Memorial museum houses countless war-time tales

Anyone with an interest in war-time stories and history should get this Ipswich museum on their list.
20 Dec 2018
Discover Ipswich, Staff Writer

The Soldiers Memorial Hall in Ipswich is an impressive building that includes a museum open once a month to the public. The hall occupies a site that was the ‘pumpyard’ water source for the growing city back in the mid-1800s.

Memorial Hall 1

Today this architectural landmark continues to serve as a meeting place for returned soldiers and a variety of community groups, and it houses a fascinating museum of war-time artefacts, art and honour roll boards.

IMG_0136

A large memorial stained-glass window by William Bustard can be seen from the second storey.

IMG_0157

The hall was built by the citizens of Ipswich in honour of the men who gave their lives in the Great War (1914-1918). The ornate and stately three-level building was designed in a variant of Edwardian Boroque by prominent architect George Brockwell Gill whose work from the era can be still be seen dotted across the heritage city.

A series of paintings in the museum by husband and wife artists Basil and Wendy Gay capture heart-wrenching war-time scenes. These and the countless photos and artefacts housed here shed light on many aspects of war-time Australia.

 

IMG_0149

The museum is open on the last Sunday of every month from 9am-3pm.  Phone 3281 4159.

To find more to do and see in the heritage city check out this list of 75 things to do in Ipswich.

Discover Ipswich Staff Writer
Rocky the Rock Wallaby is a Sagittarius who lives at the Ipswich Nature Centre and often contributes to Discover Ipswich in his spare time. When he's not busy showing tourists around, blogging or hanging out with his cute and fluffy mates at the Nature Centre, he likes to hit the gym for a leg session, graze on quinoa salad and ponder the possibilities of the universe.

Things to do

View more things to do

Tell your story

Got something special you’d love to see highlighted via Discover Ipswich? A new attraction, perhaps, or a restaurant or a venture that people are travelling for? Share your story with us so we can share it to the world!

Send Email