Dreaming of Tomorrow: Recreation

Robyn Buchanan revealed some of the ways people enjoyed their leisure time in her publication Ipswich in the 20th Century.

Bowling allowed on Sundays
In 1962, a 10-pin bowling alley was built in Brisbane Street. There was some controversy because the Council was willing to change its by-laws to allow it to open seven days a week. A recent local poll had come out in favour of allowing Sunday sport, but bowling was seen as “commercial recreation” and there was still a lingering problem with the concept of Sunday entertainment. Aldermen, however, thought that it would be “a healthy sport which would do much to help keep young people off the streets”. The bowling alley was popular for several years, but later closed and the building was used as an underwear factory.

New ideas in leisure and holidays
American culture had come to Australia during World War II along with the American troops, and “jitterbug competitions” were often held at Goodna and in the Ipswich Town Hall. By the 1950s, the American influence was even more noticeable on radio hit parades and at the pictures – not yet called the cinema. Parents were disapproving when a new film “Rock Around the Clock” was shown at the Ritz Theatre in Bell Street - a new era of teenage entertainment was just beginning.

Another American idea was the drive-in cinema. The Starline Theatre Company, with chairman of directors J. Hennessey, first applied for a licence in April 1955 but was rejected. It was later successful and the drive-in finally opened at Raceview in May 1959, facing strong competition from television which had just been introduced.

The drive-in accommodated 300 cars and had a café area and children’s playground. The first film shown was “The King and I”. The publicity emphasised the family atmosphere and the informality - patrons were invited to “wear what you please, you don’t have to dress up”. A second drive-in opened at Tivoli in the 1970s.

Going to the beach was the most popular holiday for Ipswich people and many chose to camp, particularly at Christmas. Some families went to the same camp site every year, often finding their Ipswich neighbours in a nearby tent. Not everyone owned a car, so carriers such as Whybirds collected the camping gear in Ipswich and dropped it off at each campsite along the coast, making the reverse trip at the end of the holidays. Times were changing however. The beaches became the venue for organised games such as the “hokey pokey”, an idea backed by Greenmount and other guest houses. The South Coast was renamed the “Gold Coast” and in 1954, the first “motel” was built - the El Dorado at Surfers’ Paradise. This new type of accommodation soon revolutionised holidays and travel. The North Coast also boomed and became the “Sunshine Coast”.

Overseas holidays were a rare luxury for Ipswich people up to the 1950s, and the lucky few usually travelled by ship. By the 1960s however, this had changed and more people were able to fly overseas, with Britain a popular destination.