Ipswich is already seeing benefits from the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as the city marks six years until the global sporting event arrives in South East Queensland.
Speaking on West Bremer Radio, Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said council recently hosted a Six Years to Go breakfast at Brighton Homes Arena, which has been confirmed as Ipswich’s Games venue.
More than 100 representatives from sporting organisations, community groups and businesses attended, alongside local Olympian Kaarle McCulloch and Paralympian Taymon Kenton-Smith, with Olympic gold medallist Brooke Hanson hosting the event.
Mayor Harding said Ipswich was in a unique position as a Games co-host city, with investment already flowing into the region.
She pointed to the $40 million investment from all three levels of government into North Ipswich Reserve, as well as plans for a new Hilton Garden Inn hotel in the Ipswich CBD, as examples of projects benefiting from the momentum towards 2032.
Ipswich Art Awards return
Meanwhile, entries have opened for the 2026 Ipswich Art Awards, marking the 26th year of the competition.
Last year more than 300 artists submitted over 400 works, with this year’s competition offering $18,000 in prize money across nine categories, as well as Best of Show and the People’s Choice Award.
Entries remain open until 13 September, with Mayor Harding encouraging emerging and experienced artists to get involved.
The Mayor also praised the recently completed murals at Booval Fair, where six artists were selected from 23 expressions of interest to create new works around the shopping centre.
Century celebrations across Ipswich
It has also been a significant week of anniversaries for several Ipswich organisations.
The Queensland Country Women’s Association Ipswich branch celebrated its 100th anniversary, while the Ipswich Netball Association marked more than a century of netball in the city.
Ipswich Little Theatre celebrated the 70th anniversary of its One-Act Play Festival, while the University of Southern Queensland Springfield campus marked 20 years.
Mayor Harding even revealed she has her own netball history, having played goal defence and goalkeeper for a team called the Petals, complete with a purple and white uniform.
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