Demolition starts at WG Hayden Humanities Centre for Ipswich Hospital revamp

Residents have been mourning the loss of a local landmark which has been under demolition work for a future car park.

An artist impression of the multi-storey car park view from South Street. Picture: Ipswich Health Precinct Master Plan

Ipswich residents have been mourning the loss of a local landmark which has been under demolition work for a multi-storey car park.

WG Hayden Humanities Centre, former built by Ipswich City Council in 1977, has been covered by mesh windscreens, marking it as a construction site with excavators driving around.

WG Hayden Humanities Centre in Ipswich has been fenced. Picture: David Martin

WG Hayden Humanities Centre has become a construction site. Picture: David Martin

The 47-year-old dwelling now belongs to the state government and will be knocked down later this year as part of Ipswich Hospital expansion.

According to the ministerial infrastructure designations, the site was proposed for a seven-storey car park with approximately 875 spaces and retail space for the future eight-storey Ipswich Health Centre which will cover the original site of the former council administration building, the global information centre and the Roderick Street car park.

It also suggested a three-storey vertical extension possibility for the car park to provide around 450 additional spaces.

An artist impression of the landscaped South Street plaza and forecourt, and the adjacent multi-storey car parking facility from South Street. Picture: dwp architects

An artist impression of the proposed Ipswich Wellness and Health Centre from Roderick Street and East Street intersection view. Picture: Ipswich Health Precinct Master Plan

The vacant building housed more than 60 community groups for services ranging from multicultural to aged care.

There were also an auditorium, a cafeteria, a conference room, two meeting rooms, two interview rooms and spaces for office accommodation.

Resident Wendy Anderson used to work there for a childcare business over six years and felt bittersweet to see it goes.

“It was a purposeful building that just met all our needs, and everyone just supported each other,” she said.

“We were forced to go to a place where we were on our own and there was no other community spirit there.

“I can remember at the time I was going through breast cancer battle, and I decided to hold one of the biggest morning teas to raise money.

“Everyone in the whole building donated to it.”

Ms Anderson also said the tenants were inclusive and formed a big community.

“They all struggled to find places as cheap as what they could rent in there,” she said.

“A lot of them did actually close down because they just couldn’t find what they were looking for.”

Ipswich supercentenarian Elizabeth 'Liz' Jordan, 1912-2022, played indoor bowls with her friends Radha Rao, Kathy Rouse and Allan Tait at the Ipswich Humanities Centre in 2018.

Federal Labor MP Shayne Neumann said the place was put to “tremendous good community use”.

“We’d meeting with so many different community groups, particularly speaking with the prostate support group, church and other related groups,” he said.

“I’ve been to that centre hundreds of times over the years.”

Mr Neumann remembered the first debate he had with mayor Teresa Harding was at the landmark when they were both competing for the Blair seat back in 2013.

He also said he was disappointed to see the building’s title to be lost, which was named after former governor-general and Labor Party great William George Hayden.

“Bill Hayden made such a huge contribution to the city of Ipswich and particularly as a federal member for Oxley,” he said.

“I couldn’t think of a better name for the building other than Hayden Humanities Centre.”

NRL great and former senator Glenn Lazarus handed out how to vote flyers to a voter at Ipswich Humanities Centre where it was used as a polling booth during the 2016 election.

The building was left empty as it was sold with its neighbouring dwellings at $21m to West Moreton Health in 2021.

The humanities centre together with the former council administration building and the global information centre were proposed to be demolished.

Ipswich Hospital expansion project, expected to be completed in 2027, will deliver 200 new beds, a new and expanded emergency department and additional operating theatres.

Originally published as Demolition starts at WG Hayden Humanities Centre for Ipswich Hospital revamp