150 years of Queensland history from the Archives

Queensland State Archives will connect with the past and explore the future during an exciting program of events and exhibitions to commemorate Queensland’s 150th anniversary.

Minister for Public Works Robert Schwarten launched the Queensland State Archives’ 2009 Events and Exhibitions Program at Parliament House in Brisbane tonight.

“The Queensland Government wants to reach as many Queenslanders as possible to celebrate 150 years of independence in 2009,” Mr Schwarten said.

“This program will help make that happen so the Department of Public Works was only to happy to provide the $259,200 funding for the Queensland State Archives 2009 Events and Exhibitions Program.

“The public records at Queensland State Archives date back to the 1820s and represent the story of Queensland.

“Historians have delved into Queensland’s largest and most significant collection of documentary heritage and found some rare treasures to share with Queenslanders in this historic year for our State.”

Mr Schwarten said two new travelling exhibitions and a futuristic forum were among the highlights of the Queensland State Archives’ 2009 Events and Exhibitions Program.

“Eminent Queensland historian Dr Murray Johnson has selected Queensland’s 150 most influential documents and ranked them in order of significance for the Top 150: Documenting Queensland exhibition,” Mr Schwarten said.

“Queensland Firsts is an equally-fascinating exhibition which showcases 50 history-defining milestones for Queensland through rarely-seen archival records chosen by historians Professor Kay Saunders, Dr Julie Ustinoff and Dr Shirleene Robinson.

“The exhibitions will tour art galleries, museums, cultural centres, council chambers and libraries throughout Queensland and will be available online through the Queensland State Archives website.”

The Queensland Newspapers exhibition Our Queensland will accompany the Queensland State Archives tour.

Our Queensland captures some of the memorable moments and people of our great State through iconic photos from The Courier-Mail and The Sunday Mail archives.

Queensland’s future 50 years from now will be explored when Queensland State Archives and the Brisbane Institute present a special event at Customs House in Brisbane on Tuesday, 24 February 2009.

The event – Q200: What will Queensland be like in 2059? – will feature Queensland’s most innovative thinkers including Chief Scientist, Professor Peter Andrews, Queensland Brain Institute Director, Professor Perry Bartlett, Griffith University Urban Research Centre Director, Professor Brendan Gleeson and University of Queensland Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Max Lu.

Further information about the Queensland State Archives 2009 Events and Exhibitions Program is available at www.archives.qld.gov.au

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