The Boughen Archives

The State Library of Queensland (SLQ) has accepted the Boughen family archives as a permanent collection reflecting the cultural contribution of Christina and Robert Boughen, two influential Australian musicians of the 20th century. The donation includes 48 boxes of material covering their rich musical and professional lives. 

To support ongoing engagement with this collection, my family and I have established an annual Fellowship Bursary for research into the impact of Christina Boughen’s artistic practice. The first fellowship was awarded to Juanita Simmonds, and the second to Dr Nicole Murphy, whose research has resulted in a series of new piano compositions that will be recorded and made public soon. [Link to SLQ collection here] 

In 2024, the Boughen family, under the curatorship of Dr Graeme Morton, presented a memorial concert at St Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane to honour Christina and Robert’s musical legacy. The event was MC’d by Margaret Throsby, and a film of the concert, including the full program, can be viewed here: [insert video link]. 

Explore more here:

• Concert reviews from 1950s Brisbane

• Curtain call for Christina Boughen

• Cultural legacy of Christina Boughen OAM

• Christina Boughen and Brisbane City Council concerts (1978–1997)

• Mid-century City Hall performances