Historical Ipswich: Cunningham's Knoll Stone Steps

Following the last post featuring one of my favourite quirky historic places in my hometown of Ipswich, I'm back with another installment, this time a compendium of photographs taken on the steps to the landscaped rock steps to the Ipswich Bowls Club, part of the Cunningham's Knoll "beautification" project from the days of the Great Depression. 

Known as Cunningham's Knoll on Limestone Hill, the terraced rock gardens were a community project with a twofold purpose - to generate much-needed work in a time of high unemployment in the early 1930s & to pay homage to the town's rich & varied past, particularly the memory of renowned botanist & explorer Allan Cunningham who, more than one hundred years earlier, had camped under the fig trees on the site in 1828. Apparently, Cunningham stayed in Ipswich for five days in the summer of that year, during which time he took compass bearings of distant mountains before going on to discover what is now known as Cunningham's Gap. 

In addition, the knoll recognises the region's convict history, as Ipswich was initially established as a convict "station" to mine limestone to make mortar for buildings being constructed in the Moreton Bay Penal Colony, which would eventually become known as Brisbane. In fact, limestone was such an important asset that the town was originally called "The Limestone Hills" or "Limestone," before being renamed after the town in England in 1843 to provide a modicum of gravitas.

Truth be told, these historical walls & terraces have always captivated my imagination & as a child I even believed that the wrought iron fence at the top of the stairs - lined on each side with fragrant & colourful blooms - was in fact the entryway to fairyland. Queens Park already occupies much of the hill overlooking Ipswich's "main street" & central business district & the steps to the Bowls Club are virtually the highest point of the park itself (even more so than the rotunda lookout) meaning it is the ideal place to experience sweeping views of the city.

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Dress: Anthea Crawford satin-backed crepe

Heels: Wittner leather

Bag: Review vinyl with silver hardware

Scarf: Anthea Crawford silk

Brooch: Erstwilder resin

Hinged Bangle: Wallace Bishop silver

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As before, I'm wearing a gorgeous satin-backed crepe shift dress with princess seams & midi-length hemline from Aussie designer label Anthea Crawford - this time in a darling shade of periwinkle blue - with a pair of strappy white leather heels from Wittner & boxy white vinyl "love letter" handbag with silver hardware from vintage-inspired brand Review, the strap tied with a sumptuous floral & striped silk scarf that was also an Anthea Crawford original. When it came to jewellery, I kept things simple - a chunky silver hinged bangle from Wallace Bishop for some daytime shine & a kitschy blue bird with a love letter resin brooch from Erstwilder for a touch of whimsy to match the handbag.

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