Metro Hotel Ipswich International Lights up for Christmas

Metro Hotel Ipswich International has been flood lit in the alternating colours of red, green and blue in the 12 days leading up to Christmas, lighting up at 6.00 pm every night. 

Mayor Pisasale was on hand to officially turn on the lights last night, with the hotel’s central location in Ipswich making it a shining beacon for locals and tourists alike and bringing some additional Christmas spirit to the city.

Hotel General Manager, Ted Matthews said the Hotel played an important role in the local community to increase the attraction of Queensland’s largest regional city for both locals and tourists alike.

“As a vital member of the Ipswich community, Metro Hotel Ipswich International is keen to help foster a strong community spirit in the lead up to Christmas, and we believe turning the lights on in the colours of Christmas will make the hotel stand out on the Ipswich City skyline and add to the festive cheer.

“We are hoping members of the community will come to the hotel, have a Christmas drink at the bar or dinner at Platform 9, and enjoy the light show.”

Metro Hotel Ipswich International is also offering a Christmas themed buffet in its Platform 9 restaurant from now until December 20 for just $25 per person.  The menu offers a hot selection including baked ham, roast chicken, baked sirloin with all the trimmings, as well as various salads and steamed Christmas pudding and pavlova for dessert.

As Australia’s oldest, 100 percent owned Australian hotel chain, Metro Hospitality Group is proud to be an active and supportive member of the communities in which it operates.  Metro Hotel Ipswich International has developed a strong reputation as an active member of the Ipswich community, supporting community activities and helping local businesses and schools.

Guests can also book accommodation at the hotel or book a table at the Christmas buffet by calling the toll free Central Reservations line on 1800 004 321 or the hotel direct on 07 3812 8077.

Mayor to Throw Switch on Metro’s Chirstrmas Lights

Staff at the Metro Hotel Ipswich International has spent most of the week putting up Christmas lights for its display.

Mayor Pisasale will be attending tonight to turn it all on. The hotel's Marketing Manager Tony Coates says it will flash alternative colours of red, green and blue for the 12 days leading up to Christmas.

He says it's intended to be a shining beacon for locals and tourists alike---bringing some additional Christmas spirit to the city.

Ipswich's First Indigenous Art Centre Opens at Mayor Paul Pisasale's Former Restaurant Colliers

Hopefully it will be a space for all kinds of Indigenous facilitators, from jewellery makers to dance, story-telling, even weapon makers

Artist Annie Clarke

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale's former iconic restaurant, Colliers, has been transformed into the city's first Indigenous art and cultural centre, west of Brisbane.

Contemporary Indigenous artist Annie Clarke is behind the project.

Ms Clarke began painting at the age of eight, when she learnt traditional bark painting.

She came up with the idea of creating an art precinct when she started using the old Colliers house to work on her art.

"I originally started using it as just a studio - it had no power or electricity and it was cold," she said.

Ms Clarke says she soon realised the space could also be used by others.

She approached the Ipswich City Council with the idea of turning it into an Indigenous art and culture hub.

"I think a space like this gives a chance for the wider community to come and learn about Indigenous culture and it also gives the Indigenous a chance to showcase who they are and teach about their culture, their way," she said.

Colliers has been vacant for years, and was relocated in 2010 from Roderick Street in Ipswich Central to the Westfalen Community Gardens, a former coal mine in Collingwood Park.

Workers from Challenge Employment and Training have helped to restore the house to its former glory.

Richard Lindner, director of Challenge Employment and Training, says the benefits of restoring the house go beyond providing work experience for apprentice tradesmen.

"It brings in diversity," he said.

"It gives us a new approach and access to the community we're here to support."

Mr Lindner says offering art classes and other cultural workshops will be a new challenge for the organisation.

"For that reason alone, Annie has brought something to us that is very valuable in terms of engagement with a whole different cohort of individuals that we probably wouldn't have had access to in the past," he said.

Councillor Pisasale says he is excited to see his old restaurant become useful again.

"I wanted the restaurant to have not only a new lease of life, but something that's contributed to our city and Australia," he said.

"We don't put enough emphasis on our Indigenous culture and our Indigenous community and I'm just proud to be able to be part of it."

The centre officially opened last Saturday and Ms Clarke hopes it will eventually host a range of workshops.

"Hopefully it will be a space for all kinds of Indigenous facilitators, from jewellery makers to dance, story-telling, even weapon makers," she said.

But the project is still at least $45,000 short of completion.

Ms Clarke says it is a cause worth supporting.

"It gives the Indigenous community a sense of pride to see that people want to come and learn about their culture in a positive way," she said.

"I think it will make a huge difference - there's been such a positive feedback from the amount of people that have heard about this they can't wait to see it happen."

Santa Delivers Festive Spirit to Ipswich

Santa has a chat on Saturday with excited youngsters Blaise and Corey Wyatt.

SANTA Claus made a spectacular arrival in Ipswich aboard his sleigh, pulled by real-life reindeer Vixen and Cupid. 

Hundreds of shoppers turned out to welcome Santa and Mrs Claus as they weaved their way through the Riverlink shopping centre on Saturday. 

Their arrival was celebrated with a magical parade featuring fairies, angels on roller-skates, a gingerbread man, elves and carollers. 

Families lined the aisles as the procession made its way around the centre before concluding at the Gasometer area outside Cold Rock, where children were able to pet Vixen and Cupid and the other baby reindeer. 

The parade was complemented by a Christmas elves song and dance stage show, face painting, craft demonstrations and Christmas carols. 

HO, HO, HO: Santa with his helpers and reindeer tour Riverlink Shopping Centre on Saturday

Riverlink marketing manager Robyn Bannister-Tyrrell said Santa's arrival was well received by customers.

"We wanted to get shoppers into the Christmas spirit and enjoying themselves while doing their Christmas shopping," Mrs Bannister-Tyrrell said 

She said Santa's arrival would be followed by a series of family fun and entertainment events, including carollers and visits from the man in red in the lead-up to Christmas. 


Children will be able to have their photo taken with Santa daily in the East Mall, near Medicare, until December 24.

Winners All Round as Favourite Takes Cup

PUNTERS were out in force – and style – as Melbourne Cup fever hit Ipswich yesterday.

And the result couldn’t have been better for Ipswich race fans as the hot favourite Fiorente,

ridden by three-time winning jockey Damien Oliver, stormed home at Flemington.

Loud cheers erupted around friends Aislinn Dwyer and Jessica McGill inside the Char’d restaurant as the number six horse charged past the post, securing a first Melbourne Cup victory for legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse.

“I had a feeling,” an ecstatic Ms Dwyer said. “My uncle’s mother said number six and I had a weird feeling for Fiorente.

“She had me saying six all day and I thought I’ve got to win.”

Nigel Bates was thrilled with his small win, saying he always backed a Gai Waterhouse horse.

“I went with the favourite, but I’m a huge Gai Waterhouse fan,” he said. The PA Hotel was awash with colour for the fashions on the field event, but it was Sheree Thorton, of Bundamba, who took out the style stakes with her eye-catching lime and black number.

Metro Hotel Ipswich International was the next best thing to being trackside at Flemington, with party-goers enjoying a picnic-themed luncheon and all the action on the big screen.

Eat Drink and Be Merry - Christmas in Ipswich

Celebrate this festive Season with Some Christmas Cheer!

Metro Hotel Ipswich International will play Santa, with drinks, finger food and great venue!

To receive this offer, staff must show council ID at the bar.

RSVP to:

Eventsipswich@metrohg.com OR Call 07 38128077

Metro Hotels Provides Spiritual Book to Guests as a Source of Inspiration

In a world-first, Australian-owned hotel chain Metro Hotels will place a book called Jing Si Aphorisms in all rooms in its NSW and Queensland properties, to enable guests to learn more about the Buddhist compassionate relief organisation, Tzu Chi Foundation.

The Foundation first came to the attention of the hotel chain when it went unasked to the aid of Ipswich residents, giving out care packages following the devastating 2011 floods. 

The hotel chain’s Ipswich property, Metro Hotel Ipswich International, built a relationship with the Foundation and offered to put books in its rooms so that its guests would learn more about the work and philosophy of the organisation.

Metro Hotels decided to extend this offer to other properties, with Metro Hotel Sydney Central General Manager Earl Muir yesterday accepting a special presentation of the books from Julia Wu, principal of Tzu Chi Foundation, Gold Coast, and Stephen Kan, CEO of Tzu-Chi Sydney.

The book, Jing Si Aphorisms, translates the essence of the Buddha’s teachings to exemplify life lessons. ‘Aphorism’ means original thought, or definition, and rather than being a religious text the book is meant to be an explanation of the Buddhist faith. 

Mr Muir said the Tzu Chi Foundation, which lives by the creed that it is more of a blessing to serve others than be served, believes in service to the community and has demonstrated its commitment to this belief through its actions in Ipswich.

“This organisation has shown tremendous compassion and service to Australian communities when they are in need and Metro Hotel believes it is an organisation which Australians may want to know more about,” he said.

“Placing Jing Si Aphorisms in our hotel rooms gives guests another reading option to the Holy Bible. The book is being supplied as a source of inspiration to our guests. This is not about converting people from one religion to another but rather promoting harmony and diversity.” 

See this press release and more at Metro Hotels News