Gasworks, North Ipswich, 1925-1926 Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich
The Ipswich Gas and Coke Company Ltd. was situated at The Terrace, North Ipswich, near the north bank of the Bremer River. The company commenced business in 1877 and was managed by a local directorate.
The first gas mains were laid on 27 May, 1878 with the first street gas lamps being lit in the same year. The price to be charged for gas (if used for lighting) was 15s, or if used for cooking as well as lighting was 12s 6d. per 1000ft, with a discount of 2s 6d per 1000ft if paid to the collector on his first calling.
In 1878 the first gasometer for storing gas was erected with a second deemed necessary by 1884.
In 1928, the Ipswich Gas & Coke Company amalgamated with the Colonial Gas Association, a Melbourne based Gasworks Company.
The plant was updated in 1937 with further expansion planned to be carried out in 1950. A third gasometer was constructed in the 1950’s to cope with rising demand. By 1960 there were 65 miles of gas mains in Ipswich and suburbs.
After natural gas was introduced to Ipswich in 1969, the old brick gasworks was demolished. One gasometer was left standing and the storage tank site is now part of Riverlink Shopping Centre.
Gas and Coke Works, North Ipswich, 1970 Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich
Information taken from: Ipswich Municipal Centenary by Leslie E. slaughter, ‘Ipswich City Council ‘Heritage Study, 1992’ http://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/9274/north_ipswich_citations_1.pdf , Ipswich Herald & General Advertiser – (Local and General News, 13 April 1878), (Tenders are invited, 25 May 1878), (Local and General News, 18 June 1878), (Ipswich Gas and Coke Company, 22 March 1884), Ipswich Gas & Coke Co. Ltd pioneering the way in 1911 (The Queensland Times 23-03-2013)