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INSIDER #057 – Queensland’s oldest rail tunnel


Today let's dig into Victoria Tunnel at Grandchester, Queensland's oldest railway tunnel (and it's still in use). There's a new way to discover the best of Ipswich Insider, from guides and reports to deep dives (Top Picks page). Last week of school holidays so there's plenty on, including Val's Ipswich Gala Doll Fair this Sunday. Catch ya round.

🚇 Is it common knowledge Queensland’s oldest and once longest railway tunnel is in Grandchester?

Victoria Tunnel opened in 1866 and still carries trains today.

It was one of Queensland’s earliest big rail engineering feats, cut through the Little Liverpool Range as the colony pushed west.

  • Opened in 1866 with Six Chain Tunnel
  • Once Queensland’s longest tunnel at 537 m
  • Still part of an active rail corridor today

Victoria Tunnel special report →

🏅 Top Picks for Ipswich Locals

A lot of you are newer here, so there’s a good chance you’ve missed some of our best guides, special reports, deep dives and spotlights.

Here’s a new page that pulls them together in one place.

  • More than a year of useful Ipswich information
  • Organised into Interactive, Iconic, Top 10, How Ipswich Works, The Ipswich Files and more
  • A handy starting point if you’re new here

See the best of Ipswich →

Ipswich Gala Doll Fair moves to Ipswich Civic Centre on Sunday 19 April 2026, with dolls, bears, crafts and collectables on sale, plus free antique doll and bear valuations at 11am.

Enquiries: Val at 0408 722 407.

More info →

Ophelia Chooses is Ipswich Little Theatre’s May season at the Incinerator Theatre, running 13 to 30 May 2026. Buddy White’s play gives Hamlet a fresh theatrical spin, with light supper or afternoon tea included after performances. See more details →

$1.65 million, Woodend - this fully renovated four-bedroom character home sits on 1,285sqm with an entertainer’s deck, outdoor kitchen, magnesium pool, double shed and a walk-to-town position in one of Ipswich’s most sought-after pockets. See full listing →

Greater Springfield Gamers runs regular community tabletop gaming events across Springfield Central, Redbank Plains and Goodna, with casual sessions built around fun, social play and a wide mix of games. Learn more →

🗳️ Vote

🗳️ Last Week's Poll Results

What time do you eat dinner?

  • 48% 5:30–6:30
  • 40% 6:30–7:30
  • 7% Before 5:30
  • 5% After 7:30

368 participants - thank you for voting! I wonder if we narrowed it down further 6-6:30pm would still win?

🤔 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 →

🏥 Mater Springfield Begins Staged Hospital Opening

Mater Hospital Springfield began its staged opening on 13 April, with ICU, theatres and medical wards due on 20 April, maternity on 27 April and emergency on 25 May. It brings a $1 billion hospital online for Greater Springfield, adding local beds, maternity care, emergency services and more than 1,000 permanent jobs. Mater →

🏃 Gout Gout Breaks 20-Second Barrier

Ipswich sprinter Gout Gout ran 19.67 seconds with a legal +1.7 wind on 12 April in Sydney, breaking the Australian 200m record and becoming the first Australian under 20 seconds. The run puts an Ipswich teenager among the world’s fastest and adds to the city’s growing sporting profile.
Watch on YouTube →

🏭 Ipswich Pushes 7,923ha Industrial Future

Ipswich is pitching a 7,923-hectare future industrial land supply through a new investment prospectus, with council saying it exceeds all other South East Queensland local government areas combined. The push is aimed at landing more manufacturing, defence and logistics jobs locally as the city grows. Ipswich Invest 2026 →

🌊 Girl Dies After Colleges Crossing Search

A seven-year-old girl died after going missing while swimming at Colleges Crossing, Chuwar, about 5pm on 12 April, with police divers recovering her body about 10.30pm. The death has hit a well-known local recreation spot and police will prepare a report for the coroner. 9NEWS →

💰 Kambu Health Receives $5.23 Million Federal Backing

Kambu Health has secured $5.23 million in federal funding for 2025-26 to deliver primary healthcare across Ipswich and the West Moreton region. The money backs culturally safe local services and supports one of Ipswich’s key Aboriginal community-controlled health providers. Local Ipswich News →

Together with Ipswich Gala Doll Fair

Returning to Ipswich Civic Centre on Sunday 19 April, bringing together dolls, bears, miniatures and collectables from across Queensland. Ipswich has hosted doll shows for more than 50 years, with the Gala Doll Fair itself running since 1989. Facebook →

More info → Val at 0408 722 407

Events Labels:

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

Wednesday (15 April)

🆓 Rosewood Anglican Church Rosewood Family Fun Day 9am-12pm info

💵 Summerland Camels, Harrisville – Little Farmer Humpty Day 9am-2pm ($10) info

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

🍻🍽️ Hotel Commonwealth - Twilight Trivia 6:30-8:30pm details

🍻🍽️ General Public - Trivia 6:30 PM info

Thursday (16 April)

🆓 Queens Park Enviro Centre - Rodney the Rainbow Fish author reading and activity 10:30-11:30 AM details

🍻🍽️ Ipswich Turf Club - Ipswich race day 12pm info

🍻🍽️ Banshees Bar and Artspace - Karaoke 6pm info

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

Friday (17 April)

💵 Ipwich Indoor Sports Centre, Showgrounds - Pickleball 5:30-7:30pm ($8-15) See all weekly sessions here →

🍻🍽️ Banshees Bar and Artspace - Clotheslined End of Days tour 7pm ($17) info

💵 Racehorse Hotel - Arj Barker comedy 8pm ($59) tickets

🍻🍽️ Stony Creek Brewing - Live music: DJ Gavin 6pm info

Saturday (18 April)

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

💵 Shapcott Park Boat Ramp - Bremer River Clean Up 8-1pm reserve a spot

💵 Joseph Brady Park, Barellan Point - WaterFest fishing 8-11 AM tickets

🆓 Soul Nook Marburg – Mother’s Day Markets 8:30am-2pm info

💵 Vapiano Nicholas Street - Pizza kids class 10-11am ($27.78) book fast

💵 Centenary Archers Club, Sumner - Archery class 10am-1pm ($65) sells out fast

💵 St Thomas' Anglican Church Hall - Kundalini Fear & Sound Workshop 1-3:15pm ($35) info

🍻🍽️ Stony Creek Brewing - Live music: Sean P 6pm info

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

🍻🍽️ Rosewood ShowgroundsBingo Night 6:30pm details

Sunday (19 April)

🆓 Rampage Axe Throwing (83 Oxford St, Booval) - Booval Country Markets 6am-3pm info

💵 Ipswich Civic Centre – Ipswich Gala Doll Fair 9am-2:30pm ($2-10) details

🆓 Orion Shopping Centre - Springfield Markets 9am-4pm info

💵 Browns Park, North Ipswich - World Hat Walk 10-11am details

Monday (20 April)

🆓 Weekly Adventure Walk + coffee (BYO) with Kez and crew from @thingstodoIpswich 9-10am info

Tuesday (21 April)

🆓 Springfield Lakes YMCA - Ipswich Thriving Seniors see daily events timetable →

😎 Top 5 Upcoming Events:

25 Apr – Anzac Day AFL Cup, Brighton Homes Arena info

25 Apr – Anzac Day Gunfire Breakfast, Club Parkview details

26 Apr – Wild West Summer Series mountain biking, Castle Hill details

26 Apr – Monster High & Fashion Doll Market, Rare & Pretty Dolls info

2-4 May – Planes, Trains & Autos, Various Locations more info

All upcoming events →

🧩 This Week's Answers

Scramble Answer: Limestone Park

Limestone Park sits on the limestone ridge running through Eastern Heights that helped give early Ipswich its first name, Limestone. The wider reserve was set aside for public recreation in the 1800s, with the southern section later becoming today’s park, now a 50-hectare sporting and community space.

GuessWhere Answer:

📍 Taken from western end of Robertson Rd looking at Limestone Park.

This Week's Trivia Answer:

b) 27 houses. Across 13 Great Houses of Ipswich open days between 2013 and 2023, the National Trust featured 27 unique Ipswich homes.

📊 Last Week's Results

The Trivia:

Trivia #056

Which of these Ipswich areas was the most densely populated in 2025?

❌ Brassall - 9% guessed wrong

✅ Raceview - 7% guessed right

❌ Springfield Lakes - 72% guessed wrong

❌ Goodna - 12% guessed wrong

363 participants - thanks for playing!

📍 GuessWhere:

GuessWhere #056

  • Players: 223 (popular1!)
  • Average guess distance: 985m
  • Farthest guess: 6,740m
  • Closest guess: 3m (great1!)
—Jamey (Support Monthly · Facebook · Instagram)
Eastern Heights, Ipswich, QLD 4305
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