05/05/2026
We are saddened to hear of the passing of Kay Saunders AO, a distinguished Queensland historian and Emeritus Professor at the University of Queensland. A leading scholar of Australian history, her work explored race, gender, and colonial society, and she authored extensively on Queensland’s past.
Professor Saunders was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1999 and advanced to Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2021 Australia Day Honours, for "distinguished service to tertiary education, particularly to history, as an academic and author, to professional associations, and to the community".
Over the course of her career, she served on numerous committees and boards, and received many honours, including the National Museum of Australia Medal (2003), the Royal Queensland Historical Society’s John Kerr Medal (2006), and the John Oxley Library Medal (2010).
She was commissioned to write "Between the covers: revealing the State Library of Queensland’s collections" (2006), showcasing highlights from State Library’s rich historical collections. The publication is available to view via our One Search catalogue.
In 2025, Professor Saunders delivered a John Oxley Library Medal alumni address at the State Library Fellowships and Medals event, reflecting on her experiences as a researcher through to her work on "Between the covers".
Queensland State Library
The 2026 State Library Fellowships and Medals announcement event featured a John Oxley Library Medal alumni address by Emeritus Professor Kay Saunders AO. Kay, a 2010 Medal recipient, is one of Australia’s most distinguished social historians. She has authored extensively on Queensland history, ra...