Brisbane River

Friday 28 March​ 2025
THE ANTIQUES ROADSHOW – Behind the Scenes and Great Discoveries
Presented by Marc Allum
Time & Venue: 10:30am, The Edge, The State Library of Queensland

A firsthand and fascinating insight behind the world’s most popular antiques programme by Marc Allum. A specialist on the show for over 25 years Marc has gathered a wealth of experience and fascinating tales. This insightful talk will both amaze and amuse as he recounts incredible stories of great discoveries and emotive situations.

Marc Allum has been a specialist on the BBC Antiques Roadshow for 27 years as well as on other television and radio programmes. He is a prolific author, magazine contributor, lecturer, fine art valuer and antiques consultant. Marc has his own unique style with interests ranging from pre-history to modern design, and is a self-confessed ‘collectaholic.’  He has a passion and reputation for divining the unusual through ‘a desire to connect with history through the interpretation and pursuit of objects and their origins’.  Marc is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

Friday 11 April​ 2025
MAGNFICENCE OF WILLIAM AND MARY’S REIGN – Sumptuous Palaces of England and Holland
Presented by Anne Harbers
Time & Venue: 10:30am, Auditorium 1, The State Library of Queensland

The Glorious Revolution in 1689 resulted in William III of Holland and his English consort Mary becoming joint Monarchs of England whilst retaining their position in Holland. The decorative style of their reign, called the William and Mary style is recognizable in furniture, interior design and decorative arts. This can be seen particularly at Kensington Palace, London, a house they bought and transformed. Their style also influenced early American design. Mary was an avid collector of contemporary Chinese blue-and -white porcelain and patron for the new Delft blue ware. Their Palais Het Loo in Apeldoorn, Holland built 1684-1686, has recently undergone a major renovation and was re-opened in 2022.

Anne Harbers has a M. Art History and is currently living part-time in The Netherlands whilst working on a PhD on the 17th century Dutch painter, Abraham van Beyeren. She also holds an MBA & Masters of Research. Her current art history research interests are in Dutch 17th century art, and 17th to 19th Century European Art and Decorative Arts. She has published on collecting, art and science.

Friday 16 May​ 2025
WHODUNNIT? Agatha Christie’s Life and Crimes in London
Presented by Paul Whitehouse
Time & Venue: 10:30am, Auditorium 1, The State Library of Queensland

Play armchair detective and follow the trail of clues to discover more about the London life of the “Queen of Crime”. Although Dame Agatha Christie is closely associated with Torquay in Devon, the world’s bestselling author left a trail of clues for us to follow all over London. Living in various London properties during her long (and eventful) life, she penned 16 of 66 novels from one London address. It was at University College London that she further developed her knowledge of her preferred method of murder: poison. We examine the London links to her novels, including a hotel that inspired a Miss Marple novel and Agatha’s perhaps lesser-known links to the Mesopotamian galleries at the British Museum. We conclude with a look at Agatha’s personal and professional devotion to the theatre and the extraordinary longevity of The Mousetrap: the longest running theatrical production in the world.

Simon Whitehouse is an actor, presenter, acting and voice teacher, and award-winning London Blue Badge guide. He has worked as an in-house guide at Shakespeare’s Globe, the Royal Opera House, the BBC and the National Gallery. He is on the faculty of Ithaca College and lectures for the Blue Badge Guide training course on both the performing arts and English literature.

Friday 20 June​ 2025
THE ART OF MAPS: Ancient, Medieval and Modern
Presented by John Williamson
Time & Venue: 10:30am, Auditorium 1, The State Library of Queensland

We discuss the development of maps of the world and the gradual improvement of maps for shipping, maps of the world, the addition of longitude and latitude, what maps show and what they leave out.

John Williamson has been a passionate teacher for 40 years teaching Pre-Tertiary Modern History, Ancient History and Philosophy and has lectured on Antarctic History at the University of Tasmania’s Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies for 18 years. John codeveloped the Polar Pathways Tour for the Tasmanian Government and has been a regular guide and Lecturer for these during the Antarctic Mid-Winter Festivals. John has worked in Antarctica as a guide/historian for Quark Expeditions.

Friday 18 July​ 2025
THE INCA: Machu Picchu, The Lost Incan Citadel
Presented by Maria Chester
Time & Venue: 10:30am, Auditorium 1, The State Library of Queensland

The Citadel of Machu Picchu is located north-west of Cusco at 2,430 m above sea level and is surrounded by a deep precipice. It comprises 172 buildings. Machu Picchu was built by Inca Pachacutec who was the first Inca to go beyond the Cusco Valley. It is divided into two large sectors with the urban sector surrounded by the agricultural sector and the peak Wayna Picchu is often considered a third sector. Machu Picchu had areas reserved for craftsmen and a wall separated the sacred area from the residential area. It had an Acllahuasi (House for the Chosen Women), a solar temple; barracks for the warriors, baths, fountains, aqueducts, corn storage, fertile terraces and its fountains had, and still have, fresh running water.

Maria Chester studied Fine Arts and Art History and is a Professor of Pre-Columbian Art. She was born in Buenos Aires, has travelled the world so is multilingual, and now lives in the Scottish Borders. She taught in several South American universities and private institutions. A Senior Lecturer and tutor for BEA – Berwick Educational Association she also works for their Visual Arts Department on conferences linked to art exhibitions and guided tours. She is a Visiting Research Fellow at CAUA Research Centre for International Elderly Education in Shanghai.

Friday 22 August​ 2025
NOW YOU SEE ME … The History and Mystery of Cryptoportraits in European Art
Presented by Dr Sophie Oosterwijk
Time & Venue: 10:30am, Auditorium 1, The State Library of Queensland

A portrait can be much more than a straightforward likeness of a person. A cryptoportrait may at first sight not look like a portrait at all, as It can be ‘disguised’, e.g. as an Adoration of the Magi with real people playing the parts of the Magi, or as a statue of a prophet or saint with the features of a patron, or the artist’s self-portrait may be hidden amongst a host of other faces or even an optical illusion. Throughout Western art we may discover such concealed portraits if we look carefully and are prepared to recognise the visual games that artists and patrons chose to play with the beholder.

Born in the Netherland, Sophie Oosterwijk has an MA in Medieval Studies (York) and a PhD in Art History (Leicester), as well as an MA and PhD in English Literature (Leiden). Sophie has taught at the universities of St Andrews, Leicester and Manchester, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, the National Trust, the V&A, U3A, WEA and has organised many study days, tours and visits. She is a regular lecturer for Cambridge University and travel companies, is Vice President of the Church Monuments Society, and has numerous publications to her name.

Friday 19 September​ 2025
A VIRTUAL TOUR OF MOMA NEW YORK
Presented by Anna Moszynska
Time & Venue: 10:30am, Auditorium 1, The State Library of Queensland

‘Travel’ to New York and experience the excitement of visiting its premier modern art museum. Established in 1929 and extended in 2019, the museum offers a superb range of art ranging from Impressionism to the present day. On this trip we look briefly at its fascinating history and architecture, but mostly, tour the collection through its different floors, looking closely at specific pieces and seeing how they resonate with other works close by. The talk offers a lively introduction to MoMA, and leads you through time, looking at different works by modern and contemporary artists from Vincent Van Gogh to Cindy Sherman. It should be of interest whether you have already visited the actual museum, or not!

Anna Moszynska is a London-based lecturer and writer specialising in Contemporary Art. She oversaw the development of the subject as the first master’s degree at Sotheby’s Institute where she continues as a guest lecturer. Anna has also taught at other institutions in London including the Royal Academy and Tate, as well as lecturing in cities from Dubai to New York and Berlin to Sydney. As well as many catalogue essays on living artists, her books include Abstract Art, Sculpture Now and two books on the drawings of Antony Gormley.

Friday 24 October 2025
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A PICTURE RESTORER: The Conversation and Restoration of Easel Paintings
Presented by Sarah Cove
Time & Venue: 10:30am, Auditorium 1, The State Library of Queensland

We discuss the nature of oil painting materials, from the Middle Ages to the present day, and common problems associated with the ageing and deterioration of, and damage to, easel paintings. These can be on canvas, panel, board or paper in a range of mediums: oil, acrylic, egg tempera, or mixed media. Problems can involve natural deterioration and neglect, accidental damage, vandalism and even war. The most surprising damage being a large hole caused by a Turkish cannon ball going through a picture in the 18th century!! Modern ‘museum standard’ approaches to conservation and restoration will be illustrated with detailed slides ranging from early Italian religious paintings in egg tempera via rapid oil sketches on paper by John Constable to 20th century British paintings and modern abstract works. Hints and advice on the general care of paintings in homes is given throughout.

Sarah Cove is a paintings conservator-restorer, technical art historian and lecturer who works on paintings for both the heritage and private sectors. She is a specialist in British portraits, 19th-20th century British landscapes and oil sketches on paper and board. Sarah founded the Constable Research Project and is now the leading authority on Constable’s materials and techniques. She has appeared in several BBC TV programmes notably Constable in Love and two episodes of Fake or Fortune? where she was instrumental in the discovery of 3 ‘lost’ Constables.

Friday 5 December 2025
AGM & CHRISTMAS MORNING TEA
Time & Venue: 10:30am, The Edge, The State Library of Queensland