🤔 16 Ipswich Peculiarities, Explained

You've driven past them.

You've wondered about them.

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

This is the stuff you don’t even know you want to know until you know it.

• 🎨 The giant snorkel structure in the CBD
• 🚧 The missing road link driving everyone mad
• 🚫 The forbidden lake you definitely can't swim in anymore
• 🌳 The suburban house with a 114-acre backyard
• 🦘 The huge kangaroo processor hiding in Wulkuraka
• ⚡ The empty lot in Providence that will never be sold

We dug into 16 total. And some of the backstories are fully Ipswich.

See The Ipswich Files – Case 2 →

🏗️ Ipswich's Looming Megaproject

From Helidon to Kagaru, the landscape is being prepped for heavy hauling.

And the heart of it all sits right here in Ipswich.

• 🛤️ 100km of dual-gauge track carving a new freight corridor
• 🏭 548ha terminal turning Willowbank into an inland port
• 🚂 Double-stacked giants cutting travel time from Melbourne to <24 hours
• 💸 $200m interchange upgrade promised for Amberley
• 🚇 Tunnels and bridges engineering a path through the ranges
• ⚓Wildcard PortConnex proposal to tunnel all the way to the Brisbane Port

The maps are drawn and the funding is moving—here is the complete simplified guide to what's happening inside Ipswich.

Ipswich's Megaproject, Simplified →

🏨 Ipswich Council Signs Deal for $53M Hilton Garden Inn to Open in 2028

Ipswich City Council announced on 11 Feb that it has signed a development agreement for a 160-room Hilton Garden Inn in the Nicholas Street Precinct. The project brings the city's first major international hotel brand to 4 Ellenborough Street.

• Global Brand: 7-storey hotel featuring a pool, restaurant, and conference facilities.
• Jobs: Creates 150 construction roles and 50 ongoing operational positions.
• Timeline: Construction begins late 2026 targeting a late 2028 completion.

This $53 million investment secures critical tourism infrastructure to support Ipswich's expanding business and leisure economy.

Full story →

Foster & Kinship Care Community BBQ - Curious about foster or kinship care? Head to Queens Park (Goleby Ave) on Saturday 21 February, 10am – 1pm, for a free BBQ with games, activities, and a relaxed chat with the DCC Industry Group team. All welcome. More info →

Miss Case 1 of The Ipswich Files? We launched The Ipswich Files last week with 17 local curiosities, including the mystery Redbank sphere, the 'fortress' wall, and a $4m empty CBD block. See what's hiding in plain sight. Read full story →

New Park Alert: Daybreak Park, Walloon
The Dawn estate has opened its massive new centrepiece. Features include a bespoke play tower, multi-purpose court, outdoor gym, ping pong table, and shaded BBQ spots. Perfect for burning off weekend energy. See the details →

How Big is Ipswich? A game. Drag our city outline over Sydney, Dubai, or Fraser Island to see how we really stack up. This interactive map tool reveals the true scale of the region (it's bigger than you think). Check it out →

🗳️ 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 →

🚁 Note: As you can see, this is a drone shot! Just drop your pin on the ground directly beneath where it was flying.

⚖️ 474-Unit WM Hughes Street Development Likely Headed To Planning Court

On 13 February 2026, council said the applicant declined to extend assessment of the 474-unit development application at 48 and 22 WM Hughes Street, North Ipswich, and will pursue a deemed refusal. That is expected to trigger an appeal in the Planning and Environment Court and extend the timeline for a final decision.
Ipswich City Council →
View DA Documents →

🏢 Hilton Garden Inn Confirmed For Ipswich City Centre In $53m Deal

Hilton and Ipswich Hotel Group have agreed to build a $53m, seven-storey, 160-room Hilton Garden Inn on Ellenborough Street beside the Nicholas Street Precinct, with construction tipped for late 2026 and 150 workers on site. It's expected to open in late 2028 and create 50 permanent jobs once operating. Ipswich Insider →

🏗️ 10-Storey Apartment Proposal Lodged For The Terrace, North Ipswich

A development application (1681/2026/MCU) was received 8 February 2026 for 90 units plus a food and drink outlet and office at 20 The Terrace, North Ipswich. Planning Alerts shows the reference and lets locals track the application and send comments to council. Planning Alerts →

🏛️ Council Report Card: Ipswich Passes 270,000 Residents

Ipswich's population reached 270,624 as at 1 January 2026, council's quarterly report card says, up almost 10,000 in 12 months. Council says rapid growth increases infrastructure costs and is calling for more state and federal investment. View Report Card →

🚨 Two Ipswich Teens Pinned By Car Outside Takeaway Shop

Two boys, 13 and 14, were hit about 4pm on 13 February 2026 after a Ford Falcon skidded into them outside Carmen's Seafood and Takeaway in North Booval. Police are investigating and asking witnesses or anyone with footage to come forward. 9News →

Quick-fire snippets—local buzz & chatter:

• 🏆 Nicholas Street Precinct Wins Silver At Better Future World Design Awards →
• 💰 Soldiers' Memorial Hall Repairs $250k Short As Floors Sink →
• 🏗️ The Grove Precinct At Springfield Rise First Release Coming Soon →
• 🐸 Ipswich Logs 41,656 Cane Toads In Community Challenge →
• 🏢 88 Limestone Street Heritage Precinct (Old TAFE) Listed For Sale →
• 💰 Ti Tree Bioenergy Funding Opens For Local Environmental And Social Projects →
• 🏉 Ipswich Jets Junior Reps Beat Northern Pride In Mal Meninga Opener →
• 🛒 NGU Real Estate Opens Booval Fair Office Led By Laney McQueen →

Wednesday (18 February)

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

🍻🍽️ General Public - Trivia 6:30 PM info

🍻🍽️ Hotel Commonwealth - Brooklyn Nine-Nine Trivia 6:30-8:30pm info

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

Thursday (19 February)

🆓 Splash 'n' Play - Mums walk & talk 9:30am

💵 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

💵 Racehorse Hotel - Dreamin' of Nashville country show 8pm ($40) tickets

Friday (20 February)

🆓 Ipswich Art Gallery - Pulping Sheathes exhibition 10am-3pm info

🍻🍽️ Hotel Metropole - Live music: Amanda Faulkner 7pm details

💵 Brighton Homes Arena - Ladies charity event 6-8:30pm ($25) waitlist

Saturday (21 February)

🆓 St Lukes Anglican Church - Rosewood Markets 7-11am info

💵 The Y Springfield Central Community Centre - Saturday Lego workshop 1-2:15 PM ($30) info

🍻🍽️ Cafe Providence, South Ripley - Adults Only Trivia 6pm details

💵 Springlake Hotel - Billy & Bruzzy Show 7pm ($65+) info

💵 Ipswich Civic Centre - Stitch in the ‘Swich world comedy 7-9pm ($30) details

💵 Studio 188 - TJAKA Mixtape Sessions 7:30pm ($24) tickets

Sunday (22 February)

🆓 Riverlink, The Reject Shop - Market Zone 8:30am-3pm details

🆓 Marburg Showgrounds - Marburg pacing race day 11am-8pm

💵 Walloon Saloon - Tom Busby album launch party 3pm tickets

💵 Banshees Bar & Artspace - Georgia Scarlett "Rhythm of Life" tour 5-10pm ($25) info

Monday (23 February)

Tuesday (24 February)

🦗

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