Ipswich families have plenty to keep them busy these school holidays, with free and low-cost activities across the city alongside the reopening of an upgraded section of the Ipswich Nature Centre.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding joined West Bremer Radio for her weekly Council update, highlighting school holiday activities, new exhibitions at the Ipswich Art Gallery and a major milestone in the $3.6 million refurbishment of the Nature Centre.
Mayor Harding said families were already making the most of the holiday program, with Ipswich Art Gallery and the Nicholas Street Precinct among the major activity hubs.
“The school holidays are in full swing and kids are spoilt for choice with a number of things that Council has on that are free or low cost,” Mayor Harding said.
At the Ipswich Art Gallery, families can take part in the Express Yourself art activity pop-up, providing children with a hands-on opportunity to get creative.
The gallery’s Make Yourself at Home children’s exhibition is also running during the holidays.
Meanwhile, Nicholas Street Precinct has been transformed into a temporary urban jungle for Safari in the City, featuring large animatronic animals.
Mayor Harding said she visited the precinct and had already seen families embracing the display.
“It looks fantastic. It’s great to see the kids enjoying it,” she said.
Among the animals proving particularly popular are the panda and giant gorillas, while the presence of animatronic lions prompted some light-hearted discussion about getting Brisbane Lions players to visit the precinct for a photo.
New exhibitions open at Ipswich Art Gallery
The school holiday program comes as Ipswich Art Gallery welcomes two new exhibitions.
The Noise of Time, featuring artist Ian Friend, opened alongside Brutalist and Baroque, a collaboration between artists Donnelly Moriarty and Nicolette Johnson.
Mayor Harding said Moriarty was an Ipswich local, while Johnson was from South East Queensland.
“They’ve joined together and they’ve got just a magical, beautiful exhibition as well,” she said.
The exhibitions add another attraction for families and art lovers visiting the city centre during the school holiday period.
$3.6 million Nature Centre upgrade reaches milestone
Families visiting Queens Park can also experience a major improvement to the Ipswich Nature Centre, with its northern boardwalk upgraded as part of a broader $3.6 million refurbishment.
Mayor Harding said the timing of the milestone was particularly welcome with school holidays underway.
“The Ipswich Nature Centre’s northern boardwalk has been upgraded and it’s part of a major refurbishment that we’re doing,” she said.
“It’s really just right on time for school holidays.”
The former timber boardwalk has been demolished and replaced with a new three-metre-wide boardwalk constructed from durable composite material.
Mayor Harding said the new material should provide greater longevity, while the additional width would improve accessibility and make it easier for families using prams or visitors with mobility requirements to move around the centre.
Visitors using the upgraded boardwalk can see a range of enclosures, including barnyard animals, the aviary, dingoes, cockatoos and wallabies.
Some enclosures will remain temporarily closed while other parts of the redevelopment continue.
New animal care facility on the way
A significant component of the remaining work is the construction of a new animal care facility behind the scenes.
Mayor Harding said while visitors may not necessarily see that part of the redevelopment, it was important for the ongoing care and welfare of animals housed at the centre.
The broader works are expected to be completed in early 2027.
Mayor Harding also revealed her own favourite part of the Nature Centre was its aviary.
“The aviary at the Nature Centre is quite beautiful and you could sit there for hours,” she said.
“It’s lovely. It’s a very calming place.”
Ipswich Jets celebrate season
The Ipswich Jets have also celebrated the end of their season, with the club holding its annual presentation night on Thursday.
Mayor Harding praised both the Jets’ rugby league and netball programs following successful seasons.
The Jets’ Sapphires netball side reached the finals and finished second, while the men’s A-grade rugby league team also made the finals before its season ended in Rockhampton.
The rugby league side played its home matches at Goodna this season because of works at North Ipswich Reserve and is expected to do the same again next year.
Despite being away from its traditional home, Mayor Harding said the Jets won every home game they played at Goodna.
“We’re calling it Garrison Goodna now,” she said.
Steve Johnson named Jets legend
One of the biggest moments of the presentation night came when long-serving Ipswich Jets chairman Steve Johnson was recognised as a club legend.
Mayor Harding said the recognition had been organised without Johnson’s knowledge.
“It was all done behind his back. He wasn’t aware. He was a bit shocked, I think,” she said.
“He has been the chair basically for three decades and he’s done so much work with the Jets and in Ipswich, so it was really great to see him get that accolade and also that recognition.”
The presentation included a poem written for the occasion by Dot Landish, with Mayor Harding describing the ceremony as particularly touching.
Johnson is also involved in the push for a Western Corridor team to secure the 20th NRL licence, with Mayor Harding praising his ongoing contribution to the city.
“He’s doing everything he can to try to get that 20th NRL licence right here in Ipswich,” she said.
“He does a tremendous service to our city.”
With school holiday activities continuing, new art exhibitions open and the Nature Centre redevelopment progressing, Mayor Harding encouraged residents to make the most of what is happening across Ipswich.
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