Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator (former)

In 1936, Walter Burley Griffin was contracted to design a municipal incinerator for Ipswich. George Brockwell Gill supervised the construction. The incinerator was designed to process the rubbish generated by a city of 20,000 people, but by 1960 the population of Ipswich was twice this number. Use of the incinerator was therefore discontinued and in 1965 the council considered demolishing it.

The Ipswich branch of the Arts Council leased the building and in 1969 the Ipswich Little Theatre decided that the building should be converted to an intimate theatre and contributed financially to the project. The Incinerator was converted into a theatre seating about 80 people. Engineer Ian Pullar carried out the design and planning.

The former incinerator was entered into the Queensland Heritage Register on 21st October 1992, meeting the following criteria:

Criterion A: The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history

The construction, use, expansion and eventual obsolescence of the former Ipswich municipal incinerator demonstrates a growing concern with public health during the twentieth century and hte of the civic programs undertaken to promote it.  In its secondary use as a community theatre the building also provides evidence for the contribution made by the Little Theatre movement to the growth of cultural life in Australia.

Criterion B: The place demonstrates rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of Queensland's cultural heritage

The former incinerator is one of only six surviving examples of the twelve incinerators of this type built in Australia.  It is also the only example of the work of architect Walter Burley Griffin in Queensland.

Criterion E: The place is important because of its aesthetic significance 

Although the former incinerator was intended as an industrial building, it is also aesthetically pleasing in its form and setting and was sufficiently well regarded by the community to trigger a campaign to preserve it.  Its aesthetic qualities have been important to the success of its recycling as a venue for the performing arts.

Criterion G: The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.

As the first permanent home of the Ipswich Little Theatre Society, the building has a special connection with this community theatre which has made an important contribution to the cultural life of Ipswich.

Criterion H: The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.

The former incinerator has a special association with the life and works of Walter Burley Griffin, illustrating a phase of his career and being as the only work by this architect in Queensland.