Ipswich Genealogical Society Inc.

The Society was formed by a number of members of the Ipswich Chapter of the Church of Christ of the Latter Day Saints, and the first meeting on the 8^th September 1977 was held in the building which was diagonally opposite The City View hotel, and on the other side of the railway line. This was the first Genealogical Society formed in Queensland and became the Genealogical Society of Queensland Ipswich.

Later in 1978 when a society formed in Brisbane, they asked if they could use the name, and Ipswich then became a branch of GSQ.  Within a short time other branches formed over Queensland and members received the magazine ‘Generation’, and each branch was given $5.00 out of the $20.00 membership fee; some of our members travelled to Brisbane to volunteer as Library Assistants for GSQ, at that time at Stones Corner.

When first formed the Ipswich Branch of the Queensland Genealogical Society was a small group with the common interest of Family History. Personal Computers were still in the future and research was done by writing letters, visiting the State and local libraries, State Archives and speaking to older family members. Certificates were purchased and cemeteries visited.

In 1985 a decision was made to break from GSQ and the Ipswich Genealogical Society Incorporated was formed.  The magazine “Bremer Echoes” was first produced in 1983, and Volume 3 no. 4 August 1985, was the first edition after our Society broke from GSQ and we became incorporated in our own right.

With no permanent home, many moves have been made over the years; this has included TAFE Centre (Education Centre) at Milford Street, the TAFE College in Ellenborough Street, then to the Technical College Workshops the site of the current Court House. Later to the top floor of what is now the Art Gallery, back to the TAFE College, into Bell Arcade then rooms at the Blackstone School. From 2016 we have been permanently housed at Cooneana Heritage Centre, in “Brigg House”.

The house was moved to Cooneana Heritage Centre, from the Council Depot at Briggs Road Raceview. The renovations were carried out by the Society with two Cleanaway Community Benefit Fund Grants in conjunction with Challenge Employment and Training.

The house has been given the name ”Brigg House” as it was moved from Briggs Road which was named for Thomas Brigg, an early settler in that area.