Nicholas Street redevelopment reaches new heights

A new look skyline is emerging in Ipswich as the once-in-a-generation redevelopment of Nicholas St in Ipswich Central hits a major milestone.

The new council administration building and children’s library on the corner of Nicholas Street and Union Place has officially reached its full height, and to mark the occasion Mayor Teresa Harding and Deputy Mayor Marnie Doyle “topped out” the building at its new ninth storey.

Mayor Harding said the completion of the building’s structure was an important step forward for council’s $246 million Nicholas Street redevelopment.

“The council administration building and children’s library is due for completion in the second half of 2021, but the community will see other parts of the development open and ready to go before then,” she said.

“This redevelopment will create a modern and vibrant CBD for the people of Ipswich and visitors to eat, shop and enjoy world-class amenities with family and friends. At the same time, the precinct will boost the Ipswich economy and bring new jobs to our city.

“The topping out of this new building signifies that we are one step closer to reopening the heart of the city back to the community.”

Cr Doyle said key development milestones would continue to be reached throughout 2020 and into 2021.

“The council administration building and children’s library are due for completion in the second half of 2021, but the community will see other parts of the development open and ready to go before then,” she said.

“Excitingly, we’re just months away from opening the new Ipswich Central Library as well as the new one hectare civic plaza which includes a zero depth water play area and performance stage.”

Hutchinson Builders Managing Director Greg Quinn said Hutchies was pleased to be a part of the CBD’s transformation.

“Over the past 20 years, we have constructed 61 projects across Ipswich and employed and trained hundreds of locals – at one stage, just under 10 per cent of our 1700 strong workforce came from Ipswich,” Mr Quinn said.

Mayor Teresa Harding (third from right) with (left to right) councillors Kate Kunzelmann, Russell Milligan, Sheila Ireland, Marnie Doyle, Jacob Madsen and Andrew Fechner.

Mr Quinn said he and his family has resided in Ipswich for his entire life. He said the development was fantastic for the future prosperity of the CBD.

The refurbished Nicholas Street (southern end) in the middle of the development was completed in late 2019.

The development also features three distinct retail, food and entertainment precincts.

The final stages of the Nicholas St redevelopment will be overseen by the Ipswich Central Redevelopment Committee, which was established in May 2020.

The committee was established to provide effective and transparent governance to ensure “the community have visibility over the project as it progresses to ensure it achieves its stated objective of creating a thriving and activated Ipswich Central”.

The Nicholas St redevelopment at a glance:

• New purpose-built nine-storey council administration building with a children’s library and customer service centre on the ground floor plus community meeting rooms on level one.
• New state-of-the-art Ipswich Central Library expected to attract more than half a million visitors to the precinct each year.
• New one hectare civic plaza with zero depth water play area, permanent performance stage, gardens and improved access to and from the Bradfield Bridge.
• Three distinct retail, food and entertainment precincts:
  • Metro – offering a selection of restaurants, bars, eateries and shops opposite the Ipswich train station and Bell Street public transport hub.
  • Eat – offering a selection of dining and café options next to the new Ipswich Central Library.
  • Venue – offering an indoor entertainment space in the two-storey building at the top of the precinct, which formerly housed cinemas.

Looking down on the new civic plaza taking shape.