Queensland's founding documents on display
Wed 17 June 2009
Stacey Roberts, Bachelor of Journalism
Sunshine Coast Regional Council played host to the top 150 documents that shaped Queensland’s history in a display at the Maroochydore Library recently.
Selected from the historical collections of the Queensland State Archives by historian Dr Murray Johnson, Top 150:Documenting Queensland was a visual timeline of decisions, events, people and places over the last 150 years.
Maroochydore Library coordinator Jane Stronach said the display had received positive feedback from the local community.
“The visitors thought it was great, we don’t often get displays like this here,” she said.
“We are always looking for opportunities to work with local government and community groups to bring information and events to the community.”
The exhibition showed historical documents ranked in order of significance from one to 150, with first place going to The Letters Patent of Sir George Ferguson Bowen.
Commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1859, the document is one of the primary founding documents of Queensland, and is the constitutional basis from which the state still functions.
The Letters Patent also specifically appoint Sir George Ferguson Bowen as the first Captain General and Governor in Chief of Queensland.
The display also contained a “sensitivity statement” that explains that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander material may be considered culturally sensitive.
“The inclusion of words and descriptions used in the past, but considered inappropriate today, may cause sadness or offend some people,” it said.
Ms Stronach said the display had first gone to Parliamentary offices in Brisbane and the Southport Library on the Gold Coast before reaching the Sunshine Coast.
The exhibition will travel to more than 20 venues across southeast and regional Queensland in celebration of the anniversary of the state’s separation from New South Wales in 1859.
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