Tag: Bottle Alley

Bottle Alley Reopens To Pedestrians With Striking Tribute To Ipswich History

To honour the Lost Buildings of Ipswich Central, an 83-metre long, three-metre high mural has been completed on the walls of Bottle Alley in Ipswich.

Read: Bottle Alley in Ipswich Set for Artistic Transformation

Bottle Alley, which was temporarily closed in March 2023 has reopened to pedestrians now that the project is complete.

Ipswich’s lost city center buildings are brought back to life in the new mural on Bottle Alley’s walls, which also features the area’s native flora and fauna.

Sharon Billinge and Karla Hayes are the talented artists who brought the stunning mural on Bottle Alley’s walls to life. 

Sharon Billinge (Photo credit: Ipswich City Council)

Sharon Billinge, a Sydney-based artist with a focus on community building and people-centered art, has over 25 years of experience in the field and has collaborated with prestigious organisations including Sydney University, Lendlease, UTS, and several councils.

Karla Hayes (Photo credit: Ipswich City Council)

Karla Hayes is a multi-disciplinary artist rooted in Dharawal land, who received an international design award and completed her Honours in Design in Visual Communications at UTS in 2019. Her impressive student-led projects earned her recognition for her creativity and skill.

Councillor Marnie Doyle stated that the newly completed mural is like taking a stroll through time, paying homage to some of Ipswich’s most historic businesses, such as the Beirne or Waltons building, the Rockman building (previously Fleischmanns), the Whitehouse Café, and Hoopers.

Photo credit: Ipswich City Council

“Now visitors to Ipswich Central will take a trip down memory lane as they walk through Bottle Alley, enjoying glimpses of Ipswich’s past,” said Cr Doyle.

This public art installation, located beside the proposed Eats building and serving as a gateway to Tulmur Place, will help create a welcoming atmosphere for visitors entering the Nicholas Street Precinct.

Read: Ipswich Children’s Library Recognised for Excellence in Innovation at LGMA Awards

Cr Doyle also mentioned that the Council is actively investigating further opportunities to enhance Bottle Alley, such as improved wayfinding, replacing the current Queensland Rail security fence with new screening, and the potential widening of the alley.

Published 10-April-2023

First Names Picked for New Ipswich CBD Development

The Ipswich City Council announced the names of the new sites taking shape at the Nicholas Street precinct development, following a survey in August.

After deliberations on 24 Sept. 2020, the Council endorsed the top names residents have chosen for the new library, new civic space, and a laneway.

Some 304 residents submitted their name suggestions whilst over 6,500 voted on their choices for the upcoming CBD.

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The Ipswich Central Library is set to open soon as the building’s construction is in the process of completing this October.

“Ipswich Central Library is a very practical name for the new general library that aligns with naming conventions of other libraries across the city,” Ipswich Central Redevelopment Committee chairperson Deputy Mayor Marnie Doyle said.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Street

Tulmur Place will be the name of the new civic square, where entertainment and community events will take place.

“Tulmur means Ipswich in the universal Indigenous language and I very pleased this council has seen fit to recognise our city’s Indigenous heritage in selecting this name for the new civic plaza,” Ms Doyle said. 

The laneway will still retain its more commonly known name as Bottle Alley.

“While the laneway has been widely known as Bottle Alley for many years, it has in fact never been officially named. Today’s decision locks in the name.”

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The new precinct will be generally known as Nicholas Street Precinct, covering Brisbane, Ellenborough, Bremer and Bell streets. 

“Retaining the Nicholas Street Precinct name makes sense because it is a well-known and long established name for the area. It has also been widely used in recent years in marketing and promotion for the precinct.”

Photo Credit: Nicholas Street

Five key spaces, including the children’s library and the new council administration building, will still need names once the new CBD’s development is completed. Many of the residents’ suggested recognised personalities like tennis superstar Ash Barty and bagpiper Joe McGee, as well as the region’s first peoples. 

Located 40 minutes outside of Brisbane CBD, Nicholas Street will become the trade centre for 215,000 residents. Apart from the library and the civic plaza, the site will also become a commercial, retail, lifestyle and dining precinct with the first shops opening by mid-2021.