Expanding Horizons: Institutional & Educational Architecture

The Ipswich Yearbook, Volume 1, 1977-1978 told of Council's grand Civic Centre Development which is described below.

Council adopted a revised plan for the Civic Centre development. The original Civic Centre Plan having been prepared in 1968 and subsequently upgraded in 1974. The second revision adopted by Council in 1978 reflects the civic requirements of the City for many decades to come. The area selected covers two city blocks and is bounded by East, Roderick, Nicholas and Limestone Streets. To date, three modern buildings have been constructed, these are the Ipswich Civic Hall, Ipswich Humanities Centre and the Commonwealth Government Offices. It is anticipated that construction will soon commence on new State Government Offices and Law Courts.

The plans envisage the provision of four levels of underground parking and pedestrian malls interconnecting all the buildings. In addition to the buildings already constructed or announced,  the plans provide for a new Council Administration Complex, Town Hall, an ampitheatre, three plaza levels, speciality shops and a tavern. The plan also envisages the development of a large bus terminal complex to serve local, intra and interstate bus companies on land adjacent to the Civic Centre. When fully developed, the Ipswich Civic Centre will be unique to Queensland in that all Federal, State and Local Government Offices and facilities will be concentrated in one defined area in the City.

The Ipswich Civic Hall, built at a cost of $2.2 Million, was opened on 19th July, 1975, by the then Prime Minister, the Hon. E.G. Whitlam, Q.D. [1]

The plan, which was described as the largest and most comprehensive development to be undertaken in Ipswich to that point, was bounded by Limestone, East, Roderick, and Ellenborough Streets. If completed, proposed buildings would have included speciality shops, a tavern, future town hall, memorial regional library, children's library, a bus terminal, and a multi-level plaza. Existing buildings on the site included the Civic Centre, Humanities building, Masonic Hall, and an Australian Government building. Proposed buildings that were completed were the Courthouse and Council administration buildings.

Note: if the Memorial Regional Library and Children's Library had been built, it appears this would have resulted in the demolition of the Soldiers' Memorial Hall.