It probably wasn’t planned that Ipswich, one of the earliest towns in Queensland that first emerged as a limestone mining settlement in 1827, and at one stage a candidate to be the state Capital, sit within the same local government boundary as Springfield, the adjacent master-planned greenfield city development which has been emerging since 2000. A group of RGSQ members visited Springfield in July 2024 and heard and saw something of how that is being achieved.
Thursday, 21st August 2025 offers the opportunity for members to visit Ipswich to see, and hear about how that city has navigated the intervening near 200 years, and developed to the city it is today, while maintaining linkage to it’s fascinating past and heritage.
The visit will commence (and end) at the Ipswich Rail Station. There is a half-hourly train service to Ipswich (one end of the Caboolture line) and it is suggested that participants use the service that arrives at Ipswich at 9.56am. (It’s about a 60 minute journey from Central Station.) The Journey Planner tab on the Translink website is useful in identifying travel options.
A coach will be used to convey the group to various locations including:
- - the Ipswich Visitors Information Centre in Queens Park, for a short introductory talk and a Devonshire Morning Tea,
- - a one and a half hour Heritage Tour, with accompanying commentary, visiting many of the significant historical and geographic points of interest in Ipswich and immediate surrounds.
- - Lunch* at the historic Prince Alfred Hotel
- - the Cooneana Heritage Centre (talk by a Centre volunteer and conducted walking tour). Additionally, the Centre houses a museum of mining history, and exhibits covering the Ipswich district’s wartime history.
- - return to the Ipswich Station around 3.15 pm.
The Event will conclude at 3.15 pm in time for the rail service from Ipswich towards Central Station at 3.37pm (and half hourly services thereafter.)
The Ipswich Station is located within the Ipswich CBD, and participants might wish to spend more time in the city precinct.
No difficult terrain will be encountered, and the Event is suitable for Members with reasonable fitness and mobility.
Cost: (covers: coach hire; morning tea; lunch*; Heritage Tours and entry fees); $80 per head (Members) Non-members $90 per head
- *Lunch selections will be obtained from participants closer to the day.
Please register on-line (by 25th July 2025). Numbers are limited to 20. A wait-list will operate.
RGSQ Traveller Coordinator: Roger Grimley
