175 Years of Libraries in Ipswich

In 2025, Ipswich Libraries celebrates 175 years of Libraries in Ipswich.

Starting as the Ipswich Literary Institute, and later the Ipswich School of Arts Library, the Library first opened on the corner of Brisbane and Wharf Streets by September 1850.  After several moves, by 1865 the Library and its accompanying reading room, had found a home on the first floor of the School of Arts building.

As the committee of the School of Arts struggled financially, the then Ipswich Municipal Council took over the School of Arts building, transforming it into the Town Hall, with administration offices and council chambers.  The Library remained in the Town Hall until 1921, when it relocated to the top floor of the newly opened Soldiers' Memorial Hall.  The School of Arts continued to oversee the operation of the Library, subsidised by Council. 

The Library had relocated again in 1947, to the Council-owned former Bank of Australasia building, on the corner of Brisbane and Nicholas Streets.  With the Ipswich School of Arts Library Committee struggling to manage the Library, control and management finally passed to Ipswich City Council in 1949. 

The Library would relocate several more times, first to the corner of Nicholas and Limestone Streets, then to Bell Street, South Street and to its current position in Tulmur Place, Nicholas Street.  Redbank Plaza, the first branch library, opened in 1985.  The amalgamation of Ipswich City with Moreton Shire meant Redbank Plains Library, also opened in 1985, became the second branch library.  A mobile library service extended the reach of the Library to residents not within easy access to the physical branches. 

Today, Ipswich Libraries has a presence in seven locations across the City: Ipswich Central, Redbank Plaza, Redbank Plains, Springfield, Karalee Library Pod, Rosewood, and Ipswich Children's Library.  Ipswich Libraries offers a contemporary, innovative library service, which provides a diverse range of library and information products and services to the community.  The Library offers an extensive physical and online collection, as well as programming for infants to seniors.  

To read more about the 175 year history of Ipswich Libraries, and to see photos of the libraries, librarians, and library events, click on the collections below: