Meet Karragaroo

• Hidden treasure. You’ve probably never noticed it. Tucked away behind newer homes in Eastern Heights, Karragaroo House doesn’t scream for attention — but it absolutely deserves it.
• Foote legacy. Built in 1884 for Ambrose Foote, son of Cribb & Foote co-founder John Clarke Foote, this grand Victorian home once anchored a 10-acre estate.
• Driveway turned street. Today, it quietly holds its ground on a much smaller block, just off the street that now bears its name: Karragaroo Street — once its front drive.
• Indigenous roots. The name itself comes from the Yuggera word for “Place of Grass Trees,” and fittingly, many still grow nearby.
• Still standing. There’s a plaque out front, but you could live in Ipswich your whole life and never know what’s hiding behind the hedges and rooftops — verandahs, gas fittings, and 140 years of Ipswich history, still standing tall on Limestone Hill.

🧱 Architecture & Design

• Built to last. Step through the front door and you’ll see it straight away — this place wasn’t built to blend in.
• Uncommon materials. Brick and timber construction, rare for Ipswich in 1884, made to last generations.
• Spacious design. 20 rooms, from formal parlours to servant quarters and a high-roofed attic.
• Lacework detail. Wrap-around verandahs lined with cast-iron lace imported from England.
• Classic features. Corbelled brick chimneys, wide cedar skirting boards, and hand-moulded archways.
• Early innovation. One of Ipswich’s earliest homes to feature gas lighting and its own water well.
• Preserved plan. Original layout still visible — no open plan here, just beautiful form and function, room by room.
• A statement. Every inch tells you this was a statement home — not just for comfort, but to be seen. And now, you can step inside and see it for yourself.

🏠 Through the Years

• Tennis twist. In the 1920s, the family stables were turned into a garage… and then, unexpectedly, into a tennis practice room.
• Flat conversion. By the 1950s, the house was divided into eight rental flats, its grand halls split into kitchens and bedrooms. For a while, the original details were hidden behind plasterboard and partitions.
• Still standing. But even then, it was still Karragaroo — solid, stubborn, and full of stories. And somehow, it waited patiently for someone to bring it back.

🛠️ Restored with Love

• New caretakers. In 2005, Dr. Terry and Allison Holt didn’t just move in — they began a mission.
• Thoughtful restoration. Out came the partitions. The verandahs were reopened, the cast-iron lace reinstated, the well re-plumbed, and every decision made with one goal: to honour what was already here.
• Revealed, not redone. They didn’t erase its past lives — they uncovered them.
• True restoration. That’s what makes a walk through this home so special. You’re not just seeing a renovation — you’re seeing a rescue, done right.

🧭 Why It Matters

• Quiet survivor. Karragaroo isn’t just a house with a name — it’s a rare survivor.
• Unofficial heritage. It’s never been on the state heritage register. It doesn’t get government funding. But it’s been meticulously preserved, generously opened to the public, and loved every step of the way.
• Locally treasured. This is what local heritage looks like when it’s done by hand — and by heart. A home that shaped its suburb. A driveway that became a street. A name that still echoes through Ipswich, 140 years on.

Discover Karragaroo →

🪪 More Ipswich Suburb Stat Cards

These are popular so let's keep them going.

If you missed the earlier editions: these are quick, bite-sized snapshots of the most interesting Census stats for Ipswich suburbs.

Each one tells a story.

See all the new and past stat cards here:

Ipswich Suburb Stat Pack #3

👇 Here's South Ripley

🗳️ Vote

🧩 Scramble

🤔 Trivia

📍 GuessWhere

How to play: Look at the photo, guess where it was taken from in Ipswich. Click the link to go drop your pin on the map to see how close you can guess.

GuessWhere →

🗳️ Early Voting Centres Now Open for the 3 May Federal Election

Skip the polling-day queues by voting this week at one of four Ipswich centres: Nicholas Street Precinct, Riverlink Medical Centre, Whitehill Church (Raceview) or Springfield Central. Opening hours are 8:30 am–5:30 pm weekdays and 9 am–4 pm Saturday. All centres close on Anzac Day, 25 April. More info →

🏚️ Bremer Riverbank Collapse Leaves River Heart Walkway Hanging

A section of the Bremer River’s concrete path has been left suspended after a bank slip attributed to heavy rain from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Ratepayers are criticising the cost of previous repairs and calling for a complete redesign of the riverfront. See photos & comments →

🏆 Cambrian Choirs Dominate the 130th Queensland Eisteddfod

Blackstone-Ipswich Cambrians collected Grand Champion Choir, the Youth Aggregate Shield and multiple solo golds. Stand‑out winners included Ava Keller, Romany Hicks, Hamish McAndrew and Christine Howden. Full results →

⚡️ Ipswich Teen Gout Gout Blazes 12.31 s Heat at Stawell Gift

Seventeen-year-old sprint sensation Gout Gout won his heat in 12.31 s (off a 1 m mark) and ran 12.34 s in the semi-final, narrowly missing Monday’s final. His performances still made national headlines. Watch the race →

🌉 Bradfield Footbridge Hours Extended to 5:30 am–11 pm

The Nicholas Street–Riverlink pedestrian bridge will now stay open until 11 pm, instead of closing at 6:30 pm. Campaigners welcome the extra access but continue to push for 24/7 opening.

🚗 Council Postpones 80‑Vehicle Auction, New Date TBA

Ipswich City Council has deferred Wednesday’s impounded‑vehicle auction—featuring a Ford Ranger, an Elgrand camper and two vintage caravans—“until further notice.” Would‑be bargain hunters are waiting for a revised schedule. View the lot list →

🧸 Ipswich Gala Doll Fair

Happy 50th to Ipswich's beloved doll shows! The Ipswich Gala Doll Fair returns Sunday 27 April, 9 am–2:30 pm at North Ipswich Reserve Corporate Function Centre, with 65+ stalls, free antique doll & bear valuations at 11 am, and a giant birthday cake iced with “Celebrating 50 Years of Doll Shows in Ipswich.”

Plus great raffle prizes to be won. Whether you’re a collector or just love a bit of nostalgia, it’s a fun, feel-good day worth checking out. Learn more →

Wednesday (23 April)

💵 Trevallan Lifestyle Centre, Brassall — “Harmony Renewed” wellness • 9 am–2 pm. Book

🆓 Ipswich Art Gallery — “Don’t Get Too Comfortable” • 10 am–5 pm daily. Details

🆓 Ipswich Art Gallery — IAG Kids “Dazzle & Create” • 10 am–5 pm daily. More

💵 Brothers Leagues Club, Raceview — $25 poker (reg by 6 pm) • 6 pm

🆓 Monté Lane Wine Bar — Trivia • 6:30 pm. Book

🆓 General Public, Nicholas Street Precinct — Trivia • 6:30 pm. Info

🆓 Banshees Bar & Artspace — Open‑mic • 7 pm. Info

🆓 Booval Freemasons Centre — Heartfulness meditation & tea • 7–8 pm. Join

Thursday (24 April)

💵 Ipswich Sporting Firearms, Karrabin — 1‑day safety course • 7:45 am–5 pm. Book

🆓 Play Matters Ipswich Hub, Redbank — “Little Troops” playgroup • 9:30–11 am. More

🆓 Redbank Plaza — Tiny Tot Hip Hop • 10–11 am. Info

🆓 Studio 188 — “Westside Scramble” open‑mic • 6–7:30 pm. Details

💵 Orion Springfield Central — Denim‑painting workshop • 6–8 pm. Tickets

🆓 Club Services Ipswich — Trivia Thursday • 6:30–9 pm. Info

🆓 Banshees Bar & Artspace — Karaoke • 7 pm‑late. Details

Friday (25 April)

⚔️ Dawn & Early-Morning Services

Full program & road-closure map

🆓 Goodna Cenotaph — Dawn 4 am; March + Service 8:50 am

🆓 Ipswich RSL Memorial Gardens — Dawn 4:27 am

🆓 Brassall Memorial Park — Dawn 4:27 am

🆓 Bundamba War Memorial — Dawn 4:27 am; Community 9:15 am

🆓 Rosewood ANZAC Park — Dawn 4:28 am; March + Service 9:30 am

🆓 South Ripley Memorial — Dawn 5 am

🆓 Springfield Central Parklands — Dawn 5:30 am

🆓 Grandchester War Memorial — Dawn 6 am

🆓 Woodend Honour Stone — Dawn 6:30 am

🎖️ Marches & Civic Services

Full program & road-closure map

🆓 North Ipswich Reserve — Naval Cadet 7:30 am

🆓 Marburg War Memorial — Service 7:30 am

🆓 Booval St Paul’s — Community 7:45 am

🆓 Ebbw Vale Memorial — Community 8 am

🆓 Pine Mountain Hall Green — Community 9 am

🆓 Redbank Memorial — Service 11 am

🎺 Community, Clubs & Commemorative Events

💵 Club Services Ipswich — Gunfire Breakfast 6:30‑9:30 am. Menu

🆓 Sirius Drive Park — “Hooked on Yarn” meet‑up 10 am‑noon. RSVP

💵 Sandy Gallop Golf Club — Ambrose Charity Golf noon shotgun. Register

💵 Brothers Leagues Club — Live‑music marathon 1 pm‑late. Line‑up

💵 Didgeridoo Camp, Augustine Heights — 3-day cultural retreat (starts) • from 3 pm. Camp

Saturday (26 April)

💵 Rosewood Community Garden — “Serious Backyard Abundance” workshop (Day 1 of 3) • 9 am–4 pm. Enroll

🆓 Rosewood Library Hall — “Walkabout With Rob” filming heritage • 9:30 – 11 am. Free

💵 Trevallan Lifestyle Centre, Brassall — Morning with Kevin: timber-carving talk • 10 – 11 am. Info

💵 Ipswich Turf Club — Saturday Race Day • first race noon. Book

💵 Monté Lane Wine Bar — Bottomless Brunch • noon–2 pm. Book

*Update – cancelled* 💵 Ipswich Civic Centre — “Good Morning Vietnam” rock show • 7:30 pm. Tickets

💵 Banshees Bar & Artspace — DAMIEN “Hot Day” launch (electro pop‑rock) • 7 pm doors. Info

Sunday (27 April)

Monday (28 April)

🆓 Ipswich Art Gallery — “Don’t Get Too Comfortable” exhibition • 10 am–5 pm daily. Details

🆓 Ipswich Art Gallery — IAG Kids: “Dazzle and Create” maker‑studio • 10 am–5 pm daily. More

💵 Event Cinemas, Orion Town Centre — “Amateur” seniors movie + mingle • 10 am–12:30 pm. Book

Tuesday (29 April)

🆓 St Augustine’s College — Twilight campus tour • 4 – 5:30 pm. Register

🧩 This Week's Answers

📊 Last Week’s Results

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

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