Adversity & Resilience (1920s-1930s)

The period after World War I was a time of great change in Ipswich. Society itself had been changed by the war, and the simpler line of female fashion was one obvious sign of the new freedom. Technology led the way, and the interwar period saw the local adoption of electricity, radio and aviation, while motor vehicles became more common and silent movies changed to “talkies”. [1]

Prince of Wales meets returned soldiers
Returned soldiers figured prominently in the visit to Ipswich by the Prince of Wales in July 1920. (The Prince later became King Edward VIII who abdicated to marry Mrs. Simpson). The Prince arrived by train and the newspaper commented “The Prince made a fresh, pleasant appearance ...attired in a light grey overcoat, wearing red and white sweet peas in his buttonhole, his blue eyes sparkling”. He then was taken to Queens Park where a civic reception was held. The Prince had specifically asked to meet returned soldiers and representatives of groups such as the Red Cross and Comforts Fund. Overhead, a Captain Snell had arrived in an aeroplane and “flew from one end of the city to the other, and the nose diving and other feats were greatly admired.” However by this time, the Prince had moved on to a lunch in the Town Hall and missed the display. [2]

Ipswich in the 1920s and 1930s
The City of Ipswich, in the 1930s, covered an area of 12 and a half miles (20.117km) and the population was 22,540. Within five miles of the City were the suburbs of Silkstone, Booval, the Workshops Estate (North Ipswich) One Mile and other residential areas. In the late 1930s, war was looming in Europe and Australia was preparing for the coming war. The Queensland Government considered a number of sites for a new strategic aerodrome, finally selecting land at Amberley. Approximately 400ha were gazetted in December 1938, with additional land being acquired two years later. Work began in January 1939 and the base was completed with operations as a RAAF Base commencing on 17 June 1940.