Churchill Abattoir also known as Ipswich abattoir is closing at the end of September 2017. It is currently the largest domestic abattoir in Australia.
The closure may prove to be temporary however it is a significant moment for its 500 employees, and an historic one for Ipswich. The modern facility opened in February 1959 with about 40 employees.
At least as early as 1913 stock was being slaughtered in Churchill for J. V. Francis & Co. Butchers who advertised that their stock was being slaughtered under the supervision of a Government Veterinary Inspector. At this time, Francis & Co. had 5 butcher shops in Ipswich located at Brisbane Street – East, Down Street, Burnett Street in West Ipswich, East Street, and Churchill Abattoirs.
Churchill Abattoir slaughter house, Churchill, Ipswich, 1910s – Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich
In 1861 there were at least 3 butchers in Ipswich – all located in the area that we consider the CBD now but which would have accounted for most of Ipswich back then. There was O. Connor in Brisbane Street, Michael Ford on the corner of East & South Streets, and B. Wright in Nicholas Street. In 1934 when a butcher shop described as the Nicholas Street Mart was to be auctioned, it claimed to be “the oldest established butcher shop in Ipswich”. Watson Brothers Butchers was an early establishment also, opening in 1879. They owned 3 shops in Nicholas and Brisbane Streets by 1895.
R. McLeod, Carcass & Family Butcher were proprietors of 2 establishments in 1895 in North Ipswich – in Downs Street and The Terrace. This business ran meat carts twice a week to homes in Pine Mountain, and daily to Mount Crosby, Booval, and Blackstone.
R. McLeod’s, butcher, North Ipswich, 1895 (1990s) – Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich
For much of the 20th century butcher shops were commonplace in Ipswich neighbourhoods. Long-term and older residents of Ipswich may remember these businesses:
- Rossiter’s butcher shop at 10 Pine Mountain Road, North Ipswich.
Rossiters butcher shop at 10 Pine Mountain Road, North Ipswich, 1960s – Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich
- Coward & Co. Butchers at 86 Downs Street, on the corner of Ferguson Street, North Ipswich
- Paramount Butcher Shop located in Brisbane Street near the old QT building
- Auld’s butchery at 9 Nicholas Street
- Doug Foote the butcher at Glebe Road, Booval
- C.W. & D.M. Rowlings’ butcher shop in Woodend Road, Woodend
- Johnston’s butcher shop at the Fiveways, opposite Ipswich Girls Grammar School
- Thompson’s Cash Butchery, opposite the State Butchery in Brisbane Street
- J. Rossiter Cash Butcher, One Mile
Rossiters butcher shop at One Mile, Ipswich, 1930s – Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich
A number of small slaughter houses were located in the Churchill area throughout the first half of the 20th century. By the late 1930s however some dissatisfaction in the Ipswich community had arisen regarding these businesses. It was not until 1949 that the local community and council got serious about a new abattoir to replace them. Even then the process of site selection, land resumption, tenders and construction took another ten years. It was intended that this new facility, positioned on 127 acres & 3 roods, handle the slaughtering of all meat for local consumption.