Ice Hockey Queensland

To build the first ice skating venue for Queensland saw failed attempts and proposals, dating back to 1938, with the proposal of an ice skating rink on Wickham Street, Brisbane. The proposal was submitted by C. V. E. Mitchell for a dual purpose venue that would hold ice skating during the winter season and roller skating during the summer season.[1] A few months later the formation of Brisbane Ice Skating Palais Ltd. was made 5 November 1938 who stated that they expected to open the new rink 1 May 1939.[2] Closer to the proposed opening date for the ice rink, it was announced that the development plans for the proposed new ice skating rink were under reconstruction and details could not be given on 17 February 1939.[3]

The first ice skating rink built in Queensland was proposed by Sir Oswald Stoll[4] and built by an English refrigeration engineer, Mr. C. N. Pugh, who arrived on Friday 17 November 1939 along with 4 engineers to construct the rink as part of a traveling show in the His Majesty's Theatre in Brisbane. The show was a production called Switzerland, which had traveled through England and Africa with these same engineers and equipment. This rink was not a public ice skating rink and was only used for the season for the production where champion ice skaters Phil Taylor and Megan Taylor headlined.[5]

In 1947, secretary of the Queensland branch of the Pedal Cyclists' Association, Les Cecil proposed a dual purpose venue as a solution which would see cycling in the summer season on a removable floor so that ice skating could be enjoyed when the floor was removed for the winter season.[6]

In 1953 a construction engineer named Mr. W. J. Newton was to finish plans for 3 pools to be built on his land opposite the Mount Gravatt showgrounds. The proposal was to include an Olympic swimming pool, Olympic diving pool and a shallow children's pool. To also be built near the pools were 4 tennis courts, mini golf course and an ice skating rink.[7]

The first public ice rink in Queensland was Mowbray Park Ice Rink which opened in 1958 and it was here that ice hockey began for Queensland. The rink was built in the former Mowbray Park Picture Palace and lasted 7 seasons until it closed in 1967.[8]

According to Ice Hockey Queensland:

• Queensland ice hockey was established in 1960 with the opening of the Mowbray Park Ice Rink in Kangaroo Point near Mowbray Park which is now East Brisbane. Mowbray Park Ice Rink lasted until 1967. Hockey in Queensland continued with the opening of the Four Seasons Ice Palace at Toombul in 1971 and operated until 1985. Iceworld Acacia Ridge opened in 1979 followed by Iceworld Boondall 10 years later in 1989.

Ice Hockey Queensland currently sanctions three national league teams (Brisbane Lightning Women's in the Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League, Brisbane Lightning in the Australian Ice Hockey League, and Brisbane Blitz in the Australian Junior Ice Hockey League) and four clubs (Southern Stars, Brisbane Buccaneers, Gold Coast Grizzlys and Northern Lightning).[9]

In 1977, Queensland won their first Goodall Cup and were the first state to win the Goodall Cup other than Victoria and New South Wales since the inaugural inter-state competition in 1909.