On The Homefront: Tourism

Just as Australia entered World War 2, Ipswich City Council and the Chamber of Commerce jointly published Ipswich Caravan, an illustrated booklet about “The Modern Athens”, compiled “for the delectation of the citizen, the tourist, and the visitor”. The attractions of government buildings, schools, churches, hospitals, and parks and gardens were extolled.

The declaration of war soon put an end to usual tourist activity, and by 1942 visitors to the city and region, comprised mainly Allied servicemen. During the war, numbers of postcards of the same buildings, parks and views were published, many undoubtedly posted home by those servicemen when stationed here or visiting on leave.

Ipswich residents going on holidays followed some familiar patterns, described by Robyn Buchanan:

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.

Camping had become popular among holiday-makers from the 1920s, but the rise of the motor car as affordable family transport meant the introduction of a range of new accommodation types, including caravan parks. The American concept of the “motel” i.e. hotels catering to motorists, began to take hold in Queensland a little later, from the mid 1950s.

In postwar Ipswich, the burgeoning interest in caravanning prompted the Queensland Times to bemoan a lack of tourist facilities.  The newspaper commented on 30 September 1947:

NOWHERE FOR CARAVANS TO PARK

 

Dozens of caravans and hundreds of travellers are passing through Ipswich every month, and they are passing through because nowhere in the city area is there a comfortable site for caravans to park, and few hotels have accommodation for the casual visitor.

 

These visitors are from other towns in Queensland and from other States, but most of them from the South to see “Sunny Queensland.”

 

In Ipswich it is sunny alright, but this is what the average caravan traveller has to put up with parks with long grass and no amenities, particularly sanitary facilities. Water is laid on to most of the parks.

 

Given attractive conditions families from New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia could be the source of the most telling propaganda for tourist purposes.

 

Interviewed on the subject yesterday the City Inspector (Mr. R. C. Rogers) stated that many inquiries had been made at the City Council offices for information as to where tourists in caravans could best be accommodated. It had given council officers a problem since there were no adequate facilities.

 

Bremer Park was quoted as one possibility, but there the only sanitary facilities are through the wall of the City Baths. Brown's Park has been used, but it is lacking in amenities. Queen's Park was used by a big southern caravan last week-end, but it was parked near the Curator's tool shed which has water and earth closets.

 

Other areas are well outside the town – which, after all, is the best place for the caravans to park – but none of these has the necessary facilities.

 

Post-war travelling by Caravan has become popular, especially in the South: and both in the winter and summer in the future Queensland towns can expect an increased number of tourists.

An Ipswich City Council meeting on 10 October 1947 discussed provision of a formal caravan park, and in July 1948 the Council's budget estimates included an allocation of £270 for “a caravan site in Queen’s Park”. Until Council established an official park, which would provide electricity, water and sewerage, visitors set up in Queen’s Park near the Curator’s house.

The Council caravan park, constructed near the incinerator (now Incinerator Theatre), had been completed by early 1950. Visitors praised its facilities which included water, laundry and fireplaces, but no electricity. It closed in the early 1980s.