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School of Arts, Brisbane Street, Ipswich, 1864 (copy 1959)
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Creator Details
TitleSchool of Arts, Brisbane Street, Ipswich, 1864 (copy 1959)Date Created1864PhotographerBiggingee Sorabjee PoocheeStudioWhitehead StudiosAcknowledgementWhitehead Family
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Description
DescriptionSchool of Arts, Brisbane Street, Ipswich, 1864. This is a copy of a photo taken in 1864 which was used in the book 'Ipswich Municipal Centenary' (1960).
A group of men gather on the front steps of the School of Arts building in 1864. In the windows are the words “Queensland Insurance Company” and “Blaine Accountant”.
The School of Arts was first proposed in 1850, as an “Ipswich Literary Institution” to provide a reading room and library with the occasional lectures on local politics, but none on religion. The name changed in 1854, to become “The Ipswich Subscription Library and Reading Room” and again in 1858, becoming the “Mechanics’ School of Arts”.
The foundation stone of the building was laid on February 8, 1861 by Governor Sir George Bowen, who returned later in the year to officially open the first section of the building. The final section of the building was added in 1864, with a frontage to Brisbane Street.
By 1868, the School of Arts was in financial difficulty and approaches were made to the council, who were at that time looking for a more suitable location for the council chambers. In 1869 council gained control of the building, and it became the Town Hall.
Following the death of Governor Blackall in 1871, a memorial committee was formed and proposed the addition of a tower and clock to the building, by January 1879, the clock tower had finally been erected, along with the Blackall memorial fountain, at the intersection of Brisbane and Nicholas Streets. The clock has since been relocated to the former Council Chambers at Sandgate, Brisbane, and the fountain was moved in 1927 to the corner of Outridge Street and Chelmsford Avenue, Denmark Hill. The School of Arts building is now used as the Ipswich Art Gallery.
Additional Information Note: there is speculation that this image might have been taken by Bigginge Sorabjee Poochee, as he is known to have taken a photo of the School of Arts when it was opened. The framed photo, complete with photo cameos / medallions around the edge, was on display in the building for many years.
From 'Local and General News', Queensland Times, Saturday 28 April 1866, p.3:
'An excellent photographic view of the Ipswich School of Arts has been taken by the artist in Brisbane-street with the long and unpronounceable name. The picture is surrounded with portraits of the offices of the institution, all of which are excellent likenesses. It is intended to strike off a number of copies for sale of various sizes, ranging in priced from 2s. 6d. to 10s. 6d. Besides the portraits on the border are several well-known citizens grouped in front of the building, nearly all of which are easily recognisable. We predict for the picture an extensive sale.'
NOTE: This image was copied in 1959 by Whitehead Studio, and was included in Leslie Slaughter's "Ipswich Municipal Centenary", 1960.
References (offline)Leslie Slaughter “Ipswich Municipal Centenary”, 1960References (online)'Local and General News', Queensland Times, Saturday 28 April 1866, p.3
A group of men gather on the front steps of the School of Arts building in 1864. In the windows are the words “Queensland Insurance Company” and “Blaine Accountant”.
The School of Arts was first proposed in 1850, as an “Ipswich Literary Institution” to provide a reading room and library with the occasional lectures on local politics, but none on religion. The name changed in 1854, to become “The Ipswich Subscription Library and Reading Room” and again in 1858, becoming the “Mechanics’ School of Arts”.
The foundation stone of the building was laid on February 8, 1861 by Governor Sir George Bowen, who returned later in the year to officially open the first section of the building. The final section of the building was added in 1864, with a frontage to Brisbane Street.
By 1868, the School of Arts was in financial difficulty and approaches were made to the council, who were at that time looking for a more suitable location for the council chambers. In 1869 council gained control of the building, and it became the Town Hall.
Following the death of Governor Blackall in 1871, a memorial committee was formed and proposed the addition of a tower and clock to the building, by January 1879, the clock tower had finally been erected, along with the Blackall memorial fountain, at the intersection of Brisbane and Nicholas Streets. The clock has since been relocated to the former Council Chambers at Sandgate, Brisbane, and the fountain was moved in 1927 to the corner of Outridge Street and Chelmsford Avenue, Denmark Hill. The School of Arts building is now used as the Ipswich Art Gallery.
Additional Information Note: there is speculation that this image might have been taken by Bigginge Sorabjee Poochee, as he is known to have taken a photo of the School of Arts when it was opened. The framed photo, complete with photo cameos / medallions around the edge, was on display in the building for many years.
From 'Local and General News', Queensland Times, Saturday 28 April 1866, p.3:
'An excellent photographic view of the Ipswich School of Arts has been taken by the artist in Brisbane-street with the long and unpronounceable name. The picture is surrounded with portraits of the offices of the institution, all of which are excellent likenesses. It is intended to strike off a number of copies for sale of various sizes, ranging in priced from 2s. 6d. to 10s. 6d. Besides the portraits on the border are several well-known citizens grouped in front of the building, nearly all of which are easily recognisable. We predict for the picture an extensive sale.'
NOTE: This image was copied in 1959 by Whitehead Studio, and was included in Leslie Slaughter's "Ipswich Municipal Centenary", 1960.
References (offline)Leslie Slaughter “Ipswich Municipal Centenary”, 1960References (online)'Local and General News', Queensland Times, Saturday 28 April 1866, p.3
Connections
Buildings & StructuresSchool of Arts | Old Town Hall Government & Non-Government OrganisationsIpswich School of Arts Library & Reading Room, School of Arts | Old Town Hall, Brisbane Street (1865-1921)Curated CollectionsWhitehead Studios - The Whitehead CollectionDefining Tulmur | IpswichShaping Our Identity: Institutional & Educational ArchitectureShaping Our Identity: EducationShaping Our Identity: Infrastructure & UtilitiesShaping Our Identity: Community OrganisationsTaxonomy19th Century | 1860s | 1864
Subjects
SubjectsStreetscapesTown hallsGas lightsArchitecture - Buildings and StructuresInstitutional – civic buildingsEducational – classroomsArchitecture - FeaturesArchesArchitecture - MaterialsBricksEducationTechnical & further educationFashionMen's fashionPeopleMenTransport (and related)Traffic lights
Asset Details
Reference IDWHD-015-NEG-1482Asset TypeImage - JpegImages, Maps and Artefacts (Trove mapping field)imageColour or Black & White ImageBlack & WhiteOrientationLandscapeGenreArchitecturePhysical DescriptionNegativeHigher Resolution Available (contact Picture Ipswich)YesCopyright StatusPublic DomainCopyright NoticeThis work was created prior to the 1st January 1955. It has been identified as being free of known restrictions under the Copyright Act 1968.
You can use this work without asking permission.
Moral rights remain and the work MUST be correctly attributed to its creator (photographer, studio, author, etc.) with acknowledgement of Picture Ipswich as the source of the work.
If you require a higher resolution copy of this work, please contact Picture Ipswich.
CopyrightPicture Ipswich Copyright Information
You can use this work without asking permission.
Moral rights remain and the work MUST be correctly attributed to its creator (photographer, studio, author, etc.) with acknowledgement of Picture Ipswich as the source of the work.
If you require a higher resolution copy of this work, please contact Picture Ipswich.
CopyrightPicture Ipswich Copyright Information
Linked To
PhotographerStudioSuburbBuildings & StructuresGovernment & Non-Government OrganisationsCurated CollectionsDefining Tulmur | Ipswich
Copyright
This work has entered the Public Domain and is free of known copyright restrictions
This work was created prior to the 1st January 1955 or it is an orphan work (photographer unknown) created more than 70 years ago. It has been identified as being free of known restrictions under the Copyright Act 1968.
You can use this work without asking permission.
Moral rights remain and the work MUST be correctly attributed to its creator (photographer, studio, author, etc.) with acknowledgement of Picture Ipswich as the source of the work.
If you require a higher resolution copy of this work, please contact Picture Ipswich.
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School of Arts, Brisbane Street, Ipswich, 1864 (copy 1959). Picture Ipswich, accessed 21/09/2026, https://www.pictureipswich.com.au/nodes/view/9000