Soldiers' Memorial Hall, Ipswich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Soldiers' Memorial Hall, Ipswich |
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Building in 2016
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| Location | 63 Nicholas Street, Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1920 - 1921 |
| Architect | George Brockwell Gill |
| Official name: Soldiers' Memorial Hall, Ipswich, Memorial Hall, Ipswich | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600592 |
| Significant period | 1920- (social) 1920-1986 (historical) 1920-1947 (fabric) |
| Significant components | memorial - column, memorial - hall |
| Builders | F. J. Lye |
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The Soldiers' Memorial Hall in Ipswich is a special building. It is located at 63 Nicholas Street, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. This hall was designed by George Brockwell Gill and built by F.J. Lye. Construction happened between 1920 and 1921. It is also known as Memorial Hall. This important building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992.
Contents
A Look at Its Past
The Ipswich Soldiers' Memorial Hall is a three-story brick building. It officially opened its doors in 1921. George Brockwell Gill designed it, and F.J. Lye was the builder. Other skilled workers helped too. A. Mansfield did the brickwork, J. Jamieson did the plastering, and Arthur Foote Ltd handled the woodwork.
Why Was It Built?
After World War I ended in 1918, people wanted to remember the soldiers. The Returned Soldiers and Sailors Imperial League of Australia (RSSILA) was a group for soldiers. Their Ipswich branch asked for land to build a special hall. This hall would be a place for recreation and a war memorial.
The government gave them land in the Central Gardens. The community worked hard to raise money. A loan of £6000 came from the government. The RSSILA gave £1250, and the Patriotic Committee gave £500. Many groups helped raise more money. These included the Train Tea Ladies and the Red Cross. The total cost of the building was £12000. This shows a huge effort from the community.
Building the Hall
The first stone was laid in May 1920. This happened when General Birdwood visited Ipswich. The building was finished in November 1921.
At one point, the Ipswich City Council thought about combining the Memorial Hall with a new town hall. This idea was not used. However, a part of the plan was kept. The Ipswich School of Arts Library moved into the top floor. It stayed there until 1947.
The basement level had fun rooms. There was a billiards room and a games room. It also had a refreshment room, showers, and a bath. The ground floor held the main memorial hall. It also had an assembly room, an office, and a lounge.
Special Features and Uses
After the hall opened, more money was raised. A special memorial window was made for the top floor. It was designed by William Bustard. The window was unveiled in November 1922. Later, in 1979, a new RSL club was built. The window was then moved to this new location.
The Memorial Hall has been a popular place for many groups. It hosted a billiards club and dancing classes. The Red Cross Blood Bank used it, and so did the Bush Book Club. During World War II, a temporary hut was put up next to the hall. It was a recreation spot for soldiers. This hut was removed after the war.
Today, the Memorial Hall is still very active. It is the main office for the Ipswich RSL branch. Other groups like the RSL Women's Auxiliary also meet there. It is a key place for annual Anzac Day ceremonies in Ipswich.
Outdoor Memorials
Two more memorials stand in the gardens nearby. One is a grey granite memorial from 1986. The other is a granite column. It honors service in all wars, including Borneo and Vietnam. Both were carved by sculptor Tom Farrell.
What It Looks Like
The Soldiers' Memorial Hall has three levels. These are the basement, ground, and first floors. It is made of strong brick and timber. The building stands out in a small park in the city center.
The front of the building is very grand. It has a fancy top part and decorative stone elements. These features make the building look impressive from the street. The front section uses slightly different colored bricks. This helps it stand out even more.
You walk up stairs to reach the main entrance. Inside, the memorial chamber is special. It holds the original marble memorial from World War I. There are also wooden boards honoring soldiers from later wars. Other honor boards from Ipswich have been moved here too.
The memorial chamber used to get natural light from above. This came through a large roof window. This light area is now closed over.
The ground floor also has the former Assembly Room. There is a Lounge and offices too. A beautiful silky oak staircase leads to the basement. The basement has meeting rooms and an office. It also has its own entrance from the park. Another silky oak staircase goes to the upper level. This level has various meeting rooms. The main meeting room has a large half-circle window. This was where the stained glass memorial used to be.
The inside of the building is not overly fancy. It has silky oak wood details. The walls and ceilings are painted. The ceilings have fiberboard with patterns.
A metal fire escape is at the back of the building. It serves the ground and first floors.
The roof has several sloped and pointed sections. It is made of corrugated iron. There is a raised roof over the central light area.
The park next to the hall has two granite memorials.
Why It's Important
Soldiers' Memorial Hall, Ipswich, was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. It is important for several reasons.
Showing History
This hall was built in 1920-21. It shows how people felt after World War I. It highlights the strong sense of national pride. It also shows how people in Queensland connected with Britain at that time.
A Special Building
This is a rare example of a very large brick soldiers' hall. Many similar halls have been changed. They are often turned into clubs with gaming machines. This makes the Ipswich hall, with its mostly original inside, quite unique.
What a Memorial Hall Is For
The Memorial Hall has a special room for memorials. It has honor tablets, meeting rooms, and recreation areas. It clearly shows what a hall for returned soldiers should be like.
Its Beautiful Design
The Ipswich community values this building for its look. It adds a lot to the city center. Its design is very good. It fits its purpose as a civic and patriotic building.
Important to the Community
Since 1920, the Memorial Hall has been very important to the RSL. It also helps groups like Legacy and the War Widows. It is a special place for the community. It is a focal point for Anzac Day and Remembrance Day events. It has also been used as the city library and a blood bank. This shows its strong connection to the wider community.
Work of a Famous Architect
The building was designed by George Brockwell Gill. He was a well-known local architect. This hall is a great example of his work from that time.
