With the town abuzz with excitement, Leah Bell took to the stage.
Joining members of Ipswich Orpheus Chorale, she sang her heart out for a packed audience which included Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and Federal Treasurer Bill Hayden, the Member for Oxley.
The year was 1975 and Ipswich – then a city of about 77,000 people – was celebrating the opening of Ipswich Civic Centre with a gala featuring a line-up of other local musicians and singing groups.
“It was huge. It was a really big celebration,” Ms Bell said of the event.
Half a century later, Ms Bell will again grace the stage of Ipswich’s premier performing arts venue for celebrations of its 50th year.
It’s an opportunity she describes as “a privilege and a pleasure”.
“Fifty years ago, the citizens of Ipswich were absolutely delighted to have a new Civic Centre,” Ms Bell said.
“Our old town hall had been closed for quite a few years and there was just nowhere to perform.
“The Orpheus Chorale was the first group to perform a big musical here and some of the (newspaper) write-ups said what a wonderful thing it was that Ipswich finally had a venue where we could perform big shows.
“Of course, from there, it went on with visiting artists and local artists for 50 years.”
The chorale was conducted that evening by its founder George Hogg, who would have the centre’s main auditorium named in his honour.
Mr Hogg passed away in 2021, but the East Ipswich-based Ipswich Orpheus Chorale lives on with more than 50 members as one of Queensland’s premier community choirs.
Other groups to perform on the night included Ipswich Vice Regal Model Band, Bundamba Salvation Army Band, 4IP Big Band, Cambrian Youth Choir, Blackstone-Ipswich Cambrian Choir and Ipswich Choral Society.
Pianist Peter Schubel and guitarist Bruce Harper also performed, while Ipswich Mayor Arthur George Hastings and Mr Whitlam gave speeches.
Mr Whitlam remarked the “great new civic centre … will embellish and exalt the heart of this ancient city” of Ipswich.
“(It) will be the heart of all the activities which a modern city, a complete community should provide. And which the rising generation expects.”
“This is the largest building erected in Ipswich for very many years. In the heart of the city, there are other buildings to follow.
“I’m certain we can be proud to think that as ratepayers, as taxpayers, as electorate persons, as citizens, we are building well for the future of this regional centre, this great provincial city, this oldest free city in Queensland.
“I wish well to everybody who comes to this auditorium, everybody who partakes of the hospitality in the lower ground floor, all the people who come to the seminars, the exhibitions, that will be held week in, week out, in this great building (in) the centre of Ipswich, the revived exalted part of this city.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I now declare officially open the Ipswich Civic Hall.”
Ms Bell will take to the stage for the Hipswich, the ultimate show for a week of events to mark 50 years of Ipswich Civic Centre, on Saturday, 19 July.
In a night of unmissable entertainment, the show brings together the new and old of Ipswich’s performing arts scene.
Cultural pillars such as Ipswich Musical Theatre Company, Ipswich City Big Band, Ipswich Model Band and local choirs will be joined by acts including beatboxing sensation Tom Thum, singer-songwriter Dee Bradbery AKA Wild Eyed Wonder, rising singing star Paulina, musical juggernaut The Swich Band and street dancer Maxwell Douglas AKA Thv Flood.
Ms Bell said she was proud of Ipswich Civic Centre’s status as a pillar of Ipswich’s cultural landscape.
“Absolutely (proud) the way the hall’s been used and embraced by artists local and Australia-wide, and worldwide, really,” she said.
“It’s come a long way and we hope it goes for a long time from now.
“Another 50 years would be great.”
Also read:
>> Week of celebrations as pillar of Ipswich’s cultural landscape turns 50
>> City to become a canvas of colour and light for SPARK Ipswich 2025
