If you like history and heritage, then come to Ipswich during Galvanized to experience fantastic heritage events, dine in heritage spaces and stay in heritage accommodation!
Check into your heritage home…
Leave work early on Friday 30 August and hit the road west to Ipswich. We’re checking into a beautiful heritage house managed by Urban Getaway with a claw foot bath and stained glass details, full of heritage charm.
Alternatively book to stay at Cumqut House B&B, Woodlands of Marburg or Spicers Hidden Vale – all these properties are full of history. Psst more places to stay are available on our accommodation page.
Have dinner in a historic venue
If you’re staying in the CBD with Urban Getaway there’s a number of beautiful restaurants nearby housed in heritage buildings.
Try Bakehouse Steakhouse for delicious steaks and learn about it’s history as a bakery back in 1875. Or visit Ipswich Jets with gorgeous heritage details – this venue started as hotel in 1887. Indian Mehfil is inside Ipswich’s old bank building built in the late 1800s.
If you’re staying at Woodlands of Marburg then book ahead to dine with them in The Sugarmill Restaurant inside the mansion!
There’s so many more places you can dine with history read about them all here.
Wake up early Saturday and fly
Book in for an early morning historical hot air balloon flight with Floating Images! Wake up with the birds and take a 5am flight over the heritage city to learn about man’s earliest form of flight. Finish your tour with a delicious breakfast in a heritage pub that is now a cafe, bar and restaurant.
Spend the day exploring or take a tour
After your flight (Saturday 31 August) head into Ipswich Central to visit the St Paul’s Craft and Quilt Display, the Congregational Sunday School, Ipswich Hospital Museum and Ipswich Art Gallery for Kylie Hill: Jardibirri Nungarima Bukanyi, I, Object and Walking Together.
There will also be a Japanese Tea Ceremony and tasting workshop today at 9am, 11am and 1pm and blacksmithing workshops at 9am and 1pm at Queensland Museum Rail Workshops.
At 11am head to the Ipswich Turf Club for the Indigenous Wild Foods and Cultural Festival. This event will feature cultural demonstrations and bush tucker food.
If you’re coming on the second weekend of the festival then stop into Stony Creek Brewing for a historical brewing tour and taste, visit the Ipswich Historical Centre, take a finger puppets workshop, or a creative sand blasting class. There will also be a Freemasonry Early History Presentation on this day. Check the full calendar of events for times.
Explore haunted histories
Book in to enjoy a Goodna Cemetery Haunted History Tour tonight (Saturday 31 August) to hear the story of the headless angel. It’s more of an informative tour than ghost chasing, so no need to be worried about things that go bump in the night.
If you’re coming on the last weekend of Galvanized, Cooneana After Dark and a Haunted Ipswich CBD Ghost Tour will both be held on Friday 6 September, and an Ipswich Cemetery Ghost Tour will be held on Saturday 7 September.
Take in a show
Just because the sun’s going down it doesn’t mean you need to head home. Tonight the The Baker’s Ball starts at 5.30pm. Your ticket to this event includes music, dancing and three courses at different historical venues in the town of Marburg!
Or if you’re coming on the second weekend of Galvanized check out Guys and Dolls playing at the Ipswich Civic Centre from 7.30pm.
Take a historical walking tour on Sunday
Enjoy breakfast at one of the cute cafes in Top of Town like St Shoebill, before taking a Lost Ipswich Walking Tour on Sunday morning (1 September). The free tour will explore the history of the buildings around the CBD.
There are also tours of the old court house at 10am, 12pm and 2pm.
After exploring the CBD head over to Queensland Museum Rail Workshops for Steam and Smoke BBQ. There will be food trucks, local beer and gin, games, rock and roll and performances!
If you’re coming on the second weekend of the festival book in for the Rubbidy Dubs to Pubs Ipswich Walking tour (8 September) at 11.30am to explore five different pubs around the city.
