A Brief History _

The Growth Journey of Ipswich

Being Queensland’s oldest provincial city, Ipswich is a place of heritage, and this accounts for why many people reckon with the city. The city is located at the Westside of Brisbane. Here is a brief history of the city.

The Convict Period

The convict period happened between 1827 and 1842. It was the period when the convict settlement captain, Patrick Logan, discovered that there is limestone located in Bremer. The captain ordered that the limestone be extracted.

Following this order, members of the commandment went ahead to quarry limestone and followed this by erecting a kiln for burning lime. The place would later be named Limestone. For years to come, this location will supply Brisbane with limestone to meet the city’s limestone needs.

This location was one of the most important during the early days of the city, as it occupied an essential position in meeting the needs of the people. After a few settlers got in, the convict period kickstarted in 1827, and went on till 1842.

Free Settlement

After the year 1843, the settlement became open to free settlers. Following this period, there was a need to survey new sites within Limestone, which was to serve the needs of the free settlers. This was a core part of the settlement.

The new town would, in the following year, be named Ipswich. Ipswich had strategic significance because it was located in a strategic place, and this improved the value that came with the city.

The city was located within Brisbane Valley and Darling Downs. This favourable position made the city attract the significance of many, and also positioned it as a potential for the capital city. In fact, many people thought that the city would be the capital city.

However, following the separation of Queensland and New South Wales, Brisbane took the potential and went ahead to become the capital city. Both Queensland and the Ipswich settlement were struggling for independence.

For Ipswich, the journey of growth receded during the civil war when cotton became a scarce commodity. This led to drought and food scarcity in the settlement, which was terrible for the settlement’s growth. This also impeded the potential of the settlement and dragged it miles back.

The Growth Journey

Growth rekindled in the Ipswich settlement around the 1870s when there was a demand for local produce, one of the areas where the settlement was active. Due to the rise in the use of boats, and several other coal engines, there was an equal demand for coal, and Ipswich was able to supply those in need of it.

This boosted the economic capacity of the settlement and improved the settlement’s rating as well. By the end of the 1870s, the settlement was doing great. The mining sector was also growing at an impressive rate, and this strengthened the growth of the settlement.

However, by 1893, the settlement was partially affected by the food scarcity and drought that characterised the period. But due to the diversified nature of the economy, the settlement was able to move past this period. The settlement would later witness much industrial development and turn-around of the century.