The Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame Fellowship 2025 offers a remarkable opportunity for researchers, historians, and storytellers to delve into the rich tapestry of Queensland’s economic and business history. If you have a passion for uncovering the stories that have shaped the state’s commercial landscape, this fellowship provides the funding and resources to bring your research project to life. This guide is designed to walk you through the process, offering comprehensive, actionable advice to help you prepare a compelling application and, hopefully, become the next Fellow.
The prospect of applying for a prestigious fellowship can feel daunting, but it’s a journey of exciting potential. It’s a chance to contribute a new chapter to Queensland’s story, exploring everything from pioneering entrepreneurs to the evolution of entire industries. We’ll break down the eligibility, demystify the application process, and provide tips to make your proposal stand out.
Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame Fellowship 2025
For those ready to plan their journey, here are the essential details for the upcoming fellowship cycle. Note that applications submitted in 2025 are for the 2026 fellowship year.
| Key Fact | Detail | Source |
| Stipend | $15,000 to support your research. | State Library of Queensland |
| Application Deadline | Midnight, 1 August 2025. | State Library of Queensland |
| Primary Resource | Research must utilize the collections of the John Oxley Library. | Fellowship Guidelines |
| Key Benefits | A personal workspace for 12 months and premium access to State Library staff and collections. | State Library of Queensland |
The path to a successful fellowship application begins with curiosity and a single, compelling idea. The Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame Fellowship 2025 is a unique chance to make a lasting contribution to the historical narrative of this vibrant state. By grounding your passion in a well-researched and clearly articulated plan, you can turn your intellectual curiosity into a celebrated project.
Understanding the Heart of the Fellowship
The Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame Fellowship is more than just financial support. It is a prestigious honour designed to foster new knowledge and narratives about Queensland’s business history. Generously supported by the John Allpass Charitable Foundation, the fellowship is a core component of the annual Queensland Memory Awards, administered by the State Library of Queensland (SLQ).
The goal is to encourage deep research into the John Oxley Library’s vast collections. This isn’t just about recounting history; it’s about interpreting it, finding fresh perspectives, and sharing untold stories that can offer new insights into the state’s economic and social development.
Who is This Fellowship For?
You don’t need to be a tenured professor to apply. The fellowship is open to a wide range of individuals, including:
- Independent researchers and scholars
- Historians and writers
- Creatives, artists, and filmmakers
- Postgraduate students
- Anyone with a compelling project idea and a passion for Queensland’s business history.
The key is not your academic title, but the quality and viability of your research proposal and its potential to contribute something meaningful to Queensland’s historical record.
Crafting a Winning Application: A Step-by-Step Guide
A successful application is one that is clear, well-researched, and passionately argued. In my experience advising applicants for various grants, the most common hurdle is not a lack of a good idea, but a failure to articulate its significance and feasibility. Here’s how to build a proposal that commands attention.
Step 1: The Seed of an Idea – What Will You Research?
Your project must be centered on Queensland business or economic history. This is a broad field, so your first task is to narrow it down. Think about areas that are under-explored or deserve a fresh look.
To find inspiration, look at the work of past recipients. For example, the 2025 Fellow, Dr. Joanne Dolley, is researching “Businesswomen of Queensland: The histories and successes of Queensland Businesswomen pre-1970.” This project is brilliant because it’s specific, timely, and shines a light on an underrepresented group.
Your project could focus on:
- The history of a specific company or industry (e.g., tourism, mining, agriculture).
- The contributions of a particular individual or group of entrepreneurs.
- The economic development of a specific region within Queensland.
- The impact of technology or innovation on Queensland business.
- Stories of Indigenous enterprise and economic history.
The following announcement from the State Library of Queensland about the 2025 fellows can provide a great source of inspiration.
Step 2: Connect Your Idea to the John Oxley Library
This is a non-negotiable requirement. Your project must draw heavily on the resources of the John Oxley Library. Before you even start writing your application, you need to explore its collections.
Use the State Library’s One Search catalogue online to identify relevant materials. This could include:
- Business records and archives
- Personal papers, diaries, and letters
- Oral histories
- Photographs, maps, and architectural plans
- Newspapers and trade journals
Your application must demonstrate that you have a clear understanding of what resources you will use and how they are crucial to your project. This shows the judging panel that your project is not just a vague idea, but a well-planned research endeavor.
Step 3: Structuring Your Application
The online application form will guide you, but it generally requires the following components:
- Project Description: A clear and concise summary of your research. What is your central question? What do you aim to uncover?
- Significance: Why does this research matter? How will it contribute to our understanding of Queensland’s history? Explain its impact.
- Collection Use: Be specific. List the collections you intend to consult and explain why they are essential.
- Viability and Timeline: Provide a realistic plan for how you will complete the project within the 12-month fellowship period. Break it down into phases (e.g., initial research, mid-term analysis, final output).
- Anticipated Outcomes: What will be the final product of your research? This could be a journal article, a book manuscript, a series of blog posts, a documentary treatment, or a curated exhibition.
- Your Biography and CV: Briefly outline your experience, skills, and achievements that make you the right person for this project.
Step 4: Writing with Clarity and Passion
Avoid dense academic jargon. Write in clear, direct language that conveys your enthusiasm for the subject. The judges are experts, but they are also looking for a compelling story. Frame your project as a journey of discovery.
- Start with a strong hook. Grab their attention from the first paragraph.
- Vary your sentence structure. Keep the reader engaged.
- Proofread meticulously. Typos and grammatical errors can undermine your credibility. Ask a trusted colleague or friend to review it.
What the Fellowship Provides: More Than Just Money
Winning the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame Fellowship is a significant boost to any researcher’s career. The benefits extend far beyond the $15,000 stipend.
- A Dedicated Workspace: For 12 months, you will have your own desk in the Neil Roberts Research Lounge at the State Library. This quiet, scholarly environment is invaluable for focused work.
- Premium Access: You receive priority access to the library’s collections and, crucially, its expert staff. Librarians and archivists can provide guidance that can transform your research, pointing you to sources you might have never found on your own.
- A Platform for Your Work: As a Fellow, your research will be promoted by the State Library, giving your work a significant public platform.
The community aspect of the Queensland Memory Awards is also a huge benefit, connecting you with other passionate researchers.
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FAQs
Q1: Who is eligible to apply for the fellowship?
You do not need to be a professional academic to apply. The fellowship is open to a wide range of applicants, including independent researchers, historians, writers, postgraduate students, and creative professionals. The key requirement is that you are an Australian resident and your proposed project focuses on Queensland’s business or economic history using the collections of the John Oxley Library. According to the State Library of Queensland, applications are welcomed from any discipline. However, projects that are a component of postgraduate studies are not eligible.
Q2: Does my entire research project have to be based on State Library collections?
While your project must heavily utilize the resources of the John Oxley Library at the State Library of Queensland, you are permitted to use relevant archives or collections from other cultural institutions and companies as well. Your application should clearly demonstrate how the John Oxley Library’s collection is central to your research.
Q3: What are the key selection criteria the judges look for?
While specific guidelines are released each year, applications are generally assessed on three main pillars:
- Project Merit: The originality and significance of your proposed research and its potential to create new knowledge about Queensland’s business history.
- Collection Use: A clear and demonstrated plan to use the State Library’s collections to realize your project’s outcomes.
- Your Capacity: Your skills, experience, and ability to complete the research within the 12-month fellowship period and deliver the proposed outcomes.
The judging panel is typically composed of subject matter experts who will assess the strength of your application against these criteria.
Q4: What are the expected outcomes of the fellowship?
The fellowship is intended to result in a significant body of work. Your anticipated outcomes should be clearly stated in your application. These could include a book manuscript, a series of academic articles, a documentary, a podcast series, a digital story, or a curated exhibition. Throughout the 12-month period, fellows are also expected to complete a few deliverables for the State Library, such as progress reports, blog posts for a public audience, and a final public presentation of their research findings.
Q5: Is the $15,000 stipend the only benefit?
No, the fellowship offers much more than just the financial stipend. Recipients also receive a dedicated workspace for 12 months in the Neil Roberts Research Lounge at the State Library and are given premium, prioritized access to the library’s extensive collections and the invaluable expertise of its specialist staff. This behind-the-scenes support can be one of the most beneficial aspects of the fellowship.
