THE long-awaited restoration of Soldier’s Memorial Hall in Ipswich has officially begun, with exploratory works now underway on the 103-year-old landmark dedicated to our returned service men and women.
Ipswich City Council had initially planned for the design phase to start in the 2025-2026 financial year, with construction scheduled for 2026-2027.
However, work has now started earlier than expected, with investigative works starting on Monday.
Division 3 Councillor Andrew Antoniolli confirmed the earlier start and highlighted the significance of the investigations.
“Exploratory works commenced ahead of schedule,” Cr Antoniolli said.
“These investigations will determine the exact cause of the issue, the full extent of repairs required, and the associated costs.
“Up until now, estimates have been based on preliminary assessments, but the specific faults in the flooring remain unclear.”
Despite concerns regarding the damage, Councillor Antoniolli reassured the community that the building remains structurally sound.
“As I mentioned last week, the structure itself is safe – it’s rock solid,” he said.
Mayor Teresa Harding also expressed the Council’s commitment to ensuring the building’s longevity.
“Upon hearing the concerns of the Ipswich RSL Sub-Branch, Cr Marnie Doyle and I have been able to ensure that immediate works to secure the flooring will now commence,” Cr Harding said.
“Council has already completed ground penetrating radar investigations, and this will be followed by a detailed geotechnical investigation, confirming the foundation at the timber columns, and propping the beam to support the upper floor.
“Council anticipates that construction works to deliver a comprehensive solution to the flooring issues will commence in the coming financial year (25-26) and will cost approximately $250,000.
“Our heritage buildings are a wonderful reminder of what makes our city great, however we also understand this comes with challenges and the need for continuous maintenance and repairs to ensure our oldest buildings can be a safe place for future generations to enjoy.”
The Ipswich RSL Sub-Branch has welcomed the progress, with Secretary Deb Wadwell expressing optimism about the restoration efforts.
“The fact that these investigations are now underway is fantastic news,” Ms Wadwell said.
“It’s now just a matter of identifying the underlying problem so we can move forward with the necessary repairs.”
She said the start of the work had been a significant relief for the veteran community.
