Old Ipswich Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ipswich Town Hall |
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Old Ipswich Town Hall, 2017 (note the blank clock face)
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| Location | 116 Brisbane Street, Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1840s–1860s (mid-19th century) |
| Built | 1861–1879 |
| Architect | James Percy Owen Cowlishaw |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Old Town Hall, Mechanics School of Arts, School of Arts | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600566 |
| Significant period | 1860s–1870s, c. 1941 (fabric) 1860s–1980s (historical, social) |
| Significant components | council chamber/meeting room, tower - clock, office/s, proscenium arch, hall |
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The Old Ipswich Town Hall is a historic building in Ipswich, Australia. It's known for its long history and many different uses. Designed by James Percy Owen Cowlishaw, it was built between 1861 and 1879. This building is also called the Mechanics School of Arts or just the School of Arts. It was officially added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992, meaning it's protected for its historical importance.
Since it first opened in 1861, the building has been used for many things and has been changed several times. It started as the Ipswich School of Arts, which was a place with a library and rooms for meetings. The front part of the building, facing Brisbane Street, was built in 1864. It has two stories made of brick with a smooth, decorated finish.
In 1869, the Ipswich Town Council took over the building because the School of Arts committee was having money problems. By 1892, the town hall felt too small. Famous architect George Brockwell Gill, who designed many beautiful buildings in Ipswich, created plans for an extension.
For many years, especially in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the hall was a busy place. It hosted adult education classes, plays, concerts, boxing matches, and even immunisation clinics. During the 1940s, dances were very popular there. The hall stopped being open to the public in 1969 and became offices for the council.
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History of the Old Town Hall
The Old Ipswich Town Hall is a two-story building made of painted stone with a clock tower. It has a hipped roof made of corrugated iron at the back. You can find it in the middle of Ipswich, facing Brisbane Street.
Early Days: School of Arts
The land for the building was given on 7 September 1861 for a "School of Arts." These schools were like mechanics' institutes, which started in Britain in the early 1800s. Their main goal was to help working people get a better education and learn new skills. They often had reading rooms, libraries, and classes.
In Australia, these places were usually called Schools of Arts and were often run by middle-class people. They still offered reading rooms, museums, and classes, but they also included social events.
The Ipswich Literary Institution was formed in 1850 to create a newsroom and library. Soon after, it joined with the School of Arts to get money from the government. The group changed its name a few times, eventually becoming the Mechanics School of Arts in 1858. They then asked the government for land to build a permanent home.
The Queensland Government chose the site of an old courthouse. The first stone for the new building was laid on 7 February 1861 by George Bowen, Queensland's first Governor. Governor Bowen officially opened the Mechanics School of Arts on 24 October 1861.
The first part of the building, set back from Brisbane Street, held a library and meeting rooms. These rooms were used for town events, evening classes, and entertainment. The main hall originally had an open roof structure, but a plaster ceiling was added in 1878 to make the sound better. This ceiling even had rings for trapeze artists! Gas lighting was installed in Ipswich in 1878, and the building got two large gas lights.
Town Council Takes Over
The Ipswich Municipal Council, which was the local government, needed a proper town hall. They tried to get land and money for a new building, but it was difficult. For a while, they used a small room in the old Courthouse.
In 1863, the council asked the School of Arts committee if they could add offices to their building. The School of Arts was already planning to extend their building towards Brisbane Street for their own use. The new part would have offices on the ground floor and a reading room, library, and classrooms upstairs. Plans were drawn up in 1864 by architect James Cowlishaw.
The School of Arts committee borrowed money in 1865. When it was time to pay it back, they couldn't. So, in 1869, the Ipswich Municipal Council bought the building for £2,465. This is how the building became the Ipswich Town Hall. In 1889, a house for the School of Arts librarian was built at the back of the hall, but it's not there anymore.
The Clock Tower and Other Changes
After Governor Samuel Blackall passed away in 1871, people wanted to create a memorial for him. They decided to give a turret clock to Ipswich. The School of Arts building was chosen as the best place for it. On 13 November 1879, the town clock was lit up for the first time. The tower for the clock was designed by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley, a government architect.
However, the gas lighting for the clock didn't work well. In 1896, it was reported that the clock preferred darkness because the heat from the gas burners stopped the machinery from working properly.
In 1901, a new Ipswich Post Office with its own tall clock tower was built right next door. This meant Ipswich had two clocks side-by-side, but they were often not showing the same time! This continued until 1912 when the Post Office clock was finally lit up. The Town Hall clock was then sold to the Sandgate Town Council for their new council building.
By 1917, the Ipswich Council needed more space. Architect George Brockwell Gill drew plans for a second story, but it was too expensive. In 1937, the council was renting extra space elsewhere. Plans for a brand new, much larger town hall were made, but many local people didn't want it.
As a compromise, the council bought the building next door, the St Paul's Young Men's Club, in 1938. Major renovations to the old town hall were finished in 1941. These were the last big changes to the building until the 1970s.
In 1947, the library moved to the nearby Bank of Australasia building. In 1948, the Ipswich Council officially took over the library. A new Ipswich Civic Centre opened in 1975. After this, the council changed the old town hall's main hall and stage area into office space. The council offices stayed in the front part of the Old Town Hall for a while.
The council finally moved out of the Old Town Hall in 1985 when a new administrative building was finished. The library also moved, and an art gallery was put in its place.
After a fire destroyed a nearby department store in 1985, the Old Town Hall was changed into shops. A new concrete floor was added inside the main hall to create more space. In 1995, a lift was installed, and a steel fire escape was built on the side.
What the Old Town Hall Looks Like
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The Old Town Hall is a two-story building with painted stone walls and a hipped roof at the back. It's in the heart of Ipswich, facing Brisbane Street. It's surrounded by other historic buildings like the Post Office and the former Bank of Australasia.
The building was built in three main parts: the original hall at the back (1861), the front section facing Brisbane Street (1864), and the clock tower (1879).
The Front of the Building
The Brisbane Street side of the building has a fancy, balanced design with classical details. It has a wide central section with a narrower part sticking out on each side. On the ground floor, there are three arches in the middle that lead to the entrance. Wide steps go up to these arches. The arches on the sides have window displays.
The first floor looks similar, with three central arches that used to be an open balcony but are now glassed in. These arches have decorative details. The side arches have tall, narrow windows with similar decorations. These windows are framed by round and square columns, which support a heavy top section with a decorative wall above it.
The clock tower is square. It has pairs of decorative columns at each corner that support a top section with a triangular shape on each side. The clock faces have been removed, so they are now blank. A roof-like structure has been added over the central ground floor entrance.
The Back Hall and Inside
The hall at the back was originally a single-story building with a high ceiling and a basement. Now, it has two stories because a new floor was added inside during the 1980s. It has a corrugated iron roof with vents and tall arched windows along its sides. Some new doors have been added on the west side, and you can still see where old doors and windows used to be. The back of the building, which was once the stage area, has large arched windows on the ground floor and three closed-up round openings on the upper level. The basement has a door and windows. A steel fire escape has been added to the east side.
Inside, the ground floor has a central entrance area. Shops are located on either side and have been changed many times over the years. Toilets and storage rooms are behind these shops. A beautiful wooden staircase leads to the first floor. The walls are smooth, and an arched opening leads into the main hall at the back.
The main hall has walls that look like large stone blocks. It has been changed a lot, including the new concrete floor that creates a second level. There are two staircases from this new level to the stage area, a central lift, and new openings in the outer walls. The stage area has a decorative arch, called a proscenium arch, with classical details.
The first floor of the Brisbane Street section has a central reception area with a skylight and offices along the outer walls. The new floor in the hall has a ceiling made of panels. The tops of the tall windows stick up above this floor, letting in light. Arches on either side of the stage arch lead to the top level of the stage area. The basement has toilets and a storeroom.
At the very back of the property, there is a paved car park.
Why the Old Town Hall is Important
The Old Town Hall was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992 because it meets several important criteria.
Historical Importance
Even though it's not a government building anymore, the Old Town Hall is very important for showing how Ipswich developed culturally and as a town. It has played a big part in the Ipswich community's history.
Unique Features
The inside of the building still has its original stage arch, the main wooden staircase, and some other original wooden details. The back part of the building is one of the few remaining structures in Ipswich that dates back to 1861, making it quite rare.
Architectural Significance
The building shows the kind of architecture that was considered suitable for a town hall in the 1860s. It is also connected to two important early Queensland architects: James Cowlishaw and Francis Drummond Greville Stanley.
Aesthetic Value
Located in the historic heart of Ipswich, the Old Town Hall is a key part of the beautiful street view of civic buildings. All these buildings in the area were designed in similar classical styles, making the streetscape very appealing.
Community Connection
The Old Town Hall has a strong and special connection with the Ipswich community. It has been a central place for cultural and town activities for many years.
Association with Important People
The building is linked to the work of important people in Queensland's history, especially the architects James Cowlishaw and Francis Drummond Greville Stanley, who shaped its design.
Images for kids
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Old Ipswich Town Hall, 2017 (note the blank clock face)
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Post Office, Town Hall and Bank of Australasia (left to right), circa 1902, with clock faces on the town hall
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Town Hall (Ipswich)
