Becoming A City: Commemoration

Death of the Queen

News of Queen Victoria's death on 22nd January 1901 reached the Queensland Times office shortly before 11am on the 23rd.  Without delay, staff, by way of the telephone, began passing the message on to the principal business houses and industrial works of Ipswich. 

In a short time, outward manifestations of sorrow were on display, as the bells of St Paul's, St Mary's, St Stephen's, and St John's were tolled for some considerable time.  At the Municipal Council chambers, Railway Workshops, Hancock Brother's, and at most of the shops and scores of private dwellings, flags were hoisted half-mast. 

Businesses were closed, shutters covered windows, and the palisading of the balcony of the Queensland Times building, as well as the North Star Hotel and many other businesses, were draped with black.  The front wall of Mr. G. Culley's Club Hotel had a framed life size bust photograph of the Queen, draped with black. 

Under instructions from the authorities in Brisbane, government offices were closed for the remainder of day and Mayor Tallon gave instructions for the municipal offices, library and reading room to also be closed. 

State schools remained opened, however Mr Watson, head teacher at the Boys Central State School, informed students that they would not be given homework for a few days, in order for the boys to devote their evenings to reading the history of the British Empire during the reign of Queen Victoria, which would be supplemented by hour long lessons, for the rest of the week, on the progress of the British Empire during the previous 60 years.  The boys were asked to wear black bands on their left arms as as sign of respect.

As the Queensland Times described:

Subsequent to the receipt of the news business in town was practically at a standstill.  Only absolutely necessary purchases were made.  People had no heart to do anything.  The melancholy event was the one all absorbing topic of conversation, and many and frequent were the heartfelt expressions of sorrow at the death of so worth and esteemed a Sovereign.

The Aftermath of War

The RSL Hall in Nicholas Street is the most significant memorial erected in Ipswich to honour the soldiers who served in World War I. In Ipswich city, 750 men had volunteered out of a population of about 17,000 people; of these, 140 had been killed in action or had died of wounds or illness. Similar proportions of men had volunteered in country areas.

Many suggestions were made about the best way to pay tribute to these men but the eventual decision was that a Soldiers' Memorial Hall should be built. On May 4 1920, General Sir William Birdwood visited Ipswich. He lead a parade through the streets, presented military decorations at a function in Queens Park, and then laid the foundation stone for the Memorial Hall. The Governor Sir Matthew Nathan performed the official opening 18 months later. The building was designed by Ipswich architect George Brockwell Gill and was a two-storey brick building. The front facade bears the rising sun badge of the Australian troops and this is echoed by the circular front porch. Inside is a vestibule in marble and silky oak containing honour rolls of locally-enlisted soldiers.

The Memorial Hall has served as a meeting place for returned service personnel and still remains a focal point for Anzac Day ceremonies in Ipswich. After the Hall was built, residents including the Ladies' Train Tea Society continued to fundraise to provide a memorial window. This was designed by W. Bustard and made by R. S. Exton of Brisbane. [1]

Community builds Anzac Cottages
Returned soldiers tended to be treated as heroes in the community.

Queensland’s first “Golden Casket” lotteries were held to raise money for projects to benefit war veterans – the name was selected because the first prize was a box or casket containing gold. One of the early projects it funded was the construction of “Anzac Cottages” to house the widows of fallen soldiers. Land for the cottages was usually donated by a generous member of the community. The Government provided materials for the cottages and the community gave voluntary labour to erect it. The first two Anzac Cottages built locally were in View Street Goodna and were named Jellicoe Cottage and Beatty Cottage. They were occupied by Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs .Coogan. A third cottage was built shortly afterwards in William Street for Mrs. Hiller. Later cottages were built at New Chum and Silkstone. The widows were able to live in the cottages and were asked to pay only a nominal rent. [2]