West Ipswich (Little Ipswich)

Big Ipswich, Little Ipswich, North Ipswich

In 1862 there was a Big Ipswich, a Little Ipswich and North Ipswich.

In April 1935 the Queensland Times reported on the history of this area: “Little Ipswich” from the early 1850’s to the early 1860’s was the hub of this part of the newly-formed colony below the main range. The bullock driving fraternity were regarded as the uncrowned kings of West Moreton. A hardy race of fellows they were as a rule, their occupation tending to make them so. Ipswich was then the depot of the whole of the Downs and the “never Never” country beyond, and all the teamsters had to pass through “Little Ipswich” in bringing the wool to its destination. There is very little comparison between West Ipswich of to-day and the “Little Ipswich” of 70 years ago. The hearty knights of the bullock whip have toddled off to more congenial spheres, while residents who live near the main Toowoomba-road are not now disturbed by the leather-lunged admonitions of “wah, strawberry; gee’p, brindle’ get up, you brindle-boiled-bundle slow carnation of leather!” followed by a crack, like a young explosion, of the long-handled whip." There were four railway stations in Ipswich named: “Ipswich” – “Old Ipswich,” “New Ipswich,” “East Ipswich,” and “Little Ipswich.”

First Surveys of Little Ipswich

The first surveyed blocks of land in the Town of Limestone were the garden allotments in Little Ipswich (later known as West Ipswich).  Henry Wade surveyed the 'Garden and suburban allotments' in the town of Limestone (Ipswich) in 1842.  The map showed the 'Proposed Town of Limestone', but it was not until 1843 that the area for the town was surveyed.  On Wade's second survey map of Little Ipswich in 1843, only four streets were named.  Moree Lane (now Hooper Street), Thorn Lane (now Warrell Street), Ridge Lane (now Keogh Street) and Brisbane Street.

First Land Sales & Early Hotels

On 11th October 1843, 15 allotments in Little Ipswich were sold by auction in Sydney.  From the early 1850s to the early 1860s, Little Ipswich was a bustling area.  It was a common site to see bullock drays passing through with their wagons of goods for the Darling Downs, and returning loaded with wool.  Hotels in the area included the Woolpack Inn, the original One Mile Hotel, Bull's Head Hotel, Stanley's Sovereign Hotel and Colin Peacock's Sportsman's Arms.

First Businesses

The town's first hospital was established by Dr Dorsey near the old pound yards in Little Ipswich.  Early businesses included those of Donald Campbell (blacksmith), James England (bootmaker and the first man to build a weatherboard cottage in Little Ipswich, he was also a large land holder in Bundamba and Tarampa), John Germain (tanner and currier, from the late 1840s), J. Johnston (store keeper), and Gustav Weise (rope maker, hair manufacturer and grocer).  Josiah Hancock’s mill opened in 1887.  Richard Watson grew cotton on his land in Little Ipswich.

Little Ipswich had a church, a school (opened in 1861), lock-up, original police barracks, railway station, and the Corporation (Council) pound-yards.

Tommy Delong 

Settlers in Little Ipswich included a number of Chinese men who established market gardens.  The Queenslander in 1899 told readers about Tommy Delong who was born in China in 1808. He had arrived in Sydney in 1842 and before coming to Ipswich he panned for gold in the Rocky River. He arrived in Brisbane in 1850 and travelled to Ipswich where he started a business at Little Ipswich.

Chinese market gardeners sold vegetable door to door with pair of traditional baskets hanging from a pole across their shoulders. At Christmas, they brought household gifts of small jars of ginger or fans. In the 1850s a house in Ridge Street was occupied as a sort of hospital by the Chinese population.

Families of Little Ipswich

Well-known families were: the Hills, Patricks, Farquhar Aberdeen, Peacocks, Smiths, Holmes, Hoares, Stanleys, Reddys, Dowlings, Gibsons, Connors, Ogilvies, Harrises, McLeods, Hasenkamps, Rodericks, McLeans, Behans, Bradfields, Fitzgeralds, Johnstons, Ashes, Ransoms and Gustav Rudoph Weise.

By 1881 the area was being called West Ipswich.