Ed Sheeran Named Honorary Co-Mayor Of Ipswich

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding presented Sheeran with the official mayoral chains of office at Suncorp Stadium.

Ed Sheeran with Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding(Credit: Mark Surridge)

Ed Sheeran visited Ipswich last week, in the lead-up to his three sold-out shows at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. And now, he’s been named honorary co-Mayor of the city.

In case you missed it: the British pop star visited the Queensland city after a months-long community campaign, which even received the endorsement of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

As the Queensland city shares the same name as the singer’s English hometown, and since Sheeran has made stops in Ipswich in the US, the people of Ipswich, Queensland, kicked off a dedicated campaign to get Sheeran to visit.

The campaign began when Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding called for Sheeran to visit the city last May. Since then, community spirit prevailed, with residents – including multiple businesses – embracing “Ed-uary.”

Examples of Ed-uary taking over the city? A local bakery introduced the “Ginger-Ed” cookie, a pub launched the “Ed Beeran Brew,” exercise classes started featuring Cardboard Ed, and performers sang his songs in local venues.

Additionally, Animal Welfare League Queensland threw its support behind the campaign, revealing that a dog at the shelter named after the singer is waiting for a family to adopt him. And, Queensland radio stations 4BC and B105 put aside their competition, coming together to rally for a visit from Sheeran.

The singer made plenty of dreams come true when he visited Ipswich last week and signed a life-size mural painted by the locals. He also left a message for Teresa Harding.

Sharing a video of himself signing the mural on social media, Sheeran wrote in the caption: “There’s a new mayor in town.”

“Lots of love, Ed,” he noted on the wall.

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To commemorate Sheeran’s visit – and the signing of the mural, which has since become a local landmark – Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding named Sheeran the honorary co-Mayor of the city. She presented the Lego House hitmaker with the official mayoral chains of office at Suncorp Stadium.

“It was a wonderful moment to be able to thank him for noticing our city, for making the trip, and for giving Ipswich a moment we’ll be talking about for a long time,” Harding said.

Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour concludes at the Adelaide Oval next Thursday (5 March), following three massive shows at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium this week. Final tickets are available via the Frontier Touring website.