Redbank

Redbank is a suburb of the City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.

Redbank is a suburb of the City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It is approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) south-west of Brisbane CBD, the capital of Queensland. At the 2016 Australian Census, the suburb recorded a population of 1,834. At the 2016 Australia Census, Redbank had an unemployment rate of 14.5%, more than double the Australian unemployment rate of 6.9%.

The origin of the suburb name is from a description of the area provided by Major Edmund Lockyer whilst exploring in a boat along the Brisbane River.While the Redbank area is known for its agricultural and pastoral origins, it has a more varied history.In the late 1850s, the first farmers in the area settled on the river flats situated to the north of the current railway station. This settlement featured a brickworks, sawmill, stores, cottages, a school and nondenominational church, though due to severe flooding, it was relocated south of the railway station some years later.In the early years, the rich black loamy soil of the plains supported crops of maize, potatoes and fodder, while cotton became a significant crop in the 1860s and 1870s. By the beginning of the 20th century, dairying became more important with the establishment of several creameries in the area.The late 1850s saw the establishment of the first secondary industry in the area, with a boiling down works and fellmongery owned by Mr John Campbell and Mr Town.The Redbank - Bundamba Loop Line comprised a series of railway sidings serving coal mines in the area.The current Redbank Plaza Library was opened in 1998 and had a major refurbishment in 2010.