Day Trip - Ipswich Castle Hill walk and Historical society

The under cover at the Blackstone Reserve

Morning another great weekend, sun shinning another opportunity for adventures, pack the drinks and snacks and jump into the Bat mobilise, well our car anyway, and find somewhere to explore. Found this bush walk in the middle of the Castle Hill Blackstone Reserve, Mountain Bike Trails brochure,  yes that is the name. Also while digging on the Internet found out that Ipswich has it's own Historical society, Cooneana Heritage Centre. Sounded good to grumpy, so let's have a look. 

Markers for the LTHT walk

Blackstone Hall

We found the car park for the bike paths and had to look for the signs for the "Lewis Thomas Historical Trail" (LTHT), which starts in the Blackstone halls car park, on the other side so you walk over the bridge and though the playground and 100 meters up the road. The only thing is we couldn't find and toilets even the halls toilet were locked.


On entering the Trail you find a lot of pictures and information of "Brynhyfryd" house which was the three story mansion built for the coal king Lewis Thomas in the 1880, wow leaned something new didn't know this was here, some of the stands are half hiding by grass which was a bit sad. Moving on and the place is will signed most of the way one part does get a bit confusing with the bike trails and end up one one of them. but you get to see the brick walls, garden stairs case and the old water tank.

The story of Lewis Thomas

The top of the Beehive Water tank

The garden steps

more history on the area

It was very interesting the mining history to seeing how small theses mines tunnels were and the air shafts they dug. These areas are most fence off so you can't go in. and have a lot of information to read. The walk is a level 2 so some of the ground is lose and parts are up hill. Blackstone Reserve is 30 minutes from Brisbane and about the same from Lockyer Valley and quiet easy to fine at 7 Mary St Blackstone.

one of the mining shafts

Air shaft 

After a great workout walking which is just over an hour, and learning more about this little corner we live in. We sat and cool down after a drink and few snacks we fell ready to head down to the Heritage centre, we is really just down the road a t New Chum. Wow Cooneana House what a hidden gem.

Cooneana House inside the grounds

The grounds have quiet a few mining relics as well as a large display of mining rescue within the museum, they even have a an old train carriage and bus in the yard. We so also like the range of displays of Ipswich History, and the dedicated volunteers will even take you around and share their stories of the pass ...thank you Arvo.

an underground mine vehical

the old mine building now used as the main entery

displays inside

more displays inside

The centre is a work in process and you can, most of the area is on going restoration of some of building, but do have changing displays so is good to come back and see. There was only 2 of the houses open while we where there but we could look though the windows. I really enjoyed looking at all the old photographs and the classroom set up.

Artwork on the water tanks

Old train carriage

Hopefully council will keep helping with grants and money, and with the awesome volunteers you can see within a few years this place will be even more full of Ipswich Heritage. Cooneanna heritage Centre at Redbank Plains Rd New Chum, and is open Thursdays to Saturday 10am - 2pm. It does have a large grass area for children, Tables are in the shade out front for lunch or a snack.

Travel as much as possible and don't overlook the little things they may surprise you

Destination Everywhere