An original minute book found recently in the
University of Southern Queensland archive has been described as one of the University’s most historically significant documents.
The book includes the original Minutes of the Public Meeting held Friday 2 December 1960 in the Toowoomba Town Hall – a meeting that set up the Darling Downs University Establishment Association.
The minutes confirm the names of attendees and the membership of the Campaign Committee elected ‘for the purpose of providing university facilities in Toowoomba’.
USQ Manager of Corporate Records Derek Turner said the minute book was uncovered accidentally when staff were searching for historical materials for an unrelated project
“It is a very exciting find – it’s the earliest known USQ foundation document,” Mr Turner said.
“It records the formal birth of the public movement to lobby for a university presence on the Darling Downs.
“That movement was primarily responsible for the creation of our antecedent institution in 1967 that eventually became the University of Southern Queensland in 1992.
“The minute book is a very important part of the USQ’s history, as well as the history of the Darling Downs community.”
The timely discovery of the minute book allowed USQ staff to seek expert guidance from a qualified Senior Conservator at a Cultural Heritage Network seminar.
The workshops held Saturday April 20 covered deterioration and why objects deteriorate.
The Cultural Heritage Network is an alliance of cultural heritage organisations within the Toowoomba Region.
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