Inspired by a ‘Sister City’ link between Ipswich and Nerima City in Japan, Nerima Gardens in Queens Park is a celebration of two cultures and a special place to commune with nature and calm the spirit.
In October 1988, a delegation led by the then Nerima Deputy Mayor Mitsuishi arrived in the country to visit three cities with the aim of selecting their Sister City to forge goodwill between cities of different countries, cultures and experiences.
From these three Australian cities, Ipswich was selected because of the similarities it shares with Nerima. Spanning 48.17 square kilometres, Nerima like Ipswich is located next to a capital City, Tokyo. It is also near an international airport and both cities are in the same time zone.
Ipswich and Nerima’s Sister City relationship was formalised on 15 October 1994.
On 17 May 2001, the first stage of Nerima Gardens was opened by former Ipswich Mayor John Nugent and Nerima Mayor Saburo Iwanami. The site serves to commemorate the Sister City relationship between these two cities.
Whilst it aims to capture the elements of a Japanese-style garden, visitors will notice that Ipswich’s distinct identity is also evident throughout with the use of local plants that includes rare and endangered species.
The Nerima Gardens’ design elements include walled entry gates which symbolise protection from outside forces and passage to oneness with the earth; the life bridge which provides a moment to pause and reflect; and the tea house, a special building for holding Japanese tea ceremonies.
Sadly, due to the restrictive nature of the pathways, delicate gardens and limited areas for a large group of people to gather without affecting other park users’ ability to move about freely in the area, events are not allowed within Nerima Gardens.
Published 20-March-2023