A Brief History of the Family Who Built Tall Gums

Stuart Ware has strong, historic ties to Ipswich and the Walloon areas. The Ware family has been in Ipswich since 1865. With sporting, business and community service to Ipswich, Ware St North Ipswich and Wallaby Ware Park are named after family members. George Alfred Ware, Stuart's great grandfather was a well known businessman, coal mine owner and sportsperson. George was also a parishioner who assisted in the building of St Paul's Church of England in Brisbane St and later St Thomas' Church in North Ipswich. On the maternal side of the family, relatives have had farms and property in the Walloon, Haigslea, Marburg, Thagoona and Ipswich areas since the 1880s. Stuart's maternal grandmother, Marion McGill married George Ware's older son George Jnr. Marion was a champion horse rider and show jumper. She was the youngest daughter of John McGill who owned the first hansom cab (horse drawn) in Ipswich. James McGill was a councillor and mayor in the 1800s. McGill St in Basin Pocket and also Raceview commemorate their involvement in the city.

Kay Ware was born and raised in Walloon. Kay's parents, Brian & Heather Levitt owned the general store (now known as Walloon News) from 1956 to 1984 and her paternal grandparents owned the Walloon Saloon from 1950 to 1952. Kay's maternal grandparents, Ken & Evelyn Brown lived in Walloon from 1935 to 2007. Her grandfather worked in the underground coal mines in the Walloon, Thagoona and Rosewood areas. Currently, the 4th generation of the family is attending Walloon State School.