profile

Ipswich’s #1 Newsletter

INSIDER #045: What’s beneath Ipswich?


Today, we're launching Mine Mapper to reveal what's beneath Ipswich: closed coal mines and filled drill holes. Then we'll dive into the wastewater network's biggest treatment plants and pump stations. Finally we'll use the new Ipswich Elevation Explorer tool to see 1m contours and heat maps of Ipswich land. On Monday, unwind with Australia Day events citywide. All the details below. Catch ya round.

⚙️ Inside Ipswich’s Wastewater World

Flush, drain, disappear. We treat it like magic, but it is actually a massive industrial operation.

Beneath our suburbs, a high-pressure mechanical network is battling gravity 24 hours a day to keep our city liveable. Our latest report takes you inside the three key systems that make it work:

  • The Grid: 1,600km of pipes buried beneath your feet.
  • The Muscle: Over 50 pump stations forcing waste uphill.
  • The Plants: 51 million litres treated every single day.

It is the most complex machine you own, yet you have never seen it. Until now.

Dive in →

🏔️ Ipswich Elevation Explorer – How High is Your House?

See your street from a whole new angle with our interactive Elevation Explorer.

Tap for Data: Click anywhere for exact height in metres.

Visualize Terrain: Use the Heatmap to spot dips and ridges instantly, or switch to 3D for a better view.

Go Precision: Turn on the QLD 1m layer for maximum accuracy.

Find your elevation →

Want a poster here? Details →

⛏️ MINE MAPPER:

Is your land sitting on old tunnels? They say Ipswich is like Swiss cheese—now you can see for yourself. We overlaid historical plans onto modern maps in this free tool by Ipswich Insider.

Discover coal mines →

$1.45m est. , Ipswich, "Lakemba" (c.1902) is a Denmark Hill icon. One of the "Great Houses," of Ipswich. This Federation masterpiece blends heritage grandeur with modern luxury. Enjoy 3.5m ceilings, stained glass, a heated magnesium pool, and panoramic mountain views on 997sqm. See full listing →

Men’s Breakfast, Saturday Feb 14: Hear Brett Rogers share his 40-year journey through Mines Rescue, Fire, and Ambulance services. Sat Feb 14, 7:30am, Uniting Church Booval. $10. RSVP Trevor: 0409 889 386 or footearthur@gmail.com by Feb 11.

CANE TOAD CHALLENGE: Help save local wildlife by joining the fight! Compete to catch the most toads, win prizes, and donate your catch to help researchers create tadpole lures. Join the Challenge →

🗳️ Vote

🗳️ Last Week's Poll Results

Help me decide on a small website tweak. Would you say the "Happenings" section below is:

  • 88% The best of what's on
  • 13% The best events

106 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.

GuessWhere →

🚨 Ipswich Council issues formal legal warning to Jackie Moon Property Corp over unapproved nickel waste stockpile at Tivoli

Residents allege dust and noise from the site are impacting health. Operator Pacific Green Industries maintains the New Caledonia-imported material is a government-approved construction resource. ABC News →

🏟️ Demolition of North Ipswich Reserve's western grandstand begins, kicking off $40M sport and entertainment precinct upgrade

Stage 1 of the redevelopment includes a new high-capacity grandstand and broadcast-quality lighting designed to attract major sporting events to the region. Ipswich City Council →

🚧 TMR closes Mt Crosby Rd overpass day and night until Jan 24 for girder repairs and warns of 30+ minute delays on Warrego Hwy

Crews are replacing damaged structural components on the Karalee bridge with heavy detours in place for commuters traveling between Ipswich and Brisbane's western suburbs. Queensland Trucking Association →

📚 Redbank Plaza Library closes for renovations until March 23 and returns and reservations shifted to Redbank Plains branch

Ipswich Libraries has extended operating hours at the nearby Redbank Plains location to accommodate displaced users needing PC and study space access during the overhaul. Ipswich Libraries →

Advertise your event to 7,000 locals: Let's chat...

Events Labels:

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

Wednesday (21 January)

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

🍻🍽️ General Public - Trivia 6:30 PM info

🆓 Paperbark Flats Picnic Area, Redbank Plains - Upgrade Community Pop-up 7-11am info

Thursday (22 January)

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

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

🍻🍽️ Hotel Commonwealth - Simpsons trivia 6:30-8:30 PM info

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

Friday (23 January)

🍻🍽️ Stony Creek Brewing - Live music: Eddie and the Engine Room 6pm details

Saturday (24 January)

🍻🍽️ Brothers Leagues Club - Aussie Day Long Weekend 10 AM-5 PM info

🍻🍽️ Stony Creek Brewing - Live music: Just Jamie 6pm info

💵 Banshees Bar & Artspace - The Hambuckin' Pickups with Julian James & Beci Kate 7pm $30 tickets

Sunday (25 January)

🆓 Hotel Commonwealth - Australia Day Carpark Party 12-6 PM info

🍻🍽️ Stony Creek Brewing - Art fight 2-5 PM info

💵 Racehorse Hotel - Best Years of Our Lives 8 PM ($27) tickets

Monday (26 January)

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

🆓 Marburg Showgrounds - Aussie Day Race Day 11 AM-8 PM info

🆓 Falvey's Hotel, Yamanto5th running of Falvey’s Australia Day Pig Races, Yamanto 11am info

🆓 Club Parkview, Goodna - Celebrate Australia: Food, drink, lawn games 12-6:30pm details

🆓 Hotel CommonwealthCar park Party 12-6pm details

Tuesday (27 January)

🦗

😎 Top 6 Upcoming Events:

29 Jan – Ipswich Thriving Seniors Community Consultation Meeting, Providence Community Centre info

30 Jan – Ipswich Cane Toad Challenge, Haig St Quarry Brassall details

30 Jan – Adults Only Nights at Area 51 Bundamba info

31 Jan – Westies Skate Shop Grand Opening, Augustine Heights details

7 Feb – Bull-O-Rama, Ipswich Showgrounds info

14 Feb - Men's Breakfast, Ipswich Uniting Church RSVP →

All upcoming events →

🧩 This Week's Answers

Scramble Answer: ALLAWAH ROAD

CHUWAR. Named by surveyor James Warner in 1848, the name "Allawah" means "make your abode here." While the road has served locals for over a century, its most famous landmarks arrived in the 1930s. The iconic Allawah Scout Camp was established in 1936, and the original Mount Crosby Weir bridge followed in 1927. Today, that historic bridge is a pedestrian-only walkway, while the road serves as the gateway to the brand-new Explorers Bridge.

GuessWhere Answer:

📍 Looking out towards Colleges Crossing and the Brisbane River from just off Allawah Rd, Chuwar.

This Week's Trivia Answer:

B) 17 Orion Lagoons worth of wastewater daily (~51 million litres per day).

📊 Last Week's Results

The Trivia:

Trivia #044

The 65ha farm behind South Ripley sparked a bidding war in November 2025. Guess the sale price?

❌ A.) $23 million — 13% guessed wrong

✅ B.) $45 million — 50% guessed right

C.) $67 million — 37% guessed wrong

217 participants

📍 GuessWhere:

GuessWhere #044

  • Players: 162
  • Average guess distance: 2,365m
  • Farthest guess: 19.25 km
  • Closest guess: 1m (wow – always impressive!)
—Jamey (Facebook · Instagram)
Eastern Heights, Ipswich, QLD 4305
No longer want these emails? Unsubscribe
Want to change your email? Update it here

P.S. Were you forwarded this email?

GET IPSWICH INSIDER FREE →

Ipswich’s #1 Newsletter

Join 7,400+ locals for this week's top stories, insider guides and the best of what's on.

Share this page