About Us
Founded in 1913, The Royal Historical Society of Queensland is a vibrant organisation dedicated to promoting Queensland’s history for the benefit of our members, affiliated societies and the broader community.
As Queensland’s peak history body, the Society presents an active program of events, publishes the quarterly award winning Queensland History Journal, maintains an extensive library and museum collections, provides research services and hosts diverse exhibitions in the convict-built Commissariat Store Museum, the oldest occupied building in Queensland.
The Society, a not-for-profit voluntary organisation, is governed by the Constitution of The Royal Historical Society of Queensland. It is comprised of members led by our President who is actively supported by the Council, Manager and several committees dedicated to overseeing various operational aspects of the Society. This team, supported by other dedicated volunteers, implement the objectives of the Society defined within the Constitution, which are principally to:
- Promote interest in and advance the study of Queensland history
- Broaden opportunities for the practice and writing of history
- Preserve documents and manuscripts relating to Queensland history
- Preserve and display artefacts illustrating Queensland colonial history
- Study the history of the Commonwealth of Australia and the adjacent islands of the Pacific
The Society welcomes visitors to the Commissariat Store Museum and invites applications for membership from interested persons or organisations within the community.
Our Patron
The Governor of Queensland has been Patron since the foundation of the Society in 1913. The Society has on many occasions welcomed our Patron.
| Patron | Period | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC QC | 29/07/2014 to current |
| 15 | The Honourable Penelope Anne Wensley AC | 29/07/2008 - 29/07/2014 |
| 14 | The Honourable Dame Quentin Alice Louise Bryce AD CVO | 29/07/2003 - 29/07/2008 |
| 13 | Major General the Honourable Peter Maurice Arnison AC CVO | 29/07/1997 - 29/07/2003 |
| 12 | The Honourable Mary Marguerite Leneen Forde AC | 29/07/1992 - 29/07/1997 |
| 11 | The Honourable Sir Walter Benjamin Campbell AC QC | 22/07/1985 - 29/07/1992 |
| 10 | Commodore the Honourable Sir James Maxwell Ramsay KCMG KCVO CBE DSC | 22/04/1977 - 21/07/1985 |
| 9 | Air Marshall the Honourable Sir Colin Thomas Hannah KCMG KCVO KBE CB | 21/03/1972 - 20/03/1977 |
| 8 | The Honourable Sir Alan James Mansfield KCMG KCVO | 21/03/1966 - 21/03/1972 |
| 7 | Colonel the Honourable Sir Henry Abel Smith KCMG KCVO DSO | 18/03/1958 - 18/03/1966 |
| 6 | Lieutenant-General the Honourable Sir John Dudley Lavarack KCMG KCVO KBE CB DSO | 01/10/1946 - 04/12/1957 |
| 5 | Colonel the Honourable Sir Leslie Orme Wilson GCMG GCSI GCIE DSO | 13/06/1932 - 23/04/1946 |
| 4 | Lieutenant-General the Honourable Sir Thomas Herbert John Chapman Goodwin KCB CMG DSO | 13/06/1927 - 07/04/1932 |
| 3 | The Right Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Matthew Nathan GCMG | 03/12/1920 - 17/09/1925 |
| 2 | Major the Honourable Sir Hamilton John Goold-Adams GCMG CB | 15/03/1915 - 03/02/1920 |
| 1 | The Honourable Sir William MacGregor GCMG CB | 02/12/1909 - 16/07/1914 |