Ipswich is partying this week to mark the 50th anniversary of the city’s Civic Centre.
Opened in 1975 by then Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, the occasion is being celebrated with a week of activities culminating with an Hipswich event on Saturday (July 19).
“Hipswich is a celebration of new and old when it comes to Ipswich’s performing arts scene, bringing a diverse range of performers together under one roof in a night of unmissable entertainment,” Economic and Cultural Development Chair Councillor Pye Augustine said.
Cr Augustine said it would feature local talent including beatboxing social media sensation Tom Thum, rising singing star Paulina and musical juggernaut The Swich Band alongside cultural pillars such as Ipswich Musical Theatre Company, Ipswich City Big Band, Ipswich Model Band and local choirs.
She said the event would mark the end of a week of celebrations, which also included Home and Away star Lynne McGranger taking to the stage in musical comedy Cruising with the Grandparents Club tomorrow (July 15), Showmen performing their jaw dropping spectacle of magic, illusions and stunts on Thursday (July 17) and a Mel Buttle comedy show on Friday (July 18).
Reflecting on the 50 years of the Ipswich Civic Centre, Mayor Teresa Harding said with its bold geometric architecture, featuring diagonal lines accentuated as light strikes the all-white façade, the building was designed to turn heads.
Mayor Harding said over 50 years it had been more than a brilliant addition to the city’s aesthetic appeal as it was embraced by residents as a centrepiece of the cultural landscape.
“Opened in 1975 by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, Ipswich Civic Centre has played a vital role in the growth of our burgeoning city as the premier space of our vibrant performing arts sector,” she said.
“So many Ipswich residents and visitors have been through its doors to enjoy the thousands of shows performed in the renowned George Hogg Auditorium, whether it be theatre, music, comedy, poetry, magic, and more.”
