What goes wrong
in Blackstone.
Welsh miners founded Blackstone in the nineteenth century, and the old church, the remains of Brynhyfryd and streets of early cottages still show it. Underground workings run beneath parts of the suburb. Newer homes sit on the higher ground towards Swanbank.
Most of Blackstone was built before PVC drains and copper or PEX water pipes became standard. Earthenware sewers, galvanised water pipes and original cisterns are still in the ground and still working. Their age drives the enquiries here: blockages that return at the same joint, corrosion leaks inside walls, and fixtures whose parts went out of production decades ago.
The housing and its pipes
Historic cottages and post-war homes, with some newer housing on larger blocks.
97% of occupied homes in Blackstone are separate houses, so the drainage and stormwater on your block are almost certainly yours to maintain up to the connection point. The 2021 Census counted an average of 2.6 people per household in Blackstone, in homes averaging 3.3 bedrooms. Size a replacement hot water system to the household, whatever size the old tank was.
Drainage and stormwater
Some of the oldest drains in Ipswich. Ground movement above former mine workings can leave sewer joints displaced.
Historic underground coal workings lie beneath parts of Blackstone. The Queensland Government’s abandoned mines program publishes information about former mine areas and any remediation work. Queensland Government: abandoned mines ↗
Plumbers for Blackstone
Blackstone is about 6 km from Redbank Plains, in the Bundamba & the eastern corridor area near Blackstone Welsh Church and Brynhyfryd site. The licensed plumbers we refer to cover all 53 Ipswich suburbs and confirm availability before anything is booked.
Around 24% of Blackstone households rent. If you rent, report the fault to your property manager first. They authorise the work, and the plumber deals with them from there.
Sources: ABS 2021 Census QuickStats: Blackstone · Queensland Government abandoned mines information. Distances are straight-line from Redbank Plains. Housing descriptions are general observations, not a survey of any individual property.
