🤔 17 Ipswich Curiosities, Explained

You've driven past them.

You've wondered about them.

You've probably argued about at least one of them on Facebook.

⚪ The white sphere on the hill at Redbank Plains
🥡 The faded shopfront on Downs Street that time forgot
🧱 The fortress wall holding up Bremer State High
🚗 The $4 million block sitting empty in the CBD
📡 The weather radar that isn't actually in Marburg
🏚️ The retired cottage on Griffith Road

We dug into 17 total — and some of the backstories are wild.

Explore The Ipswich Files →

🎭 The Shawshank Redemption — Live on Stage

Ipswich Little Theatre kicks off its 2026 season with the stage adaptation of Stephen King’s classic story of resilience. Witness Andy Dufresne’s journey through injustice and hope within the walls of Shawshank prison. 25 Feb – 14 Mar at the Incinerator Theatre. Book Tickets →

🐨 Help shape the new 10-year Koala Conservation Strategy

The Department of Environment is hosting a consultation session at the Ipswich Civic Centre to gather local feedback on the Fresh Start for SEQ Koalas plan. The 90-minute session includes a Q&A panel and covers habitat protection, mapping and threat reduction. 18 Feb, 9:30am – 11:00am. Register Free →

🚁 Ipswich From 100m Up — My New Weekly Drone Series

I’ve decided to dedicate my YouTube channel entirely to drone footage of our region. I’m certainly not a professional videographer, but I love exploring our backyard. I’ll be posting a new video every week from a different location—always the same 100m top-down view. Sometimes edited, sometimes raw, but always Ipswich. Watch the Channel →

✈️ Planes, Trains and Autos 2026 Dates Announced

Ipswich’s adrenaline-charged festival returns for the Labour Day long weekend from Saturday 2 May – Monday 4 May 2026. The headline event, "Fully Charged," is scheduled to take place at The Workshops Rail Museum (which is currently closed for storm repairs but aiming to host the event). Expect aerobatic air displays, heritage train rides and massive car exhibits. Ipswich Festivals →

🗳️ Vote

🚂 Help the 'Rust to Revival' Campaign

Former Cr David Pahlke is rallying the community to reopen the museum (closed ~7 years) and get the heritage trains running again between Kunkala and Cabanda. The group is currently seeking volunteers and committee members to help secure the site's future. Email David Pahlke for info →

🤔 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 here →

🔋 Swanbank Battery hits full 250MW output — now stabilizing grid for 355k homes

CleanCo’s 250MW/500MWh facility reached full commissioning output on 5 Feb. The battery now stores excess solar to discharge during evening peaks, providing two hours of continuous power for 355,000 homes while final market approvals wrap up. Queensland Government →

Rowan Anderson / Local Ipswich News:

🏀 State approves Ipswich Basketball Stadium expansion to competition standards

Approved via Ministerial Infrastructure Designation, the Booval expansion upgrades two courts to full competition size. The project mandates improved flood resilience, stormwater controls and increased capacity for state-level tournaments.

🏛️ Ipswich consults on City Plan tweaks — adjusts rules for sheds and carports

Open for comment until 6 Mar, "Amendment Package 1" refines development triggers for Class 10 structures (sheds, carports) in overlay areas. The update is largely operational but adds two local character listings and may remove DA requirements for minor residential builds. Shape Your Ipswich →

🚨 $34M Ripley Police Station construction wraps up — HQ opening date pending

Contractors have finished final external works — including glass protection — on the $34M facility intended as the new Ipswich District Police HQ. While the building is physically complete, Queensland Police has not yet confirmed an operational start date. EnduroShield →

Quick-fire snippets—local buzz & chatter:

• 👥 Ipswich Passes 270,000 Residents, Forecast 530,000 Within 20 Years →
• 🏉 Ipswich Jets Home Games Shift to Goodna for 2026–27 →
• 🚆 Springfield Station Parking Tightens as 50c Fares Boost Patronage →
• 🚧 Night Closures Planned for Redbank Plains Road Overpass →
• 🏛️ Ipswich 2032 Legacy Roadmap Progress Report Flags Infrastructure Priorities →
• 🚆 130-Year-Old Ipswich Signal Cabin Moved to Rail Workshops Museum →
• 🏉 Ipswich Jets Name iCare as Exclusive Naming Rights Partner →
• 🏉 Ipswich Jets Win First Trial 28–16 Over Falcons →
• 🥾 Paynes Road Reserve: Future Ebenezer Bushwalking Spot, Guided Tour Feb 19 →
• 🐨 SEQ Koala Strategy Engagement Session in Ipswich, Feb 18 →
• 🧒 Ipswich Youth Advisory Council Starts 2026 With Record 73 Members →

Wednesday (11 February)

💵 Queens Park - Ipswich The Brain Injury Community Picnic 11 AM-2 PM ($5) tickets

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

🍻🍽️ General Public - Trivia 6:30 PM info

🆓 Booval Freemasons Centre - Heartfulness meditation 7-8 PM details

Thursday (12 February)

💵 Trevallan Lifestyle Centre - Tarot Readings 10am-2pm ($70) book

🍻🍽️ Ipswich Turf Club - Summer Racing in the 'Swich 12pn-5pm info

💵 Everyday Mums Hub - 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 (13 February)

🆓 Booval Fair – Little Roos Kids’ Club (ages 0-5) 9:30-10:30am details

💵 White Rock Community House - Unfiltered Mums for first time mothers 11 AM-12 PM ($10) tickets

🆓 Orion Hotel - NDIS provider networking 1-3pm info

💵 Orion Hotel - Valentines Drag Bingo 7-9pm ($40) tickets

💵 Ipswich Civic Centre – Creedence Clearwater Collective 7:30pm ($59) info

🌹 Saturday (14 February)

💵 Camira Courts - Social Badminton 7-9am ($12.50) info

💵 Soul Nook Marburg - SoulDate picnics 9am-4pm ($75+) tickets

💵 Goodna Community Centre - Kyudo, Iaido and Jodo classes 10am-2pm ($25) details

💵 Ipswich Art Workshop - Basket weaving workshop 10am-3:30pm ($70) tickets

🆓 Firestation 101 - FLIGHT! Video auditions info

💵 Orion Hotel - Galentine's Bottomless Brunch 11am-2pm ($79) tickets

🍻🍽️ Orion Hotel - Valentines Day Traffic Light Party 6-11pm info

💵 North Ipswich Bowls Club - Flirty February Dancing with the Queens 6-9pm ($45) tickets

💵 Hotel Commonwealth - Valentine's Day Dinner 6-7:45pm ($70 each) details

💵 Banshees Bar & Artspace - Bingo with Nuts Valentines Show 6-11pm ($20) details

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

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

💵 Ipswich Civic Centre - Love in Lights Valentine’s dinner and show 7pm ($80 each) details

💵 Falvey's Hotel Yamanto - Traffic Light Party VIP package 9pm-1am ($119) tickets

Sunday (15 February)

🆓 Blackstone Hall - Relaxation and meditation 9-10 AM info

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

Monday (16 February)

🆓 Ipswich Art Gallery - IAG Kids: Move It 10am-5pm info

Tuesday (17 February)

💵 Springfield Lakes Community Centre - Ipswich Thriving Seniors BINGO ($10) details

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