Macadam Roads

Early roads in many rural areas of Australia were made of earth and gravel. With the arrival of the motor car in the early 1900s came a demand on the government to improve road surfaces.

In 1920, the Queensland Government established the Main Roads Board and the Main Roads Act came into force. Local Government Authorities (councils) retained responsibility of local roads. The Main Roads Board were responsible for major roads that were not connected to a rail network and secondary roads that would link farming regions with the rail network.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Intermittent Relief Work Scheme was introduced in Australia to provide work and wages for the unemployed. The Commonwealth Government provided funds for relief work and the Council covered the costs of haulage, plant and supervision of workers. This scheme commenced in Ipswich on the 5th May 1931.

Relief work projects across the Ipswich region included the construction of kerbs, roads, stone culverts and the overall beautification of the city.

Intermittent Relief Work continued in the Ipswich area until 1939 when the Ipswich City Council and Moreton Shire Council were advised by the Department of Labour and Industry that cessation of the Scheme was to be begin on 17 September 1939.