Gardens in Coyne Street, Leichhardt, 1960 – image courtesy of Picture Ipswich
The people in the City of Ipswich have always loved growing plants and have taken pride in their gardens. As you can see from the photograph above, that despite droughts, frosts, storms and heat, some residents have still managed to achieve beautiful results over the years.
Ipswich has the oldest horticultural society in Queensland. The first meeting for the formation of an agricultural society was on March 14, 1866. At this meeting the Ipswich Agricultural and Horticultural Society was established. Governor Blackall was installed as Patron and Colonel C G Gray (Police Magistrate) was installed as President. The first exhibition was held in the School of Arts and in the show yards in East Street on 17 December 1868. The Ipswich Horticultural Society is still a thriving society today, which put on a spring show and an autumn show every year in the Ipswich City Square.
The Ipswich City Council have provided the City with many Parks and Reserves that can be used for recreation and activities such as canoeing and bushwalking. Every year the Ipswich City Council also provide its residents with a free plant program to promote a greener, more healthier lifestyle.
Information taken from – “Play with Flowers and Smile – a short history of the Ipswich Horticultural Society 1866 – 2004” by Margaret Cook & Ian Pullar, 2005