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INSIDER #039 – Ipswich’s 23 hilltop water tanks


Today we’re pulling up to Ipswich Club House on Gray Street, then diving into a complete guide to Ipswich’s hilltop water tanks. For events, you’re sorted: on Friday it’s the Rosewood Christmas Festival, then Sunday morning brings the 30th annual Ipswich Toy Run at Brassall Shopping Centre. All the details below. Catch ya round.

Ipswich Club House: From Tydfil to Gray’s Restaurant

Ipswich Club House is one of the city’s standout Federation Queenslanders — but do you know its real story?

  • 1916: Built as timber villa “Tydfil” for Ipswich butcher and pastoralist J.P. Bottomley.
  • Architect: Designed by George Brockwell Gill, who also created sister homes Arrochar and Bowerbank.
  • 1916–1959: Bottomley family home for 43 years.
  • 1959–2022: Clubhouse of the Ipswich Club for 63 years.
  • Today: Its double staircase and octagonal porch now lead into Gray’s Restaurant & Bar, open to everyone.

Read the full story →

Hilltop Hydrants: A Complete Guide to Ipswich’s Water Supply Tanks

Have you ever given a second thought to all the water tanks on hills around Ipswich?

How exactly do they help us out in Ipswich? How do they fit in the water network between Wivenhoe and your tap?

This report reveals all and maps Ipswich's 23 tanks, ranks them by volume, shows their elevations and build decades, and explains why each one sits exactly where it does.

See Ipswich's 23 hilltop water tanks →

Get your poster here: EMAIL ME →

$1.7m Pine Mountain – 2011 Hallmark 4 bed + study + media home on 8,105 m2 at 3 Josette Place, with mineral pool, architect-designed NE entertaining, 9-car shed and rustic "Man Land" bar beside a 15 m creek feature. See full listing →

📚 NEW expanded edition of Arthur Foote’s “Footprints in Ipswich History” is out now, with new early Ipswich photos and details. $25 posted to you. Order via footearthur@gmail.com or SMS/TEXT him: 0409 889 386. Support local.

First published in October 1855, the North Australian was Ipswich’s first newspaper, giving the growing town its own voice years before the Ipswich Herald and later the Queensland Times. Wiki →

Karragaroo, the 1884 brick homestead built for Cribb & Foote heir Ambrose Foote at Eastern Heights, now has its council-approved master suite and study addition complete, adding a more practical rear wing while keeping the landmark’s original brickwork and verandahs intact.

🗳️ Vote

🗳️ Last Week's Poll Results

How did you end up in Ipswich?

  • 69% Moved here
  • 31% Born here

290 participants - Thank you for voting!

🤔 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.

Ipswich, GuessWhere →

⚖️ Springfield Lakes Teen Sentenced To Five Years For Brutal Attack

Ipswich Children's Court has sentenced a 16-year-old to five years' detention, serving half, for the March 2024 assault that left Springfield Lakes resident Benjamin Cant with permanent brain injuries. The no-conviction ruling under old youth laws has sharpened Ipswich debate over “adult crime, adult time” reforms and justice for victims needing lifelong care. 4BC Interview with Victim's Mother →

🏗️ Public Notified On Karrabin Rosewood Road Shopping Centre And Indoor Sports DA

Public notification is under way for a DA at 929-991 Karrabin Rosewood Road, Thagoona, for a neighbourhood centre with supermarket, tavern, fuel, medical, fast food and 540-plus parks. If approved, the centre would reshape Walloon–Thagoona’s rural edge, concentrating new jobs, traffic and sport activity beside the rail line and nearby housing estates. Ipswich Tribune's 2023 Article on This DA →

⛔ North Ipswich Free Shop Ordered Off TMR Road Corridor

Transport and Main Roads has issued a demolition notice ordering the volunteer-run North Ipswich Free Shop off the Pine Mountain Road corridor after 15 months of operating on the fenceline. Losing the pink “free shop” would cut off food, clothing and household help for locals doing it tough, unless a new site can be found. Local Ipswich News →

🏛️ Two New Ipswich Heritage Sites Proposed For Protection

Council’s latest Ipswich City Plan 2025 amendments propose local heritage protection for the former Ipswich Baby Clinic in Wharf Street and the former medical superintendent’s residence in Court Street. Listing both early health buildings would tighten demolition controls and strengthen character streetscapes around the CBD, hospital precinct and river-side medical cluster. Local Ipswich News →

💰 Ti Tree Bioenergy Fund Announced With $15k Community Grants

Ipswich City Council has confirmed a Ti Tree Bioenergy Community Fund with $200,000 in the 2025–26 budget and individual grants of up to $15,000 opening from early 2026. Residents, groups and businesses across Ipswich will be able to apply for projects like tree planting, weed control and habitat work to offset impacts from the Willowbank waste facility. Ipswich City Council →

Events Labels:

🆓 Free entry
🍻🍽️ Free, buy food/drink
💵 Ticketed

Wednesday (10 December)

🆓 Hope House, Leichhardt - Christmas Gift Shop 10am-2pm details

💵 Queens Park - The Brain Injury Community Christmas picnic 11 AM-2 PM ($5) details

🍻🍽️ Ipswich Turf Club - Summer Racing in the 'Swich race day info

💵 Ipswich Civic Centre - Ipswich Seniors Concert Group: Frantic, Festive Frolics! 1pm ($20) info

💵 Springfield YMCA - Ipswich Thriving Seniors Choir 1-2 PM ($5) full thriving seniors calendar

💵 Springlake Hotel - Balls Out Bingo 7 PM ($20) tickets

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

🍻🍽️ General Public - Trivia 6:30 PM info

🍻🍽️ Hotel Commonwealth - Friendsmas Trivia 6:30-8:30 PM info

Thursday (11 December)

💵 Everyday Mums Hub, Ipswich - Zumba class 6:30-7:30 PM ($12) tickets

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

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

Friday (12 December)

🆓 Nicholas St Precinct - EVENTS DAILY – Christmas in Ipswich info

🆓 Rosewood Showgrounds – Rosewood Christmas Festival 5-8pm info

💵 Limestone Gallery and Studios - Metal clay play with local artist 6-9 PM have a go

🍻🍽️ Stony Creek Brewing - Live music: Billy Bridge 6-9 PM info

💵 Banshees Bar & Artspace - The Salty Sirens 7-10:30 PM ($13.50) info

💵 Ipswich Civic Centre - Stitch in the ‘swich Christmas comedy special 8 PM ($30) tickets

Saturday (13 December)

🆓 Yamanto Central - 12 days of Christmas details

💵 EWE Nique Hobby Farm, Haigslea - Santa visit 9am-noon book

💵 Ripley Valley State Secondary College - Performing arts concert 9:30 AM and 4 PM ($10-$27.50) info

🆓 Ipswich Art Gallery - Lost in Palm Springs exhibition 10 AM-5 PM info

💵 The Y Springfield Central Community Centre - Kids Lego workshop 1pm ($30) info

🆓 Soul Nook, Marburg - Christmas thrifts and sips 2-5 PM info

🆓 Providence, Ripley – Ripley Markets Christmas Edition 3-8pm details

💵 The George Hogg Performance Venue, East Ipswich - Christmas Crackers Ipswich 7 PM ($19-$31) tickets

💵 Ipswich Art Gallery - Curator talk 3-4 PM tickets

🆓 Robelle Domain – IGA Springfield Carols 4:30pm info

💵 Ipswich Art Gallery - Opening event: Lost in Palm Springs 5:30-7:30 PM info

🍻🍽️ Stony Creek Brewing - Live music: Damian Johnston 6-9 PM info

💵 Creative Hearts Co., Brookwater - Outdoor cinema night 6:30-10 PM ($22.50 adults, $12.50 kids) more info

💵 Camira Basketball Court - Social basketball 6:30-8 PM ($8.50) have a try

💵 Ipswich Civic Centre - The Traveling Wilburys Collection 7:30 PM ($49-$69) tickets

Sunday (14 December)

💵 Ipswich Showgrounds - Thrifty Threads Preloved Christmas Market 7am-12 PM info

🆓 Brassall Shopping Centre – 30th Annual Toy Run 8am-12:30pm (free + upgrades for food) info

🆓 White Rock Community House - Weekly restorative yoga 10-11:30 AM info

💵 Private Studio, Basin Pocket - Unshouted Women in business workshop 10-12:30 PM ($149) details

💵 Riverlink/Priceline Pharmacy - Santa's Toy Lab 10 AM-2 PM ($100 spend required) info

💵 Camira Courts - Social badminton 12:30-2:30 PM ($9.50) book

🆓 Len Johnson Oval, North Ipswich - STRUD Family Fun Day (Petting zoo + jumping castles) 2-5pm details

🆓 Whitehill Church, Raceview – Carols 2025 & Fireworks 4-7:45pm details

🆓 Marburg Community Park - Carols 5-9pm

💵 St Paul's Anglican Church - Christmas carols & brass band 6-7 PM ($7-$10) details

Monday (15 December)

🆓 Weekly Adventure Walk - Coffee + walk (free) w/Kez @thingstodoIpswich 9am follow her page for details

💵 Brighton Homes Arena - Wests Juniors Christmas Clinic 5-7 PM ($49) info

Tuesday (16 December)

💵 Wacol RSPCA - RSPCA Wacol school holiday program 9 AM-2 PM ($146.17) more details

💵 Springfield Lakes Community Centre - Ipswich Thriving Seniors Bingo 9:30-11:30 AM ($10) info

🍻🍽️ Hotel Metropole - Trivia 7pm info

😎 Top 5 Upcoming Events:

17 Dec – Mighty Broncos w/ Adam Reynolds, Springlake Hotel details

17 Dec – Christmas Fundraiser, CSI Ipswich info

19 Dec – Yacht Rock Tribute, Hotel Commonwealth details

20 Dec – The Collier Markets, Challenge Employment Collingwood Park details

20 Dec – Goodna Street Life Christmas Carols, Layard St, Goodna info

All upcoming events →

🧩 This Week's Answers

Scramble Answer: MOUNT MARROW

Mount Marrow is an old volcanic hill carved into a hard-rock basalt quarry. On its flanks sit crushers, conveyors, stockpiles, a weighbridge, workshops and busy truck bays, turning blasted rock from the mountain into roadbase, rail ballast and concrete aggregate.

GuessWhere Answer:

📍Taken from Thagoona Haigslea Rd looking across the paddock at Mt Marrow Metal Quarries Facility

This Week's Trivia Answer:

b) 26 hours. Ipswich's border perimeter is about 130 km in length. The average walking pace is 5km/hr. In a perfect world you could walk it in 26 hours non-stop.

📊 Last Week's Results

The Trivia:

For much of the 1900s, Ipswich's West Moreton coalfield was mainly:

Trivia #038

206 participants

❌ A.) Illegal dumping investigation — 22% guessed wrong

❌ B.) Abandoned vehicle compliance — 7% guessed wrong

✅ C.) Illegal parking on footpath — 11% guessed right

❌ D.) Dog noise nuissance — 60% guessed wrong

—Jamey (Facebook · Instagram)
Eastern Heights, Ipswich, QLD 4305
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