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Heritage Awards


The Heritage Awards have been a highly anticipated event in Queensland for more than 50 years. This event is a platform to acknowledge and celebrate exceptional heritage projects and individuals in our state, while also providing an excellent opportunity to connect with professionals, volunteers, and government officials. The awards recognize excellence, innovation, and best practices in conserving and valuing Queensland's environmental, cultural, and architectural heritage, with outstanding achievements being awarded. Additionally, the John Herbert Award is presented to the most exceptional nomination in all categories.

The return of the Queensland Heritage Awards is set to coincide with the Australian Heritage Festival, our other major Heritage event, held in April and May each year. Watch this space for a 2025 return.


Previous Award Winners

 

Heritage Reports & Planning Documents

This category relates to heritage studies (in print or online) and may include (but is not limited to):

  • Conservation Management Plans
  • Masterplans
  • Museum Planning Documents (Small Museums)
  • Collection Management Documents
  • Cultural Heritage Surveys
  • Heritage Studies
  • Archaeological Management Plans
  • Archival Recordings
  • Thematic Histories
  • Heritage Guidelines
  • Research Publications
  • Websites
  • Heritage Policies or Strategies.

Heritage Landscape

This category relates to projects involving heritage landscapes, such as:

  • Cultural landscapes
  • Urban landscapes or precincts
  • Natural landscapes
  • Archaeological landscapes
  • Cultural precincts or
  • Main Streets.

Adaptive Re-use

This category relates to projects that complement and utilise existing heritage fabric, re-purposing and/or new developments which are sympathetic to the traditional uses of a site and its structures and which protect the heritage integrity.

Heritage Interpretation and Promotion

This category relates to projects that involve interpretation, promotion and celebration of Queensland’s heritage such as:

  • Events
  • Exhibitions
  • Tours
  • Educational Activities and Programs
  • Interpretation Works, i.e. Signage
  • Community Engagement Programs.
  • Museum Displays and Interactive Experiences
  • Heritage Tours, Trails and/or Tracks
  • Websites
  • Digital Stories
  • Oral Histories
  • Open Days
  • Conferences, Expositions and Symposiums
  • Workshops or Seminars
  • Videos or Film

Conservation Works

This category relates to projects involving the conservation of our built heritage. Such projects may include but are not limited to:

  • Conservation works
  • Repair works and
  • Restoration

Works may occur at places such:

  • Buildings
  • Landscapes
  • Historic gardens
  • Moveable heritage
  • Industrial sites
  • Memorials
  • Statues
  • Parks or
  • Precincts

 

Achievement Award Categories

Advocacy Volunteer (Individual or Group)

This award recognises the extraordinary commitment of a community group and/or individual who have pursued the protection and conservation of key heritage places, items or objects.

Lifetime Achievement

This award recognises individuals who have demonstrated a lifetime of valuable contribution to the field of heritage conservation and management in Queensland.

The Trust will consult a range of heritage experts for recommendations and any nominations will be considered.

National Trust of Australia (Queensland) Volunteer

This award recognises a National Trust Heritage Volunteer who has demonstrated a commitment above and beyond, over a number of years, and who has inspired others in their heritage work.

Rising Star

This award recognises an individual (under 35 years of age and/or with less than 5 years core heritage experience) who has demonstrated excellence in the development of heritage conservation skills and who has the potential to develop into an inspirational heritage leader.

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History


At the National Trust of Queensland AGM in September 1974, it was moved that a John Herbert Award be awarded annually for ‘a meritorious restoration or presentation project.’

The first John Herbert Award was presented in September 1975 to the Goondiwindi Town Council for the restoration of the Goondiwindi Customs House.

In response to the growth of the event, in 2004 the awards were renamed the Queensland Heritage Awards. The John Herbert Memorial Award is presented to the most outstanding nomination each year.

The John Herbert Memorial Award honours John Herbert MLA who was a strong supporter of the newly formed National Trust of Queensland. He was a member of the Trust’s first Council and served as its president from 1971 to 1974

John Herbert Memorial Award
2019 recipient


Judges: Dr Ian Galloway AM, Jonathan Fisher, Jane Alexander & Dr Valerie Dennis

Project Name: Home: a suburban obsession

Team: State Library of Queensland

In 1995, the Frank and Eunice Corley House Photographs Collection, comprising of over 60,000 unsold house photographs, was donated to the State Library of Queensland. Home: a suburban obsession, a project that explored the social and emotional foundations of our houses through this incredible legacy, is the result. Curated in three acts, including an exhibition and the online Corley Explorer, Home: a suburban obsession produced a high rate of engagement and visitation.

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