The first meeting of QHTA was held on 1st March 1963. The inaugural president was John Sparkes, Head of Department at Ipswich State High. There were 41 other history teachers present, who elected an Executive Board. Agenda items covered membership qualifications, fees, and a constitution (the NSW History teachers constitution was accepted as a ‘basic’ which could be ‘change[d] as necessary’). The next meeting was set for a month later, April 1963.
QHTA always aimed to keep members up to date with current issues facing History teachers, provide curriculum advice and signpost helpful resources. A Newsletter of the Queensland History Teachers Association did just that between 1963 – 71. It was replaced by the Queensland History Teachers Bulletin from 1972 – 1980, and then The History Teacher from 1981 – 2007.
Since 2007, QHTA has proudly published an annual journal, QHistory, which continues to support and connect History teachers to this day. In 2025, QHistory was refreshed with a new design and digital format. We hope that our publications will continue to inspire, inform and connect History educators as they have done for many years.
For a deep dive into the history of The History Teacher, written by Heather Sharp on the occasion of the final edition in 2006, including extracts from past articles, click here.
