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Research Reveals 2026

Research Reveals 2026: Queensland history symposium

Over the past year, nine researchers have delved deep into State Library’s collections, uncovering new stories and fresh perspectives on Queensland’s history through their State Library Fellowships. Now, they’re ready to share their discoveries.

Join us for Research Reveals, a two-day event where the 2025 State Library Fellows present the outcomes of their research projects, revealing little-known histories and insights drawn from State Library’s collections.

This year’s line up offers revelations on:

  • Refugee stories and experiences of settling in Queensland.
  • The history of pearling communities in the Torres Strait.
  • The practice of of cross-dressing uncovered across State Library collections.
  • Businesswomen who defied pre-1970s rules requiring male guarantors for business loans.
  • Queensland’s sporting history through significant sites on the Queensland Heritage Register.
  • Bringing historical home interior décor to life using AI and collection material.
  • Insights from a fourth-generation Showperson into communities behind the EKKA, Queensland’s largest annual event.
  • Filipino migrants in Queensland, explored through festivals, music industry participation and everyday life.

Find out more about our Fellows' projects by watching this video or reading their blogs.

Who should attend 

This event is perfect for history enthusiasts, researchers, and anyone curious about Queensland’s past. 

Research Reveals is a free event, but spaces are limited! Please book separate tickets for the Friday evening and Saturday sessions through Eventbrite.

Full Program

Friday 6 March – Auditorium 1, level 2

6pm Opening
6:10pm  Queering the Lens: Cross-Dressing in Family Photograph Albums, Dr Marion Stell and Professor Celmara Pocock for their project, 2025 Rainbow Research Fellows.
6:35pm Migration, Musical Practices and Belonging among Filipino Migrants in Queensland: Festivals, Music Industry Participation and Everyday Lives, Dr Carl Anacin, 2025 Letty Katts Fellow. 
7pm Audience Q&A panel discussion
7:30pm        Event finishes

Saturday 7 March – Auditorium 1, level 2

10am   Welcome to Country
10:10am Opening
10:20amHistoric EKKA Symbiotic Relationship between Country, Town and Travelling Show Community, Bronwyn Bridgwater, 2025 Royal Queensland Show (EKKA) Fellow.
10:45amBusinesswomen of Queensland: The histories and successes of Queensland Businesswomen pre-1970, Dr Joanne Dolley, 2025 Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame Fellow.
11:10amPatterns of Queensland’s sport and recreation heritage: enhancing community access to sport history knowledge via the Queensland Heritage Register, Dr Kate Kirby, 2025 Queensland Heritage Register Fellow.
11:35amAudience Q&A panel discussion
12 noon - 2pm

Lunch break (optional activities)

Enjoy lunch on the Queensland Terrace, a stunning venue featuring mirrored ceilings, marble floors, and a collection of vintage tea cups. Bring your own lunch or pre-purchase a lunch pack for $25 when completing your registration. Each pack includes your choice of sandwich, roll, or wrap, a sweet slice and a drink. Orders close Monday 2 March 2026.

During the lunch break, you can also put on some white gloves and get up close to the historical materials used by fellows in their research projects at a white gloves experience, Level 4, White Gloves Room.

2pmWelcome back
2:05pmVoices of Diversity: Collecting and Preserving the Refugee Experience in Queensland, Dr Zhila Gholami, 2025 John Oxley Library Fellow.
2:30pmLugger Bort: an ambitious social history research, dedicated to the working life of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the pearling, Bech-de-Mer and trochus industries, in northern Queensland, Narelle Nicol 2025 Monica Clare Research Fellow.
2:55pmWallflowers: reimagining historical interiors, Anna Rowe, 2025 Digital Collections Catalyst.
3:20pmAudience Q&A panel discussion
3:45pmClosing remarks
4pmEvent finishes

Please note: Our 2025 John Oxley Library Honorary Fellow, Dr Indigo Willing will present her Research Reveals talk at The Edge's upcoming Skateboarding program in mid 2026. Read her blogs to learn more about her project. 

  • When

    Fri 6 Mar · 6–7:30pm until Mar 7

  • Price

    FREE | Book Friday night and Saturday sessions separately via Eventbrite.

    Bookings required

  • Location

    Auditorium 1

    View map

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Date and time

Fri 6 Mar

8–9:30am

Sat 7 Mar

12–6am

Contact the organiser

Queensland Memory

Contact phone:

07 3840 7887

Contact email:

qldmemory@slq.qld.gov.au