North Ipswich Ice Works

In the late 19^th century Ipswich consumers were dependent on ice shipped from Brisbane. This was both expensive and insufficient in quantity. Mr Frederick Springall of Down Street, North Ipswich established an ice works close to his residence in the same street in response to this situation.

On Saturday 23^rd December 1893 history was made in Ipswich when ice was manufactured in the city for the very first time. 

By 1895 production was so good that Springall was sending ice to Toowoomba and Dalby as well as supplying local requirements. Delivery in Ipswich was by horse and cart. Parcels of ice were also sent to Munbilla on the train to be used for butter making.  In Ipswich most of North Ipswich Ice Works custom came from hotels, confectioners and fruit shops with smaller demands made by the hospital and some doctors. Several private households were regular customers but these were very much in the minority. The ice works was regularly turning out one ton of ice.

Early in 1896, local dairy associates Messrs Du Reitz and Pommer entered into an arrangement with Springall to make butter at the North Ipswich Ice Works thus taking advantage of the cooler environment and storage. This was a success and before long it was proposed that a butter-making room with brick walls on the western side of the premises, facing Down Street, be constructed.  Architect H. E. Wyman of East Street was engaged to design the new addition that was to incorporate 2 new churns, a circular butter worker and a 4 horsepower engine to power it all. By July of that year production of butter had increased to 1000 pounds per week.

Within a couple of years, Springall leased the enterprise to Du Reitz and Pommer. Around this time it became known as North Ipswich Ice and Butter Factory.

On 1st November, 1899 the partnership of A.J. Du Reitz and Harry Pommer was dissolved with Du Reitz starting the Bremer Butter Factory in Nicholas Street in the old “Advocate” premises.

The Pommer brothers continued to operate the factory at North Ipswich and in 1903 new modern brick premises were erected at 9 The Terrace, featuring a concrete floor, significant insulation for the cool rooms and up-to-date appliances. The new factory was designed by M.W. Haenke and constructed by H. Woodford. It was expected that a ton of ice per day as well as butter would be produced in the new facility. Included also was a large compartmented storage room for butchers to use. Frederick Springall sold his Down Street factory in 1912 and it was then operated by Angus Linton. It closed during the Great Depression in the 1930s. Subsequently the building on The Terrace was used by Fowler’s Engineering from 1961 to 1991.