Top 150: Documenting Queensland and Queensland Firsts exhibitions

Minister for Public Works and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten
29/06/2009
Q150 Archives Exhibition Tour reaches Gympie
 
Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten invites residents to join the Q150 celebrations and connect with history as the Queensland State Archives' (QSA) 2009 Regional Exhibition Tour reaches Gympie tomorrow.

Mr Schwarten said the Top 150: Documenting Queensland and Queensland Firsts exhibitions would be at Gympie Art Gallery until Sunday, 26 July.

"The Queensland Government wants to reach as many Queenslanders as possible to celebrate 150 years of our State's independence," Mr Schwarten said.

"The QSA regional tour will travel to 18 regional venues across the state, reaching regional communities from Mount Isa to Port Douglas and Quilpie to Longreach.

"People in Gympie have the opportunity to be part of regional Q150 celebrations and discover the fascinating history of our great state through the QSA 2009 Exhibition Tour.

"The discovery of gold at Gympie features in the exhibition, with a handwritten document by James Nash announcing this discovery in 1867, ranked at number 10 of the top 150 documents.

"The exhibition also features an historic photograph of the Main Street of Gympie from 1868."

Mr Schwarten said historians had delved into Queensland's largest and most significant collection of heritage to uncover some rare treasures.

"Renowned Queensland historian Dr Murray Johnson has selected the State's 150 most influential documents in order of significance for the Top 150: Documenting Queensland exhibition," he said.

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

"This exhibition also features our Modern Milestones, which focuses on the past 30 years of major achievements in Queensland's more recent history.

"The Queensland Newspapers' phot ographic exhibition Our Queensland will accompany Queensland Firsts on tour, capturing memorable moments and people through iconic photos from The Courier-Mail and The Sunday Mail archives.

"I encourage members of the community to make the most of this once in a lifetime opportunity to connect with the past, by visiting the exhibition while it's in town during this special year."

The QSA 2009 Regional Queensland Exhibition Tour will visit art galleries, museums, cultural centres and libraries and will also be available online at www.archives.qld.gov.au.

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