Behind every archive box is a story waiting to be found - meet State Library's 2026 Fellows and Medallists uncovering Queensland’s history

The 2026 John Oxley Library Fellowship was awarded to Lucy Deemal for her project, 'Two Stories, One Place: Aboriginal and Settler Memory in North Queensland'.

This project will uncover seldom-told Aboriginal histories of North Queensland by reinterpreting colonial-era photographs and documents. It traces connections between mineral exploration, frontier violence, and figures such as Walter Roth and Archibald Meston, comparing archival sources with oral histories to reveal gaps in the historical record.

The research centres Aboriginal and pastoral memories through place-based conversations and contemporary photography. Public outputs include blogs, annotated archives, and a creative work contributing to truth-telling, historical healing, and First Nations-led additions to State Library collections.

The 2026 John Oxley Library Honorary Fellowship was awarded to Rachel Gallagher for her project, 'Mapping Displacement: Freeways, Protest, and the Remaking of Brisbane '.

This project explores how mid-20th-century freeway megaprojects reshaped Brisbane’s urban landscape and sparked community resistance. Focusing on the Southeast Freeway, Western Freeway, and Inner City Bypass, it examines the role of American planning consultants, especially Wilbur Smith and Associates, in embedding car-centric planning. These projects fragmented neighbourhoods, displaced residents, and provoked protest.

Using materials from John Oxley Library, protest flyers, letters, photographs, oral histories, and planning reports, the project reconstructs a people-centred history of Brisbane’s freeway era. Public outputs include digital maps, interpretive essays, and talks highlighting the long-term legacies of freeway construction and grassroots resistance.

The 2026 Monica Clare Research Fellowship was awarded to Dr Rose Barrowcliffe for her project, 'The Protectors'.

This project examines a 1924–1925 Queensland State Archives correspondence in which the Chief Protector of Aborigines and other Protectors sought lists of Aboriginal placenames. Many Protectors claimed there were none or that local Aboriginal people “know nothing of the language.”

Using John Oxley Library records and interviews with Aboriginal descendants, the project challenges these claims, revealing the comprehensive nature of the protectorate system and countering the deficit narratives. The story will be shared through a podcast series and a supplementary website.

The 2026 Rainbow Research Fellowship was awarded to Monika O'Hanlon for her project, 'Out of the Archives'.

Out of the Archives is a mixed-media documentary podcast series that brings Queensland’s queer history to life—one archive item at a time. Each episode begins with a single artefact from John Oxley Library—photograph, protest flyer, costume, or love letter—and unpacks the story behind it, exploring what it reveals about LGBTQIA+ life and what remains hidden.

Blending interviews, narration, archival research, and ambient sound, the series will also include short-form video content for social media to reach wider audiences. Out of the Archives transforms static objects into living stories, inviting deeper public engagement with State Library collections.

The 2026 Royal Queensland Show (EKKA) Fellowship was awarded to Dr Kaya Barry and Emily House for their project, 'From the regions to the city: stories of sending produce and people to the EKKA'.

This project explores the social and cultural histories of attending the EKKA from the perspectives of regional farming communities, with a focus on migrants’ role in shaping Queensland’s farming industries.

Focusing on Bundaberg, Tully, and Bowen, the project examines the RNA and John Oxley archives and conducts fieldwork to gather local stories from farming families. New archival content, including photographs, diary excerpts, letters, and audio interviews, will be collected for public display in the EKKA’s ‘Agricultural Shed’, added to State Library collections, and used to support scholarship on the legacies of migration in Queensland’s farming regions.

The 2026 Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame Fellowship was awarded to Robert Allen for his project, 'T.C Beirne and the House of the People: Exploring the many lives of businessman, philanthropist and politician Thomas Charles Beirne.'.

A member of the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame, Thomas Charles Beirne (1860 - 1949) is best remembered for his enormous contribution to Brisbane's mercantile landscape from the 1890s until the mid - twentieth century. My project title is taken from Beirne's well - known initials, his store's famous motto, and the fact that he made his mark in many fields. He was a shrewd businessman, a generous philanthropist, a long - serving Legislative Councillor, a devout Catholic and a devoted family man. I propose to draw upon material held by the John Oxley Library, other archives and his descendants to build a comprehensive picture of the man, his influence and his ongoing legacy. I propose to present my findings via periodic reports to the SLQ; public presentations; online blogs; an exhibition of Beirne - related ephemera at the Library; and a heritage walking tour of 'TCB's Fortitude Valley'.

The 2026 John Oxley Library Medal was awarded to Janeth Deen OAM.

Janeth Deen has made a significant contribution to Queensland history by documenting and preserving the stories of Muslim communities in Brisbane and beyond. As co-founder and president of Queensland Muslim Historical Society, she has collected artefacts, oral histories, and records that highlight the rich heritage of Queensland’s Muslim population. Through exhibitions, research, and community engagement, Janeth has raised awareness of Queensland’s cultural diversity, fostered understanding, and promoted social cohesion. A respected leader and the first woman to join the Queensland Islamic Council, Janeth was awarded an Order of Australia for her service to multiculturalism, making her a role model in both the historical and multicultural sectors.

The 2026 John Oxley Library Community History Medal was awarded to Pine Islet Lighthouse Preservation Society.

The Pine Islet Preservation Society successfully preserved one of Queensland’s most unique maritime landmarks—the world’s only functioning kerosene-powered lighthouse of its type. Decommissioned in 1985 and facing demolition, the lighthouse was saved thanks to Darrel Roche, the last lightkeeper, who rallied local support to form the Society. Members carefully dismantled and reconstructed it at Mackay Marina.

The lighthouse’s social history was documented through a collaborative oral history project with a local women’s history group, collecting stories, artifacts, photographs, and documents to enhance visitor experiences. Strong community connections contributed materials, technical expertise, and promotional support. Guided by a Conservation Management Plan, including a 3D structural scan, the Society maintained the lighthouse while engaging the public through a digital presence and regular community events.