Boom & Bust: Entertainment & The Arts

The 1880s
Welsh people who arrived in Ipswich during this decade formed choirs and held the first Eisteddfod (singing and speech competition) on New Year's day 1887.

The Town Hall was used as a skating rink: a band on the stage provided music.

The 1890s
In 1891, an Ipswich store was demonstrating Edison's Improved Phonograph. This machine, the predecessor of modern sound systems, played cylindrical records. For the first time, Ipswich people could hear the world's great singers and musicians. Choirs including the Blackstone-Ipswich Cambrian Choir (which still exists) held regular concerts as well as competitions.

Visiting entertainment included Wirth's Circus and Wild West Show and De Barry's splendid drama "The Parson's Oath" complete with magnificent scenery - the play was said to be "the rage in London".

Sunday Schools played a big part in Sunday activities for children. Annual Sunday school picnics were held with all the children being taken into the nearby countryside for a picnic, lunch and games. Picnics were also held by various trade groups.

There was very little commercial traffic on the river but picnic excursions were common, usually going to the junction of the Bremer and Brisbane rivers where there was a good picnic area. Bands sometimes accompanied the excursion. Ipswich people also went on excursions to Moreton Bay.