Whitehouse's Cafe

Frederick W. Whitehouse arrived in Ipswich between 1863 and 1867. He worked for several Ipswich bakers, including  G. Holt's in Bell Street, Mr Gilliver, and G. Wright. His big chance came when the Duke of Edinburgh visited Ipswich in 1868. Mr G. Wright the bakery owner was absent and Frederick did the catering.

Within a short while he opened his first establishment. The shop was in Nicholas Street on a site later occupied by Bottomley & Co. Eventually he purchased another site on Nicholas Street, just a few doors from the old shop, near the old Ipswich Railway Station, which became permanent.

The catering service was available to local residents for garden parties and other special events, which were a popular past-time during this era. The business also catered for public functions and mayoral dinners, including the banquet held for Prince Edward and Prince George in Brisbane which had 1000 guests, and the opening of the Roma and Stanthorpe railway lines. 

Whitehouse’s Café sold a wide array of confectionary as well as fizzy drinks, and various sweet pastry treats including Scotch Shortbread and decorated cakes. An extensive and extravagant dining room where residents and visitors could take tea or enjoy a simple supper was also incorporated into the café. Throughout its existence the building underwent a number of changes which included alterations to the façade and extensions to the top floor of the café to incorporate a 300 people capacity banqueting room.

For many decades Whitehouse's Cafe was at the centre of Ipswich social life. Countless weddings, club functions and dinners were held there. The founder of Whitehouse's died in 1894. His son Frederick junior took over soon after and ran the business for about 36 years.

During the 1920s Whitehouse's was managed by the Tilbury family.  In 1936 the freehold and catering business of Whitehouses Pty Ltd was sold by Frederick junior to Londy Bros who then sold it to Thomas Isaac who planned to keep the staff and make improvements. 

In the 1950s Del-Rae Salon was in their building. By mid 1980s Navies the jewellers and Gordon Duncan Printers were operating in the building.

Whitehouse's Cafe closed pre 1982 and the building was demolished in 1987 as part of the revitalisation of the Ipswich CBD.