Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator, Ipswich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator |
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Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator, 2021
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| Location | 10A Milford Street, Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919–1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1936–1940 |
| Architect | Walter Burley Griffin |
| Official name: Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator (former), The Incinerator Theatre | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600596 |
| Significant period | 1936–1940 (fabric) 1930s–1960s (historical) |
| Significant components | chimney/chimney stack |
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The Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator is a special building in Ipswich, Australia. It used to be a place where rubbish was burned. It was designed by a famous architect named Walter Burley Griffin and built between 1936 and 1940. Today, it's known as The Incinerator Theatre. This building is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992.
Contents
History of the Incinerator
The Incinerator Theatre is located in Queen's Park, Ipswich. It opened in 1969, but before that, it was a rubbish incinerator. It was built in 1936.
Who was Walter Burley Griffin?
Walter Burley Griffin was an American architect. He studied architecture at the University of Illinois. From 1901 to 1906, he worked with another famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.
In 1911, Griffin won a competition to design Canberra, the future capital city of Australia. He then moved to Australia. He designed other important buildings, like the Capitol Theatre in Melbourne. He also designed the Sydney suburb of Castlecrag.
During the Great Depression, there wasn't much work for architects. So, Griffin and his partner, Eric Milton Nicholls, designed many municipal incinerators. These were special buildings that burned rubbish. The Ipswich incinerator was built under the supervision of local architect George Brockwell Gill. It opened in 1936. This is the only building designed by Walter Burley Griffin in Queensland.
How the Incinerator Worked
The incinerator was built into a hill. This allowed trucks to drive up to the top and dump rubbish. On the upper level, trucks would back in and drop their loads into large containers called hoppers. The rubbish was then moved into two burning chambers.
After burning, any leftover ash was put out with water. An electric motor then moved the residue away. The building first had one chimney. In 1940, a second work unit and chimney were added to burn more rubbish. Since Griffin had passed away, his partner, Eric Nicholls, likely designed these additions.
From Incinerator to Theatre
The incinerator was built to handle rubbish for a city of 20,000 people. But by 1960, Ipswich had twice that many people. Also, people started to realize that burning rubbish wasn't good for the environment. So, the incinerator stopped being used.
The empty building started to get damaged by vandals. In 1965, the council thought about tearing it down. However, many people wanted to save the building. The Ipswich branch of the Arts Council suggested turning it into something new. The Ipswich City Council agreed to let them use it if they found a good purpose for it.
In 1969, the Ipswich Little Theatre decided to turn the building into a small theatre. They helped pay for the changes.
The Ipswich Little Theatre
The Ipswich Little Theatre is a community theatre group. It started in 1946. Amateur theatre groups like this were important in Australia. They gave local writers a chance to show their plays. Professional theatres often only showed plays from Britain or America.
During the Depression, amateur theatre became a big part of Australian culture. It was often the only live performance many people could see. These groups also helped train actors, writers, and directors. The Ipswich Little Theatre has always supported local writers.
For a long time, the theatre group struggled to find a permanent place for meetings, rehearsals, and shows. They used different halls and even private homes. As they collected more props and scenery, they really needed their own space. They started a fund in the mid-1950s to buy a building.
In 1969, the Ipswich Little Theatre converted the old incinerator into a theatre that could seat about 80 people. Ian Pullar, an engineer and a member of the theatre group, designed the changes.
Changes to the Building
To turn the incinerator into a theatre, some big changes were made. The part of the building that used to be the back, near the chimneys, became the new entrance. An entrance balcony was added, along with toilets and changing rooms. Fire escapes and a covered outdoor area were also built.
One of the rubbish hoppers was removed to create a stage area. The space where machinery used to be was turned into the audience seating area. The Incinerator Theatre officially opened on November 22, 1969.
Over the years, more improvements were made. In 1982, a new building called the Jean Pratt building was built nearby for meetings and storage. The roof of the incinerator was replaced in 1988. A paved courtyard was also added. In 1994, a new building was opened to provide better catering and public toilets. The Ipswich Little Theatre Society still uses the building today.
What the Incinerator Looks Like Now
The incinerator is in a pretty park setting within Queen's Park. The original building has two brick sections with sloped roofs. Part of it is built into a hillside. The eastern section is four stories tall, and the western section is two stories tall. There is an extra chimney next to the building.
The building has special brickwork and concrete details. The floors are made of concrete, and the roof has timber frames and tiles. To enter the theatre, you go up steps between the chimneys. The stage is at the far end, where rubbish used to be dumped.
The lowest floor behind the stage has rooms for the actors, including a small kitchen. Above this are dressing rooms and more toilets. The top level, where trucks used to enter, is now used to store theatre scenery.
Next to the incinerator, to the west, is a single-story brick building called the Jean Pratt Building. This is used for rehearsals. To the north, there's a concrete building built in 1994. It has a kitchen and public toilets.
Why is it Heritage Listed?
The former Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992. This means it's a very important building for several reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history changed. The building shows how people became more concerned about public health in the 20th century. It also shows how community theatre groups helped Australian culture grow.
- It's rare and special. This incinerator is one of only six like it left in Australia. It's also the only building in Queensland designed by Walter Burley Griffin.
- It's beautiful. Even though it was an industrial building, it looks nice and fits well in its park setting. People liked it so much that they fought to save it. Its good looks helped it become a successful theatre.
- It's important to the community. As the first permanent home of the Ipswich Little Theatre Society, the building has a special connection to this group. They have greatly helped the cultural life of Ipswich.
- It's connected to Walter Burley Griffin. The building shows an important part of Walter Burley Griffin's career. It is his only work in Queensland.
See also
