churchill - Metal Clay Play 6-9pm ($19) details

💵 Stony Creek Brewing - Live music: Billy Bridge 6pm more info

💵 Banshees Bar & Artspace - The Salty Sirens: Bard For Life 7pm ($13.50) info

💵 Ipswich Civic Centre - Comedy: Stitch in the 'swich 8pm ($30) details

Saturday (15 November)

🆓 St John's Anglican Church - Rosewood Markets 7-11am info

💵 Soul Nook Collective, Marburg - Christmas Markets 8:30am-2pm ($2) more info

🆓 Raceview Scouts Den - Moreton Region Scouts Pop-up Market 9:30am-2:30pm info

🆓 Riverlink (outside Jamaica Blue) - Santa's Arrival Parade 10am info

💵 Goodna Community Hall - Japanese martial arts 10am-2pm info

💵 Willowbank Raceway - QDRC Drag Racing Finals 12-8:30pm (gold coin) info

💵 Ipswich Civic Centre - Dance: ICONIC 1pm and 5:30pm ($35+) info

💵 St Paul's Anglican Church - Blackstone-Ipswich Cambrian Choir For Those Who Remain 2:30pm (under 6 free, 6-15 $15, Adult $40) details

💵 Banshees Bar & Artspace - The Bremer Beat Nostalgia 80s and 90s 3pm ($28) details

💵 Ripley Valley State Secondary College - End of year concert ELEMENTAL 4-5:30pm ($12) info

💵 Camira Basketball Court - Social basketball 6:30-8pm ($8.50) details

Sunday (16 November)

🆓 Blackstone Hall - Meditation 9-10am details

🆓 Bundamba State High - T20 Cricket Leaking Runs vs. Blowing Bubbles 10:30am info

🆓 Ipswich Art Gallery - Textile crafting: Conversation Piece Craft Circle 1-3pm more info

Monday (17 November)

🆓 New Spot Weekly - Coffee and free walk w/Kez @thingstodoIpswich 9am follow her page for details

Tuesday (18 November)

🆓 Springfield Lakes Community Centre - Bingo, prizes and tea (seniors) 9:30-11:30am info

🆓 Ipswich Civic Centre - Faith Lutheran College End of Year Awards Ceremony 6:45 PM info