Ipswich

Ipswich is one of Queensland’s most historic cities, sitting on the banks of the winding Bremer River just west of Brisbane. It has been growing and changing since the early 1800s, and today it is one of the fastest-expanding cities in the whole country — a place where deep history and a buzzing, modern energy sit side by side.

What really sets Ipswich apart is its incredible railway heritage. Trains put this city on the map, and you can feel that pride everywhere, especially at the massive Workshops Rail Museum, where you can actually climb aboard real steam locomotives inside the original 1877 railway buildings. It is the kind of place that makes history feel alive and exciting.

Beyond trains, Ipswich has a warm, welcoming character. You can wander through Queens Park and come face to face with dingoes, koalas, and wedge-tailed eagles at the free nature centre, or explore brilliant Australian artwork at the city’s impressive regional gallery. There is genuinely something for everyone here.

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Quick fact

Ipswich is Queensland's oldest provincial city, founded in the 1820s as a convict depot on the Bremer River, and is one of the fastest-growing cities in Australia.

Fun fact

Ipswich was the birthplace of Queensland's first railway line, opened in 1865, and the city's passion for trains is still celebrated at the wonderful Workshops Rail Museum — one of the biggest railway museums in Australia!

Landmarks

Workshops Rail Museum

This enormous museum is housed in the original 1877 railway workshops and lets you climb on real steam locomotives, explore carriages, and discover how trains shaped Queensland.

Queens Park

Ipswich's oldest park is a beautiful green space with a nature centre, a free animal nursery where you can meet native animals, and giant Moreton Bay fig trees to picnic under.

Ipswich Art Gallery

One of the best regional art galleries in Queensland, this bright gallery has a wonderful collection of Australian art and runs loads of fun creative workshops for kids.

Riverlink Shopping and Bremer River Precinct

The Bremer River waterfront is being transformed into a vibrant precinct where locals gather to eat, play, and enjoy events beside the winding river.

Ipswich Nature Centre

Tucked inside Queens Park, this free nature centre is home to rescued Australian animals including dingoes, koalas, and wedge-tailed eagles recovering before returning to the wild.