Tanya Jen - Team Coordinator Cultural Heritage

Tanya joined the Strategic Planning Branch five years after the development of the Ipswich Heritage Program and has coordinated the program since that time. Her role includes research and development of resources including heritage trails, researching the history of places and sites, interpretation of significant places, creating educational resources and providing information on the history of the city and its people.

When asked to be a guest curator I thought the task of identifying just six images that are my favourites would be difficult as there are so many incredible images and collections. 'A few of my favourite things' are images that mean something to me from a personal and genealogical perspective and also topics that I have researched in my role with Council. If I could have found a photograph of the 'Bremer Mills' this would have been my number one pick, but so far images of this former industrial site have remained elusive.

Brynhyfryd, Blackstone, Ipswich

The story of Lewis Thomas and 'Brynhyfryd' are a reminder of an earlier time when people had high hopes for a new life in a new country. This image is a reminder of 'what was' but 'is no longer'.

1918 Block Maps

One of my favourite items in the collection is the 1918 Block Maps because they tell you so much about the city at the time. The maps contain the names of the  businesses and show the outline of buildings and the types of buildings in the centre of town including houses and stables.

Cows at water fountain on John Street, Rosewood, Ipswich, late 1950s

I love reading early stories of Ipswich and the rural areas and hearing about the animals that roamed the streets freely. This image reminds me of those stories.

Postcard of Railway Station, Union Street, Ipswich, c.1906

I have fond memories of some of our classic and early buildings in what was a very busy central city area. The Railway Station in Union Street is one of the buildings that I miss, along with Waltons, Bayards, the Cribb and Foote Heavy Hardware Building and of course the Cribb and Foote Department Store.

Streetscape View of Churchill Street from Warwick Road, Ipswich, 1958

This photograph is special to me as it is the street my ancestors would have walked on and viewed daily. My great grandparents lived in the third house from the corner of Warwick Road and Churchill Street on the right (not visible in the image).

Unidentified group, maybe collecting bottles, c.1930s

While studying local history at University we did an assignment on the Great Depression and its impact on our town or city. Great depression relief works and programs is a fascinating subject that provides an insight into how people coped with the Great Depression.