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Queensland Times cartoonist Wil Mitchell working at his desk, Ipswich, Queensland, 1978
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Creator Details
TitleQueensland Times cartoonist Wil Mitchell working at his desk, Ipswich, Queensland, 1978Date Created3rd February 1978AcknowledgementThe Queensland Times
Location
City & StateIpswich, QueenslandGeo Coordinatesnot specified
Description
DescriptionDescribed in 2019 by Interim Administrator of the Ipswich City Council, Greg Chemello, as "an Ipswich Legend", Wil Mitchell's political commentary in the medium of cartoons was a ubiquitous part of 'The Queensland Times' for over 30 years.
Wil's satirical work was unflinching and sharp and popular with readers of 'The Queensland Times' and 'The Ipswich Advertiser'.
In 2002, the Ipswich City Council dedicated a room in the Ipswich City Council Administration Building to Wil as the 'Wil Mitchell Room'. The room was endorsed with an original piece of Wil's artwork and bore a plaque inscribed with the motto "Where there's a Wil, there's a Rose", a reference to Wil's wife, Rose. Both the art and the plaque were given to Wil in 2019 by the Ipswich City Council.
Wil's illustrious career was sanctioned by threats to sue him and his employer over his cartoons, which Wil described as "scary", as well as threatening letters from supporters of some of the subjects of Wil's pen.
Before finding his home at 'The Queensland Times' in 1976 under editor Peter Owen, Wil's career included work hunting crocodiles in North Queensland, hunting kangaroos, shooting deer in New Zealand, working in power stations, and dam construction.References (online)Minutes of council ordinary meeting - 28 October 2019 - Ipswich City Council - [Accessed 16 September 2025]Families finally see inside Box Flat on 50th anniversary of mining disaster - Tony Moore - 31 July 2022 - The Age - [Accessed 16 September 2025]Wil's quick on the draw - 23 July 2011 - The Courier Mail - [Accessed 16 September 2025]
Wil's satirical work was unflinching and sharp and popular with readers of 'The Queensland Times' and 'The Ipswich Advertiser'.
In 2002, the Ipswich City Council dedicated a room in the Ipswich City Council Administration Building to Wil as the 'Wil Mitchell Room'. The room was endorsed with an original piece of Wil's artwork and bore a plaque inscribed with the motto "Where there's a Wil, there's a Rose", a reference to Wil's wife, Rose. Both the art and the plaque were given to Wil in 2019 by the Ipswich City Council.
Wil's illustrious career was sanctioned by threats to sue him and his employer over his cartoons, which Wil described as "scary", as well as threatening letters from supporters of some of the subjects of Wil's pen.
Before finding his home at 'The Queensland Times' in 1976 under editor Peter Owen, Wil's career included work hunting crocodiles in North Queensland, hunting kangaroos, shooting deer in New Zealand, working in power stations, and dam construction.References (online)Minutes of council ordinary meeting - 28 October 2019 - Ipswich City Council - [Accessed 16 September 2025]Families finally see inside Box Flat on 50th anniversary of mining disaster - Tony Moore - 31 July 2022 - The Age - [Accessed 16 September 2025]Wil's quick on the draw - 23 July 2011 - The Courier Mail - [Accessed 16 September 2025]
Connections
People & FamiliesWil MitchellTaxonomy20th Century | 1970s | 1978
Queensland Times Collection
Queensland Times CollectionThe Queensland Times CollectionFebruary 1978 - Queensland Times
Asset Details
Reference IDQT-1978-02-03-0020QT-1978-02-03-0021QT-1978-02-03-0022Asset TypeImage - JpegImages, Maps and Artefacts (Trove mapping field)imageColour or Black & White ImageBlack & WhitePhysical DescriptionNegativeCopyright NoticeThis work was created after 1st January 1955. It is protected by the Copyright Act 1968. Copyright duration is for the life of the creator plus 70 years.
The creator retains ownership of the copyright of this work. The creator has granted Picture Ipswich a non-exclusive, non-transferable right to use and reproduce this work.
Under the Fair Dealing exception of the Copyright Act 1968, you can use this work for research or study, criticism or review, and parody or satire. Moral rights remain and the work MUST be correctly attributed to its creator (photographer, studio, author, etc.) with acknowledgement of Picture Ipswich as the source of the work.
You CANNOT use this work for any other purpose (including redistribution on social media platforms) without seeking permission first.
For more information, or if you require a higher resolution copy of this work, please contact Picture Ipswich.CopyrightPicture Ipswich Copyright Information
The creator retains ownership of the copyright of this work. The creator has granted Picture Ipswich a non-exclusive, non-transferable right to use and reproduce this work.
Under the Fair Dealing exception of the Copyright Act 1968, you can use this work for research or study, criticism or review, and parody or satire. Moral rights remain and the work MUST be correctly attributed to its creator (photographer, studio, author, etc.) with acknowledgement of Picture Ipswich as the source of the work.
You CANNOT use this work for any other purpose (including redistribution on social media platforms) without seeking permission first.
For more information, or if you require a higher resolution copy of this work, please contact Picture Ipswich.CopyrightPicture Ipswich Copyright Information
Linked To
Queensland Times Collection
Copyright
This work is protected under the Copyright Act 1968
This work was created after 1st January 1955. It is protected by the Copyright Act 1968. Copyright duration is for the life of the creator plus 70 years.
The creator retains ownership of the copyright of this work. The creator has granted Picture Ipswich a non-exclusive, non-transferable right to use and reproduce this work.
Under the Fair Dealing exception of the Copyright Act 1968, you can use this work for research or study, criticism or review, and parody or satire. Moral rights remain and the work MUST be correctly attributed to its creator (photographer, studio, author, etc.) with acknowledgement of Picture Ipswich as the source of the work.
You CANNOT use this work for any other purpose (including redistribution on social media platforms) without seeking permission first.
For more information, or if you require a higher resolution copy of this work, please contact Picture Ipswich.





Wil Mitchell
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Queensland Times cartoonist Wil Mitchell working at his desk, Ipswich, Queensland, 1978. Picture Ipswich, accessed 23/10/2026, https://www.pictureipswich.com.au/nodes/view/27190






