The Marburg Show 1887-2013
In August of 1886 the Marburg, Kirchheim, Glamorgan Vale and Back Plains Agricultural and Industrial Association were formed. (Farmers’ Association for short, now Marburg Show Society) The annual subscription for membership was 5 shillings. A gathering of the Association met in March 1887 and agreed to the...
Books about Ipswich
Picture Ipswich is a collection of historical images which provides a unique insight to the local history of Ipswich – its people, families, places and way of life. These images tell a story of how the city grew from its beginnings to the present day. The collection represents...
The Ipswich National School
School attendance was not compulsory until 1880 and in Ipswich’s early years education was deemed not as necessary as learning how to keep house or working to make money. Schooling at this time was either for the wealthy in private homes or church funded denominational schools. In 1847...
Blackstone State School – Gone but not forgotten
In 2009 the Blackstone State School was closed under the Queensland Government’s ‘State Schools of Tomorrow’ program. The school was 122 years old and held deep Welsh roots in the small community of Blackstone. As many may already know Blackstone was a predominately Welsh coal mining community with...
An Ipswich Christmas in the 1900’s
Christmas in the 1900’s in Ipswich was a special time with The Queensland Times running advertisements throughout November and December for local businesses to encourage local residents to purchase from their wide selection of gifts for the family. Presents varied with each mother, father, wife, son, daughter, sister...
Women and Sport in Ipswich 1880 – 1939.
In the late 1800’s sport was very much a man’s world. Society women were just beginning to get involved in passive and gentile sports like croquet, lawn bowls, tennis and golf which were seen to be beneficial to one’s health and allowed one to still keep ones femininity....
As Time Goes By….
Ever wondered what Ipswich looked like way back in 1947? Well lucky for us, the National Film & Sound Archive of Australia has a great film from that time which contains some excellent footage of the main street of the city, various industries, sports, schools, housing and recreational pursuits. To...
Bacelie ‘Bossie’ Martoo
Many Ipswich people remember the stories of a gentleman by the name of Bossie Martoo. Born Baceli Martoo in 1879 in Alexandria, Egypt he immigrated to Australia with his family when he was 20 years old. By this stage Ipswich was a growing bustling town with a wide...
Will Jones – Member of the Ipswich Vice-Regal Band
In 1879 a three-year-old William John Jones arrived in Australia with his parents Thomas Bowen Jones and Elvira Jones (nee Williams), and baby brother Thomas. The family had left behind their home in Pendarren, Wales and travelled for three months on the barque Earl Derby to a new...