Ipswich Post Office

One of the first letter carriers in Queensland was appointed in Ipswich in 1858, and the first telegraph line in Queensland was built between Brisbane and Ipswich during 1860-1861. The first post office began operations in 1856 in Richard Gill's shop in Bell Street. Permanent post and telegraph facilities were completed in 1862. Gill was Post Master from 1865 until his retirement in 1887. A branch of the GPO was established at Ipswich, and it became the first country Post Office to be made a branch of the Department. A brick postal building fronted Brisbane Street, and the brick telegraph building operated at the rear in Limestone Street. These were demolished to make way for the present building, completed in 1900 at a cost of £9,633. The original architectural drawings were signed by A.B. Brady, the government architect, who probably played a major role in the design.

At Federation in 1901 the Federal Government took control of the postal system. The telegraph section was located in the new Post Office building, but Morse telegraph ceased in 1945 between Ipswich and Brisbane when modern teletype services were provided between these cities.

A Courier Mail article on 1 April 2006 informed readers that the old mechanism in the clock was replaced with an electric motor

to save its employees having to wind the clock twice a week.

In 1985 the clock face on the northern side of the tower melted from the impact of the fire across the road that destroyed Reids Department Store. Three glaziers from G. James repaired the glass internally, carrying pieces of glass and a piece of perspex up the spiral staircase.