Convicts & Colonials: Growth & Development

Limestone in 1839
"Limestone" (Ipswich) in 1839 consisted of George Thorn's house, cattle and sheep yards, a limekiln and a stockade for prisoners.

An article in The Sydney Morning Herald in June 1843 carrying news from the interior said:

Ipswich, more commonly known as Limestone, is admirably adapted from its locality for an inland town, it being an easy stage (26 miles) from Brisbane, and the outlet to the interior districts: several parties intend to build so soon as they can secure an allotment. Mr. George Thorne, the only present occupier of an accommodation house, or house of entertainment for travellers, intends to erect a spacious inn, of sixteen rooms, with suitable stabling and other outhouses, immediately.

David Forbes visited the area in 1853 and described the house of accommodation kept by Mr. Thorn:

The room in which we slept was like a barrack room, slab sides, bark roof, and earthern floor, and about twenty stretchers along the side walls."

He went on to describe the growth of "Limestone" as follows:

The appearance of Ipswich has been considerably improved during the last twelve months; and at this moment there are built, and in progress of building, many substantial houses, and a number of comfortable cottages; in fact, it has now assumed many of the characteristics of an established town.

First Land Sale
The proclamation of the first land sale of Ipswich allotments was made on 24 August 1843 in Sydney.

George Thorne (Thorn), J. McCabe and F. Talbot purchased land in the Town of Ipswich. James Hill,  Peacock, Thomas Hill, W. H. Jones, Richard Watson, James England, James Shea, Peter Murph and William Kavenagh purchased Garden Allotments in the Parish of Ipswich. John Kent and Smith purchased Suburban allotments, also in the Parish of Ipswich.