The Welsby Library began as the collection of the Historical Society of Queensland, which began in 1913. Thomas Welsby was a foundation member of the Society who served as a councillor, vice-president and president. During his life he donated many letters, newspaper cuttings, documents, scrap books, and copies of his published books and in his will he made a bequest of his library of more than 2,000 volumes. The Society's library was amalgamated with the Welsby collection and was opened as the Welsby Library on 15 March 1947 in Newstead House.

In August 1913 the inaugural meeting of the Historical Society of Queensland, chaired by the Governor, Sir William MacGregor, was held at the Albert Hall. MacGregor presented his paper, “Methods of Historical Research with special reference to Australia”. Geographic Description 1: Inside The Green Belt Geographic Description 2: Brisbane River; Breakfast Creek Geographic Description 3: Flood Plains (Major) Flood Gullies; Hills (Small)

Citations

Peter Biskup, “The Politics of Preserving the Past: The Early Years of the Historical Society of Queensland,” (1988) Royal Historical Society of Queensland Journal, Vol. 13, No. 8, p 289 Official website [http://www.queenslandhistory.org/]; Retrieved on 1 June 2019].

Image Citations

Newstead House. Archive: State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library; #67825 [http://www.yourbrisbanepastandpresent.com/2009/03/newstead-house.html]