The Ipswich Boilerhouse powered the Ipswich Asylum a century ago but now it’s driving social and economic change for the city after a $2.1 million overhaul.
Since last July, the Boilerhouse at The University of Queensland’s Ipswich campus has been gutted and refitted with offices as the new home for the UQ Boilerhouse Community Engagement Centre and other community activities.
The Centre was created six years ago to work with Ipswich people and give them access to UQ resources to solve local social, economic and environmental problems.
Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale opened the Centre on Wednesday, March 29.
Centre Director Dr Michael Cuthill said a mezzanine floor had been added to the Boilerhouse along with six offices, a reception and digital work area.
Dr Cuthill said the groundfloor had two community areas with all the latest audiovisual equipment, one with 14 computers, as well as a community lounge.
He said 13 administration and research staff were based at the Centre, but this was expected to double in 12 months.
The Centre also has a research student base, which it hopes to fill with eight PhD students from diverse backgrounds such as social sciences, tourism and natural resources.
Some of the Centre’s major projects are:
— Health and Wellbeing Strategy for West Moreton involving government agencies working together for better outcomes
— Social Sustainability Framework for South East Queensland to monitor and improve social outcomes and infrastructure standards by treating causes of problems not symptoms.
— Young migrant and refugee mentoring.
— Community engagement standards and benchmarks for Australian higher education
Hutchinson Builders transformed the Boilerhouse which was funded by UQ, the Bremer Business Park, Swanbank Enterprise Park, Bendigo Bank and Ipswich City Council.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Ipswich, Professor Alan Rix, said Council, corporate and community support had allowed UQ to refurbish the building and enhance its community partnerships.
“The refurbishment of the Boilerhouse will mark a new era in this community collaboration for the Ipswich Campus and we are looking forward to the many opportunities and interactions this will provide,” Professor Rix said.
“Since its inception in 1999, the Campus has been focused on engagement with the local community to develop mutually-beneficial outcomes.
“Once the Boilerhouse is open, community groups can use our rooms here for meetings, workshops, activities, computer training, and they can link into other resources of the University,” Professor Rix said.“It’s about having a commitment to your community getting good community outcomes.”
Dr Cuthill said the Community Engagement Centre had had a recent name change to reflect UQ’s growing engagement with Ipswich communities.
“We don’t just do work for the community we do it with them.
“It could be any issue in the community, domestic violence, drugs, graffiti, neighbours not talking or lack of support for the ageing population. . . Pick an issue, any issue, it can be better managed than we are currently doing, if we work together.
“A lot of this is in response to the rapid growth that’s going to happen in Ipswich in the next 20 years. The population is skyrocketing.”
The Boilerhouse, with its 24-metre-high chimney, is one of Ipswich’s most visible landmarks. Built in 1913, its engine and boilers provided power and steam for the Asylum, later the Challinor Centre.
One of the two Babcock and Wilcox boilers has been kept as a heritage feature in the building . The other boiler has been donated to the Workshops Rail Museum at North Ipswich.
UQ’s Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Trevor Grigg and Boilerhouse Strategic Advisory Committee Chair Dr David Hamill also took part in the opening.
To book community rooms at the Boilerhouse, ring Anna Hay on 3381 1333.
MEDIA: Dr Cuthill (0411 590 624), Loretta Porche at UQ Ipswich (0418 772 819) or Miguel Holland at UQ Communications (3365 2619)
