The Road to UQ Ipswich: the Establishment of the Ipswich Campus of the University of Queensland

In 1863, when the Ipswich Grammar School opened as Queensland’s first secondary school, a Daily Guardian editorial commented that “in the Grammar School of Ipswich exists the germ of the University of Queensland”. Almost 50 years passed before Brisbane became home to the University of Queensland, gazetted in 1910 and opened in 1911. It was not until the turn of the century, in 1999, that the Ipswich campus opened for business on the scenic site of the historic Challinor Centre.

This short history spans a period of 136 years – the time it took for the idea of a university at Ipswich to become a reality. The book traces the story of UQ Ipswich from concept to campus. More than simply a chronological account, it also exposes perceptions, misconceptions and often-opposing opinions, all reflecting the efforts of people who sought only the best for their individual constituencies.