Galvanized is the city’s new festival of heritage, showcasing the best heritage experiences and events Ipswich has to offer across 10 days from 27 August – 5 September.
Be transported back in time by visiting iconic venues and historic sites and participating in open days, tours, demonstrations and workshops.
Steampunk workshop
Enjoy a one day workshop where you will create a futuristic piece of wearable art. Bookings are essential and cover tuition by seasoned artisan Anita Baills, materials and meals. Two sessions are available Saturday August 28 and Sunday August 29.
Prohibition Party
Celebrate the roaring twenties with dancing and dress ups on Saturday September 4 with The Workshops Rail Museum. Try your hand at poker grab a bootleg brew and hop on a historic fist-class train carriage.
Torchlight tours
Explore The Workshops Rail Museum after dark and hear stories from past workers and their histories. Book a wine and cheese platter for the night and settle in for a night of fun and discovery. Friday August 27 and Friday September 3.
Living history tour
Travel back in time to meet historical characters on this one of a kind tour featuring thespians. This brand new tour is being run especially for Galvanized over two weekends August 27-28 and September 3-4.
Family fun day
Take a ride on the trackless train, watch the wheelwright, help make damper or learn how to draw like they did in the 19th century. The blacksmiths and Queensland Metal Artisans will also be at work and see the old washers in action. Sunday August 29, 9am-2pm.
Blacksmithing after dark
Monday August 30, Tuesday August 31 and Wednesday September 1 see blacksmiths and metal artisans in action at their forges at Cooneana after dark. Jacket potatoes and drinks available.
Bikes beards and BBQ
Sunday September 5 the Historical Motorcycle Club are riding to Ipswich for their 50th anniversary. See vintage bikes, participate in a Stache and Beard competition and eat BBQ from a variety of food trucks.
Heritage bus tours
Discover streets lined with heritage homes, grand churches and historic pubs on this tour. Your guide will tell stories from Ipswich’s past and you can walk through inside two iconic Ipswich buildings. Tour includes morning tea and lunch. Meet Saturday 28 August at 9am at Queens Park – bookings essential.
Historical ghost tours
Join a two hour guided historical ghost tour through either Ipswich’s city centre (Friday nights), the local cemetery (Saturday nights), or the Goodna cemetery (Saturday nights) where you will hear chilling ghost stories gathered from deep within archives, newspapers, books and local residents. Goosebumps Guaranteed!
Woollen Mills open day
See inside the former wool mill on Saturday August 28. Entry to wander on your own is free, however there are guided tours for $5 departing hourly which will give an insight into the buildings.
Rhapsody of road and rail
Friday September 3, Saturday September 4 and Sunday September 5 enjoy seeing old steam engines, take a Cobb and Co coach, book for a Jazz and traction evening or a train ride with the volunteers from the Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway. You can also book a heritage train ride!
Lost Ipswich walks
Lost Ipswich are presenting a couple of different free walking tours for Galvanized.
One is a free walking tour of the Ipswich CBD is being held on Saturday August 28, Sunday August 29, Saturday September 4 and Sunday September 5 from 8am to 10am and the second is a free walking tour of the Ipswich Cemetery on Saturday September 4 from 10.30am-2.30pm.
