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Old Gas Works, existing Gasometer, Old Gas Works (ipswich Historical Society)

Ipswich Gas and Coke Company Ltd.

History:
The Ipswich Gas and Coke Company Ltd. purchased land on the north bank of the Bremer River fronting The Terrace in early 1877, with the first gas mains being laid in North Ipswich later in that year and street gas lighting in Ipswich. In June 1877 gas lights were first lit in the School of Arts building and by may 1878 gas was in general use. Reconstruction was undertaken in the 1900's, including continuous vertical retorts and Australia's first spiral gasometer (1905). The present gasometer was constructed in the early 1950's. A second major reconstruction took place in the late 1970's when Boral replaced coal by natural gas. The tall brick chimney and buildings were subsequently demolished.

Description:
Facilities for storing natural gas and metering and controlling its supply to customers in Ipswich. The small building on the site is probably the 1900's valve house.

Significance:
An example of a gasometer and a highly visible link to the industrial past of the Gas Works site at North Ipswich.

Heritage Registers :
Queensland Heritage Register List No: 601346

Ipswich Heritage Register Item No: 45-1746-0008

Proposed Reuse on Site :
It is intended to only reuse the outer steel framework to support a plywood screen as a backdrop to a stage area to be constructed on the north bank near the exsitng rail bridge.

Other Alternative Suggestions :
A number of alternative ideas were submitted to Council such as the adaptive reuse insitu such as a tourist information centre / musuem and or fast food and service station (gas station).

Image of Old Gas Works above (Ipswich Historical Society)

Could this striking link to our past have been reused insitu as an eye catching tourist information / museum centre using the outer the skin to promote our city and attractively displayed at night under feature lighting?