TOGETHER WITH

The Ipswich Files – Case 4: 20 Ipswich Oddities

The first 3 Ipswich Files uncovered 52 local curiosities, peculiarities and intrigues. If you missed them, start here:

• 17 Ipswich Curiosities
• 16 Ipswich Peculiarities
• 19 Ipswich Intrigues

Now we’re opening Case #4: 20 Ipswich Oddities.

Start with cattle walking beneath the Warrego Highway. Then there’s a billboard with million-dollar potential, a house higher than the weather radar, and Blackstone’s castle imagined back on its hill.

Also discover a map of Ipswich (Limestone) when it was still in New South Wales. The small-block maths behind Ripley, and that question about Box Flat that keeps coming back.

Some came from readers. Some were hiding in maps, old newspapers and planning documents. All give you another reason to look twice at somewhere you thought you knew.

Get stuck into 20 Ipswich Oddities → 

🏡 Has Your Home’s Value Jumped Since You Took Out Your Mortgage?

If it has, you could be paying more interest than you need to.

As your home’s value rises and you pay down your mortgage, you owe a smaller share of what it’s worth. That can help you qualify for a lower interest rate.

Our Insider Partner, Justin Hewitt at Loan Market Ripley Valley, can review your current loan, compare your options and work out how much you could save.

Email Justin for a home loan review →

Around $1.5m in Kensington Grove – Built in 2023, this five-bedroom home at 89 Sundew Crescent sits on about 7/8 of an acre, with 4 living areas, a butler’s pantry, an in-ground pool and a covered outdoor entertaining area. Take a look →

Halloween Carnival of Screams – Congratulations to Cassandra from Leichhardt, winner of our ticket prize pack! Head to Ipswich Showgrounds this Saturday 31 October, 4–9pm, for a haunted house, trick-or-treating, rides and a spooky disco. Entry is $8 prepaid or $10 on the day, with children 12 and under free. See the details →

Ipswich Australia Day Awards nominations close at 11.59pm this Sunday, 1 November. Know a local volunteer, coach or community group whose work deserves recognition? Put them forward for the 2027 awards. See the categories and nominate →

🗳️ Vote

🤔 Trivia

🧩 SWICHEROO

Unscramble the word to reveal your GuessWhere hint

Click the Swicheroo card to play on the gameboard, or have a go in your head!

Play Swicheroo #085

📍 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 #085 →

🌊 Ipswich Flood Roundup: Amberley Peaks at 6.78 Metres

Warrill Creek at Amberley peaked at 6.78 metres around 3:45am on 27 October, reaching major flood level. By 9:35am, Amberley had moderate flooding, Walloon and Five Mile Bridge minor flooding, and Rosewood and Ipswich were below minor flood levels. Ipswich Council’s Live Flood Cameras →

🏉 Jets Ready to Submit NRL Bid Before Christmas

Ipswich Jets chairman Steve Johnson says the club is ready to submit its bid for the NRL’s 20th team before Christmas, if requested. The bid seeks an NRL team for Ipswich, but the club still needs a licence before that can happen. Sports Entertainment Network →

🗳️ Survey Backs Single-Councillor Divisions for Ipswich

Ipswich’s council consultation found 53% of respondents supported single-councillor divisions after residents were invited to comment from 1–18 October. The proposal would replace four divisions electing two councillors each with 10 single-councillor divisions, subject to the state’s assessment. Ipswich City Council →

🚧 Bremer River Westbound Bridge Closure Set for 6–9 November

Transport and Main Roads plans to close Karalee’s westbound Bremer River bridge from 10pm Friday 6 November to 5am Monday 9 November 2026 for concreting, conditions permitting. General traffic will use the eastbound bridge, while loads wider than 3.5 metres must use designated detours. Queensland Trucking Association →

Quick-fire snippets—local buzz & chatter:

• 📚 Villain Book Parlour Opens Willowbank Romance Bookshop →
• 🎉 Goodna Jacaranda Festival Postponed Until October 2027 →
• 🏃‍♂️ Ipswich Grammar Wins Senior and Junior GPS Athletics Titles →
• 💻 UniSQ Restores Online Services After Security Precaution →
• 🚆 Councillor Proposes Joint Push for Brisbane–Toowoomba Passenger Rail →
• 🏛️ Councillor Security Allowance Investigation Proposed →
• 💰 Bremer Street Shared Path Secures $692,000 Grant →

Wednesday (28 October)

Thursday (29 October)

🆓 Ipswich Art Gallery - Soft Territories 10am-4pm DAILY info 

💵 Orion Springfield Central - Spooktacular Trick or Treat 2-6:30pm ($3 per child + booking fee) tickets

💵 Hotel Metropole - ABBA singalong bar choir 6pm ($28) tickets 

Friday (30 October)

💵 Club Services Ipswich - Go Pink fundraiser luncheon 11am-2pm ($39.90) tickets 

💵 Brookwater Golf & Country Club - Halloween Mini Golf from 8am Fri-Sun, closes 9pm Fri-Sat and 6pm Sun ($14-19, family $49) book

💵 Ipswich Turf Club - Sports Lunch with Jeff Horn & Darius Boyd 12-3pm ($150) info

🆓 Croquet Club Hall, Queens Park - Boardgame Club Night 4:45-8:45pm more info

💵 Ipswich Indoor Sports Centre, Showgrounds - Pickleball 5:30-7:30pm ($9-16) See all weekly sessions here →

💵 The Witch Hotel, West Ipswich - Halloween in Ipswich: Karaoke (18+) 6-10pm ($42.85 including booking fee) tickets

💵 George Hogg Performance Venue, East Ipswich - Raven's Requiem concert 7-9:30pm ($25-40) info

💵 Ipswich Civic Centre - ABBA: Thank You for the Music 7:30-9:50pm ($79+) join the waitlist 

🎃 Saturday (31 October)

💵 Ipswich Showgrounds Reception Centre - Ipswich EcoFest 9am-12:30pm (gold coin donation) info

🍻🍽️ Orion Hotel, Springfield Central - Halloween Kids Rave 10am-12pm book

🍻🍽️ Stony Creek Brewing - Halloween dress-up weekend 12-10pm details

💵 Ipswich Civic Centre - Elvis: Can't Help Falling in Love 2-4:30pm ($35) tickets 

💵 Ipswich Showgrounds Reception Centre - Trashion Parade 2-5pm, arrive 1:45pm (gold coin donation) details

🆓 Tulmur Place, Nicholas Street Precinct - Halloween Spook-Tacular 5-9pm info

🆓 The Link, Riverlink - Halloween Wicked Weekend 5-8pm info

💵 The Witch Hotel, West Ipswich - Halloween in Ipswich: Trick or Treat (18+) 6-10pm ($42.85 including booking fee) tickets

Sunday (1 November)

Monday (2 November)

🏇 Tuesday (3 November)

💵 Brothers Leagues Club, Raceview - Melbourne Cup Luncheon 11am ($85 members, $95 non-members) info

💵 Falvey's Hotel Yamanto - Melbourne Cup 11am-3pm ($65) details

💵 Falvey's Cecil Hotel, Goodna - Melbourne Cup 11am-3pm ($65) info

💵 Club Services Ipswich - Melbourne Cup Seafood Buffet 11am-2pm ($75) details

💵 Rising Sun Hotel, Rosewood - Rising Shire Cup 12-3pm ($150) info