It was just one photograph that my husband took that made all the difference. You know, the sort that sends goosebumps up your arms and shivers down your spine.We were inspecting. I was there with my young son, clambering up the dilapidated steps of the the once grand gardens of ‘Lakemba’ on Denmark Hill, when he took the shot. There was another staircase there, boarded over, which lead down to where a tennis court used to be below the blue stone retaining walls. I ponder.The prominent Cribb family, who graced this residence for over 50 years, would have played tennis there during grander times.

I first heard the legend of Blackstone Castle when I was fifteen and my Nanna had joined the local historical society. So, with our imaginations full of visions of turrets and drawbridges my grand parents and I headed to Blackstone where we took a walk up the hill in search of the lost castle.We wandered up a dusty track and reached the summit of the hill to find...well, not very much actually, just a single half-collapsed brick wall and some rusty old car bodies. Not exactly the Welsh castle I had been imagining, but intriguing none the less. Skip forward (cough) twenty odd years. I've been to Wales and back, I've seen a few castles but I am still just as fascinated about our "castle". How did Ipswich have and lose a castle, who built it, what's really left of it?HistoryFortunately for me, in 2015 the Ipswich Art Gallery held an exhibiton "Brynhyfryd – lost castle of Blackstone Hill" which bought together a collection objects from Brynhyfryd, including decorative objects, furniture, family heirlooms and other parts of the building retrieved from demolition. The exhibition also featured photographs of the building in its glory days and was accompanied by a history of its rise and fall.

More than your average shopping trip! This unique collection of antique shops in and around Ipswich, offering vintage wares and more are housed in some of the regions finest buildings, each boasting their own piece of local history.With the largest number of pre-1945 homes in Queensland as well as numerous heritage listed commercial buildings, Ipswich has plenty to offer the avid history buff. Originally a mining settlement, Ipswich’s history began in 1827 with much of its original architectural, natural and cultural heritage still left untouched in the area.But the history doesn’t stop at the architecture, the Ipswich area also boasts an impressive collection of vintage and antique shops. Hop in the car and travel the Ipswich area admiring the historical beauties, while you browse these gorgeous antique collections, and sample the many flavours of the region at local historical pubs and/or cafes.

It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to learn more and more films, including big budget masterpieces, are being shot at Ipswich. The city’s mix of old and new, urban and rural, is proving to be a major drawcard for all sorts of film productions.An ever-growing list of Hollywood heavyweights have called Ipswich their temporary home, including Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman!The Railway ManJonathan Teplitzky’s war film, The Railway Man, brought A-listers Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth, Jeremy Irvine and Stellan Skarsgard to Ipswich in 2013. The film shot a number of scenes in Ipswich, including torture sequences at Queensland Museum Rail Workshops (established in the historic railway yards site at North Ipswich). Colin Firth plays a former British army officer and POW. His character discovers the Japanese interpreter who tortured him during the war is still alive and he and his wife, played by Nicole Kidman, set out to find and confront him.The film won a number of awards including Best Adapted Screenplay at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Awards.

Did you know there are a number of restaurants housed in beautiful historic buildings in Ipswich?  If you love architecture, or have an interest in history they why not book in and visit one of these gorgeous foodie hot spots - book year round, or make your trip extra special and visit during the city's Galvanized festival.Bakehouse SteakhouseBakehouse Steakhouse is located in a heritage building with over a century of stories. The building maintains and celebrates remnants of its past life as Haleys Bakery where its story began back in 1875.As the first chapter of the building’s rich history, it set the foundation for what would emerge as the Bakehouse Steakhouse in the late 70’s. For decades, the restaurant became the place to be and was the setting for a generation of lifelong memories.  Today the restaurant welcomes you to join them and experience a unique steakhouse experience.

Ipswich is a city with more than its share of creative energy and it’s all showcased in a vintage/artisan trail that visitors to the region can explore. There are more than 20 colourful businesses from across the wider region that form the CRAVE trail of all things creative, retro, antique, vintage and eclectic.