Amongst James Cook University’s many important achievements is its ground breaking contribution to North Queensland history which has left an indelible mark on our nation. Fifty years ago JCU’s History Department published its very first work focused on North Queensland titled “Lectures on North Queensland History, 1974”. This signalled the beginning of a fruitful era that saw more than 50 works produced and published.
 |
| Bronwyn McBurnie (Manager, Special Collections) and Professor Koen Stapelbroek (Dean of CASE) with JCU History publications outside the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library, Townsville Bebegu Yumba Campus, Townsville, 2025. |
Between the 1970s and the 1990s scholars at James Cook University transformed the understanding of North Queensland and Australian history. The History Department published a range of books, presenting research by academic staff and postgraduate students. The publications were supported by a long list of predominantly regional subscribers (which included the general public) who debated the new insights, revelations and connections made in these studies. This significant contribution to the nation’s history and particularly North Queensland history is now available via a new Discovery Collection developed by JCU Library in partnership with the JCU College of Arts, Society and Education.
In celebration of the Australian Historical Association (AHA) conference being held on the JCU Bebegu Yumba Campus, Townsville, JCU Library is proud to present the “Studies in North Queensland History” Collection. This showcase brings together a fabulous selection of history writing by JCU scholars. The works are either original JCU History Department publications or JCU Theses. All have been fully digitised and are now available for free download. For most works this is the first time they have been presented online and can now be read by a global audience.
 |
| Bronwyn McBurnie (Manager, Special Collections) and Professor Koen Stapelbroek (Dean of CASE) discussing the publications at the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library, Townsville Bebegu Yumba Campus, Townsville, 2025. |
The topics covered are diverse, ranging from the Chinese in Cairns, to Torres Strait Islander women during WWII, to the battle for the Daintree rainforest, to the history of Mt Isa and Townsville and much, much more.
 |
| A selection of JCU History Department works now available online for free. |
James Cook University and Central Queensland University are proud to be hosting the annual conference of the Australian Historical Association in 2025, from 30 June to 4 July on the JCU Townsville Bebegu Yumba Campus.
Comments