Queens Park, Ipswich is the central section of a reserve granted in 1858 as a botanic garden and park for public recreation.

In 1842 Henry Wade set aside a "reserve for public recreation and botanic gardens" at Woodend in the first survey of Ipswich, though this was not developed.
In 1855 Walter Hill was appointed Director of Brisbane Botanic Gardens and the "branch" botanic reserves at Ipswich, Toowoomba and Warwick were under his supervision.
The people of Ipswich objected to the site reserved by Wade and a public meeting was held in 1856 regarding a change of site to the current area.
In 1858, the proposed reserve was approved, provided that land was made available for railway use.
It was much larger than the current area now designated Queens Park and was bounded by Torch Street to the north, incorporating a section of riverbank; Milford Street to the west, Salisbury Road to the south and Chermside Road to the east.
It included two major limestone features and a spring in the southern section where Aborigines camped until the 1890s.

In 1859, trustees for the park were chosen in accordance with the system also used for other Queens Parks.
They were all men very prominent in Ipswich in the 19th century - John Panton, George Thorn Jnr.,
Patrick O'Sullivan, Frederick Forbes, Christopher Gorry, Henry Challinor, Arthur Macalister, Henry Kilner and George Faircloth.
The Board of Trustees were formally appointed in 1862 and a Deed of Grant for 207 acres (84 ha) was recorded on 8 May 1862.
In the following year they issued rules for opening hours and the protection of flora in the park by impounding grazing animals and banning the cutting of grass and trees.
These regulations seem to suggest that the reserve was regarded as a town Common by the public and may have been the trigger for several petitions made between 1863 and 1872 for council control of the reserve.

Walter Hill, Director of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, supplied plans for the park layout, together with suitable trees from the Brisbane Gardens, including araucarias and cupressus, in 1864, though he noted on a visit in 1876 that the plans had not been followed.
However, at this time the trees supplied by him were said to be growing well and the park was in good order with a drive and entrance gates and enclosed by a post and rail fence.
The Brisbane Botanic Gardens and Acclimatisation Society had also supplied fruit trees and flowering shrubs by 1875 and a house had been built for the Superintendent.
Facilities built while the park was a government garden included a bush house erected in 1890 and a band rotunda constructed in 1891.
Ipswich was noted for its champion bands and performances drew huge audiences for Saturday concerts in the park.

Serving a scientific and commercial purpose as well as a recreational one, the park was also active as a horticultural/agricultural experimental station and propagating garden.
It supplied plants for Arbor Day plantings and to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens.
Trials of clover are reported as being carried out in 1891.
Government support was provided in the form of grants in aid and by 1890 the Ipswich gardens had received £8300, more than any other regional reserve except the Botanical Gardens at Rockhampton, demonstrating the importance of the work carried out by such facilities.

The original reserve shrank in area over time.
A section to the north of the park which included a length of river bank, was resumed for the railway which opened to Brisbane in 1874 and two roads were cut through the park.
This division of the park into three sections affected the way in which the park developed.
The central section of the reserve was gazetted as a Park Reserve on 18 August 1891 and a School Reserve to the north was excised.
The Central Boys and Girls School reserves were possibly also excised at this time.
In 1893 Queens Park was transferred to Ipswich City Council.
The following year, the southern section, now Limestone Park, was transferred to Ipswich City Council.

Land within the park was leased to several sporting associations.
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Queens Park, Ipswich is the central section of a reserve granted in 1858 as a botanic garden and park for public recreation.
In 1842 Henry Wade set aside a "reserve for public recreation and botanic gardens" at Woodend in the first survey of Ipswich, though this was not developed. In 1855 Walter Hill was appointed Director of Brisbane Botanic Gardens and the "branch" botanic reserves at Ipswich, Toowoomba and Warwick were under his supervision. The people of Ipswich objected to the site reserved by Wade and a public meeting was held in 1856 regarding a change of site to the current area. In 1858, the proposed reserve was approved, provided that land was made available for railway use. It was much larger than the current area now designated Queens Park and was bounded by Torch Street to the north, incorporating a section of riverbank; Milford Street to the west, Salisbury Road to the south and Chermside Road to the east. It included two major limestone features and a spring in the southern section where Aborigines camped until the 1890s.
In 1859, trustees for the park were chosen in accordance with the system also used for other Queens Parks. They were all men very prominent in Ipswich in the 19th century - John Panton, George Thorn Jnr., Patrick O'Sullivan, Frederick Forbes, Christopher Gorry, Henry Challinor, Arthur Macalister, Henry Kilner and George Faircloth. The Board of Trustees were formally appointed in 1862 and a Deed of Grant for 207 acres (84 ha) was recorded on 8 May 1862. In the following year they issued rules for opening hours and the protection of flora in the park by impounding grazing animals and banning the cutting of grass and trees. These regulations seem to suggest that the reserve was regarded as a town Common by the public and may have been the trigger for several petitions made between 1863 and 1872 for council control of the reserve.
Walter Hill, Director of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, supplied plans for the park layout, together with suitable trees from the Brisbane Gardens, including araucarias and cupressus, in 1864, though he noted on a visit in 1876 that the plans had not been followed. However, at this time the trees supplied by him were said to be growing well and the park was in good order with a drive and entrance gates and enclosed by a post and rail fence. The Brisbane Botanic Gardens and Acclimatisation Society had also supplied fruit trees and flowering shrubs by 1875 and a house had been built for the Superintendent. Facilities built while the park was a government garden included a bush house erected in 1890 and a band rotunda constructed in 1891. Ipswich was noted for its champion bands and performances drew huge audiences for Saturday concerts in the park.
Serving a scientific and commercial purpose as well as a recreational one, the park was also active as a horticultural/agricultural experimental station and propagating garden. It supplied plants for Arbor Day plantings and to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens. Trials of clover are reported as being carried out in 1891. Government support was provided in the form of grants in aid and by 1890 the Ipswich gardens had received £8300, more than any other regional reserve except the Botanical Gardens at Rockhampton, demonstrating the importance of the work carried out by such facilities.
The original reserve shrank in area over time. A section to the north of the park which included a length of river bank, was resumed for the railway which opened to Brisbane in 1874 and two roads were cut through the park. This division of the park into three sections affected the way in which the park developed. The central section of the reserve was gazetted as a Park Reserve on 18 August 1891 and a School Reserve to the north was excised. The Central Boys and Girls School reserves were possibly also excised at this time. In 1893 Queens Park was transferred to Ipswich City Council. The following year, the southern section, now Limestone Park, was transferred to Ipswich City Council.
Land within the park was leased to several sporting associations. T
Queens Park, Ipswich