Shaping Our Identity: Sports

In "Red Gum's" final article Glimpses of Early Ipswich he wrote:

In referring to the '60's, I cannot omit some reference to a subject in which the early Ipswichians took an immense pride - namely, the dazzling sporting reunions under the auspices of the old North Australian Jockey Club, a club which existed through three decades -  the '50's, the '60's, and the '70's - as the leading racing club North of Sydney. I have previously written so much about the old-time sporting in Ipswich that it will be hard now to squeeze in new matter about those halcyon times when Ipswich was regarded as THE town and Brisbane as only a village! The magnificent turf doings of 50 years and less ago will be an ever-interesting topic as the traditions of the old Ipswich race-course are handed down from one generation to another, and I vouch that the first named mentioned in the connection will be that of the late Sir Joshua Peter Bell - only he will always be referred to as "Josuha Peter Bell;" and it is safe to say that no one individual in this State did more to improve the breed of blood stock than that honourable gentleman.

In 1861, a Championship Sweepstake was held at the Grange Racecourse with the astounding prizemoney of more than 1000 pounds - a fortune for those times.

Activities planned for the Queen's birthday in 1864 and the visit of the Governor included the North Australian Race Meeting, a ball and other festivities.

In the late 1870s, the roller skating craze hit Ipswich. Mr. Rollo built a hall at North Ipswich as a skating rink. Another sport starting to become popular was football.