Learn and discover
The Inquiry invites all Queenslanders to be curious about the history behind the State we all call home
Queensland's history
According to the Queensland Constitution, North-eastern Australia—Queensland as we now know it—has been a self-governing state since 1859, when it was separated from New South Wales.
However, as stated in the National Museum of Australia’s Evidence of First Peoples, our state’s history predates this—Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the First Peoples of Australia, have occupied the lands for around 65,000 years.
Truth-telling allows us to reflect on Queensland’s history and seek facts about the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland.
Information on Queensland’s history can be found on the Queensland Government website.
Colonisation
The Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry aims to develop an accurate and inclusive account of Queensland’s history. It recognises the contributions of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Queensland's history and records their experiences of colonisation in our state.
The Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry is a process to seek evidence, facts and information about the effects of colonisation in Queensland. The definition of colonisation, as it relates to the Inquiry, and as stated in the Inquiry Terms of Reference is:
Colonisation of the peoples, lands and waters of the area currently known as the State of Queensland from first contact onwards.
Acknowledging colonisation and the impact it had and continues to have on Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples is an important step towards reconciliation. We invite all Queenslanders to be open to learning and participating in the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry.
The Inquiry's role to record the impacts of colonisation
One of the functions of the Inquiry is to deepen the understanding of the impacts of colonisation by highlighting research on the history, laws, traditions, languages and culture and traditional knowledges of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples prior to colonisation in Queensland. The Inquiry, which commenced on 1 July 2024, has a three-year term to complete this and other work.
The Inquiry has begun to record and disseminate the stories of resistance, resilience, achievement and excellence by Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with an initial priority on Elders’ lived experience. The Inquiry will also seek submissions from non-Indigenous Queenslanders, government agencies, faith-based organisations, community organisations and any person with information to share as it relates to the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference.
This work is being done through hearings and sessions. The Inquiry aims to publish evidence received, which may include submissions, testimony, video recordings and transcripts in the Evidence section of this website.
The Inquiry’s work is guided by a Terms of Reference.
Explore
Memory institutions and history
There are a number of memory institutions in Queensland.
Memory institutions are defined in the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry Terms of Reference as the following institutions listed below. Click on each memory institution link in the Memory institutions box to go to their websites and learn more.
The Terms of Reference requires the Inquiry to establish arrangements with the state and memory institutions which may include, but is not limited to access to documents and things held by the state and the memory institutions.
There are many other research institutions, universities and private collections that hold information and materials which may be relevant to the Inquiry. The Inquiry will engage with local government, faith-based organisations, and other non-government entities for information and materials that may assist Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples to fully participate in the Inquiry.
Community and Personal Histories
According to Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts, the Queensland Government is one of the custodians of historical archival information about Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As stated on the department’s website, this information exists because of the control past Queensland Governments had over the lives of many of Queensland’s Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts provides access to records created by the department as a result of its administration of the Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act 1897 (and subsequent 'Protection Acts'). These departmental records mostly relate to Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples who lived in Queensland and who were subject to the 'Protection Acts'.
The Community and Personal Histories unit may be able to help Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples research their family and personal history.
Queensland State Archives
Queensland State Archives holds a large collection of records relating to Aboriginal peoples, Torres Strait Islander peoples, and Australian South Sea Islander peoples.
It also holds records on immigration, convicts and prisoners, court records such as wills and inquests, early orphanages and reformatory schools. You can access public records, archives, photographs and catalogues.
Memory institutions
Explore your history
Queensland State Archives searches
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history
Queensland Museum offers information to learn about the culture and histories of Queensland Aboriginal peoples, Torres Strait Islander peoples, world cultures and Pacific peoples. The Queensland Museum website explains more.
You can also learn more about Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland through the Queensland Human Rights Commission website. Its publications give a brief outline of historical and more recent events that have had an impact on the human rights of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland.
View the Queensland Human Rights Commission resources via the resources box.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages
According to the Languages in Queensland website, more than 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and dialects were once spoken. Today around 50 of these remain, with fewer than 20 being used as first languages. The following resources can help you learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.
Listen, learn and share
Take a look at a variety of sources, including documentaries, podcasts and key speeches about Queensland's history - including the impact of colonisation, frontier wards, forced removals, establishment of settlements and the stolen generations.