Ithaca Town Hall

Before Brisbane became a city, it was made up of a number of shires. One such shire was Ithaca, just to the west of the central city, and including areas we know today as Kelvin Grove, Red Hill and Paddington. The name "Ithaca" is Greek in origin, and this district evidently got its name from the birthplace of Lady Bowen, the wife of the state's first Governor. Unfortunately, the name is now one of those that exist as localities only, not actual suburbs. Ithaca was proclaimed a town in 1887, and then a shire in 1903; and the Ithaca Town Hall was completed in 1910. Here it is, as photographed in 1919.

(Photo: State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library; #161133)

As might be expected from such a substantial-looking brick building, it still stands on Enoggera Terrace at Red Hill. As the town of Ithaca no longer exists, there is no need for a town hall. However, the building still does its civic duty, having been converted to use as a kindergarten and library for the local citizens. Here is my recent picture of it.
(Photo: © 2009 the foto fanatic)

When Greater Brisbane came into being in 1925, the Brisbane City Council became the owner of the property, and still owns it today, along with several other former town halls, each of them a reminder of our past.

Click here for a Google Map.

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