Shaping Our Identity (1860s-1870s)

Ipswich in the 1860s and 1870s
In the 1860s, there were complaints about flocks of geese that roamed about in Limestone Street and frightened horses and in the 1860s, a market was established on the corner of Limestone and East Streets. It contained saleyards for horses and cattle and a market building was constructed with separate stalls (shops) for selling meat and produce. The business area would have been very lively. In the mid-1860s, for example, you could have watched blacksmiths, tailors, carpenters, candlemakers, tinsmiths, photographers and apothecaries (pharmacists). The busiest area was near the wharves at the end of Nicholas, East and Wharf Streets where paddle steamers pulled up to unload passengers and goods.

In 1865, the first railway began and the area near the railway station also became busy. Cobb and Co coaches followed a regular timetable.

At night, the town area was very dark as the first kerosene street lights were not installed until the early 1860s.