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Bio
Dr Judith McKay is a museum curator, historian and heritage consultant with wide experience in museums, exhibitions, research and writing. Professionally trained in history, art history and museology, she has worked in national, state and regional museums; most recently (until 2008) as a senior curator at the Queensland Museum. Judith has published on diverse aspects of Queensland cultural heritage, including art and architecture, war memorials and expositions. In addition, she has been a consultant for a National Estate study of war memorials for the Australian Heritage Commission and an expert witness in the Queensland Planning and Environment Court. Her awards include a Queensland-Smithsonian Fellowship (2001) and the John Douglas Kerr Medal of Distinction for History of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland and the Professional Historians Association Qld (2008). She is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland.
Skills and Services Offered
Historical research, writing and publishing
Museum and heritage consulting
Curating exhibitions and displays
Assessing cultural heritage significance, especially of museum collections
Expert witness
Qualifications
1971 Bachelor of Arts Honours (Fine Arts and History), University of Melbourne
1976 Graduate Diploma in Museum Studies, University of Sydney
1982 Master of Arts Honours (Fine Arts), University of Sydney
1996 Doctor of Philosophy (History), University of Queensland
Professional Interests
Queensland cultural history
Museums and materials culture
Women's heritage
Publications and Experience

Experience:

1977–79 Curator, Australian War Memorial, Canberra
1979–81 Curator, Armidale City Council, New South Wales
1982–88 Research Assistant, Dept of Architecture, University of Queensland
1983–86 Consultant, National Estate study of Queensland war memorials for Australian Heritage Commission
1988–08 Curator, Queensland Museum, Brisbane
2008– Independent consultant

Publications:

(with Donald Watson) A directory of Queensland architects to 1940, St Lucia, University of Queensland Fryer Library Occasional Publication, 1984

Brisbane sculpture guide: a walk around public sculpture in the city, Brisbane, Queensland Society of Sculptors, 1988

Ellis Rowan: A flower-hunter in Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland Museum, 1990

Harold Parker: sculptor, Brisbane, Queensland Art Gallery, 1993

(with Donald Watson) Queensland architects of the 19th century: A biographical dictionary, Queensland Museum, 1994

Brilliant careers: women collectors and illustrators in Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland Museum, 1997

‘A good show’: Colonial Queensland at international exhibitions, Memoirs of the Queensland Museum Cultural Heritage Series, vol. 1, part 2, April 1998

(with Susan Addison) A good plain cook: an edible history of Queensland, Brisbane, Boolarong Publications, 1985; 2nd edition, Queensland Museum, 1999

Showing off: Queensland at world expositions 1862 to 1988, Brisbane, Central Queensland University Press and Queensland Museum, 2004

(with Bill Kitson) Surveying Queensland 1839–1945: a pictorial history, Brisbane, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water and Queensland Museum, 2006

Exhibitions:

1978 Nolan’s Gallipoli, Australian War Memorial, Canberra

1978–80 George Lambert war sketches, Australian War Memorial travelling exhibition

1981 Daphne Mayo, sculptor, University Art Museum, Brisbane

1990 Ellis Rowan: a flower-hunter in Queensland, Queensland Museum, Brisbane, 1990–2006 toured extensively

1993 Harold Parker sculptor, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane

1995 The champions: two Queensland embroiderers, Queensland Museum, Brisbane, 1996–97 toured

1995 Queensland remembers: war memorials, Queensland Museum, Brisbane, 1996–98 toured

1997 Brilliant careers: women collectors and illustrators in Queensland, Queensland Museum, Brisbane

2001, 2006 New displays at John Flynn Place, Cloncurry

2001 Queensland 1901, Queensland Museum, Brisbane

2011-12 Daphne Mayo: let there be sculpture, QAGOMA, Brisbane

Phone Number
07 3844 4746
Skills and expertise of PHAQ member
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