Draft:Queens Ball and Community Awards

Queens Ball Community Awards (also known as Queens Birthday Ball Community Awards and Queens Ball) is an annual queer gala event in Brisbane, Queensland. Founded in 1962 by Dame Sybil von Thorndyke (Laurie Dean),  Queens Ball was first held in Mount Tamborine, Queensland. Queens Ball Community Awards is the longest continuously running LGBTQIA+ event in the world. The Ball's Community Awards celebrate the contributions of queer Queenslanders to the Queensland LGBTQIA+ community.

Queens Ball and Community Awards timeline
Commencing in 1962, Queens Ball was held in Mount Tambourine, inspired by a similar event that had taken place in Katoomba, Blue Mountains.   The event stayed at Mount Tamborine until 1971, drawing substantial attendance from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, requiring a larger venue.

Guests attended the event despite the discriminatory environment of Queensland and Australia at large that made being openly queer dangerous at that time. In 1967, 40 Queensland Police broke up the Ball and took the names of all 170 attendees.

In 1972 the Ball was held at Wallaby Bob’s Hotel, Mudgeeraba. In 1973, the Ball moved to Brisbane and was held at the Nundah RSL. Notable performers at these events were Carol Lloyd and the Railroad Gin Singers.

In 1976, the Ball was at Wanganui Gardens in Yeronga. Attendance again grew and the event was held at the larger and famous gay and lesbian friendly venue, the Hacienda Hotel, in Fortitude Valley from 1977 to 1979.

In 1980, the Ball relocated to the Homestead Hotel in Zillmere. Between 1981 and 1985, the Ball was at Whispers nightclub and the Hacienda Hotel in Fortitude Valley. The 25th Silver Anniversary was held at The Roxy in Brunswick Street, where it was held until 1991.

In 1991, homosexuality was decriminalised in Queensland, greatly reducing the danger of organising and attending the ball. In 1991, the Ball was held at Manhatten venue.

In 1992, the Ball moved the Wool Pavilion within the RNA showgrounds. Organisation in that year was assisted by the Queensland AIDS Council and the AIDS Council of NSW. Between 1992 and 1996 the Ball moved venues often, including the new Manhatten, The Roxy and the Convention Centre in 1996, which included a parade from Spring Hill, Brisbane.

From 1997 to 2000, the ball returned to the RNA showgrounds, this time at the John Reid Pavilion. Skypak Lighting managed the Ball from 2001.

Between 2003 and 2006 the Ball was held at the Arena focusing most strongly on a dance party aspect, rather than the awards. In 2007 and 2008, Skypak Lighting collaborated with the Sportsman Hotel to host the Ball at the Stockman’s Bar at RNA showgrounds with the awards presentation now removed entirely. These events were not financially successful and Brisbane Pride Festival took over management of the Ball in 2009.

Brisbane Pride Festival held the 2009 Ball at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts and reinstated the awards ceremony. In 2010, the Ball was held at Saint Paul's Tavern in Spring Hill. In 2011, the Ball was held at Cloudland in Fortitude Valley. In 2012, the Ball was held at the Tivoli in Fortitude Valley, but returned to Cloudland in 2013.

Queens Ball was first hosted at Brisbane City Hall in 2014 and has since been held there each year in June.

in 2023, Queensland Government committed to development of a whole-of-government LGBTIQ+ Strategy for Queensland, announced at that year's Queens Ball.

Award winners
Records of the Queens Ball Community Awards winners are incomplete.