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New collaboration to put Ipswich on the big screen

A new collaboration between Ipswich City Council and Screen Queensland will see the Ipswich Trekker hit the streets once again to help put the region on domestic and international filmmakers’ radars.

Council visitor experience officer Josh Kerr earned the Ipswich Trekker title after taking around three million steps while mapping more than 50 locations across Ipswich for Google Maps.

Mr Kerr will now use his intimate knowledge of the region to catalogue more than 100 of Ipswich’s iconic landmarks and historic buildings over the coming months to create a database of local film locations. He will comply with current health directives including practising social distancing throughout the project. 

Mayor Teresa Harding said the project would help attract domestic and international films to the region post COVID-19.

“Ipswich has an array of talented creative individuals and businesses and I am committed to supporting new pathways that enable them to access opportunities, showcase and leverage their talents,” she said.

“In the last financial year, Screen Queensland invested in 32 film and television productions and games, which are estimated to generate more than 2,600 employment opportunities, as well as $262 million in direct Queensland Production Expenditure.

Mr Kerr will catalogue locations such as the Castle Hill Blackstone Reserve. 

“Promoting Ipswich as a desirable location for film production will ensure our region is well positioned to access its share of this economic opportunity.

“This initial work, which can be undertaken safely now by council, will benefit our creative community in the future through employment creation.”

Council has been working with Screen Queensland to identify desirable filming locations around Ipswich, including 88 Limestone Street, Kholo Gardens, White Rock Spring-Mountain Conservation Estate and Castle Hill Blackstone Reserve.

Kholo Gardens is another of the locations being catalogued as a potential film location.

Screen Queensland chief executive officer Kylie Munnich commended council’s plans to get a jumpstart on cataloguing the region’s potential film locations.

“It’s a great initiative that will profile the region’s locations to prospective local and international screen productions,” she said.

Businesses and private property owners that are interested in having their location considered for future film shoots may contact council’s Destination Development team and submit a location online at www.discoveripswich.com.au/film

White Rock-Spring Mountain Conservation Estate will also be catalogued. 

Ipswich is no stranger to the glittering lights of movie sets.

Filming of major international studio production Godzilla vs Kong took place last year at The Workshops Railway Museum. Chinese-Australian feature film At Last was also shot at the railway museum and the North Ipswich Rail Yards in 2017.

The Railway Man starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman was filmed at the railway museum in 2012, while the 2016 Australian Drama Don’t Tell was filmed at the Ipswich Court House and woodlands of Marburg.

This project is a collaboration between council and Screen Queensland – a Queensland Government owned company that invests in talent and production to grow a creative, innovative and successful screen industry with a focus on stories and audience, secures production and post, digital and vfx to Queensland. For more information, visit www.screenqld.com.au

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