A Brief Organisational History of Queensland Branch Headquarters
Scouting in Queensland began in 1908, with the formation of four pioneer patrols [1].  The earliest mention of scouting in Queensland being organised on a “state”-wide basis was on the 7th September 1909, when the Australian League of Boy Scouts, Queensland Branch was formed [2].  At the time, each Australian state’s scouting organisation was registered separately with headquarters in London.  The Australian League of Boy Scouts, Queensland Branch was affiliated with the English League of Boy Scouts, and in 1910, the name was changed to “League of Baden-Powell Scouts, Queensland Section”, which was affiliated with the Imperial Headquarters of the Boy Scouts Association, London [3].  At around the same time in 1910, scouting in Queensland was organised into “districts” and “divisions” [4].  In 1922, the Boy Scouts Association formed the Australian Federal Council consisting of representatives from each state.  This was overseen by an Australian Commissioner appointed by Imperial Headquarters, the Boy Scouts Association, London.  In 1953, the Australian Federal Council became a member of the World Scout Organisation of Scout Movements (WOSM).  Queensland branch has been responsible for overseeing scouting in locations other than within the state of Queensland.  These other locations have included the Northern Territory (1929-1955), and Papua New Guinea (1934-1975) [5].  In 1958, the Australian Boy Scouts Association, of which Queensland Branch was part of, was formed and was no longer affiliated with Imperial Headquarters, London  [6].  By 1971, there was yet another change in name to Scout Association of Australia (Qld Branch) [7].  1997, not only saw a change in the scout emblem, being changed to a more stylised Australian Scout emblem, but at the same time scouting was re-branded as Scouts Australia.  Since then, the organisation of scouting in Queensland has been referred to as Scouts Australia (Queensland Branch).

Green = suggestive of woods and forests. “Out” in scouting

Shield = suggestive of scouting being a pure guard against evils in thought, word and deed.

Red Bar = action in an upright manner.

Maltese cross = Queensland State Emblem representing relationship to the State.

Supporting Fronds = green and silver suggesting growth of the movement.

Gold Scroll = value of the Scout Movement to the community.

Surmount = Scout Emblem

Districts and Groups

Districts administered by Branch HQ (1968): Barambah, Border Rivers, Bundaberg, Bunya, Charters Towers, Clark, Condamine, Cooroora, Cunningham, Dolphin, Gympie, Kalkadoon, Lower Burdekin, Mackay, Maheno, Maryborough, Murrumba, Nambour, Port Curtis, Rockhampton, South Coast, Torres Strait, Townsville [8]

Groups attached to Branch HQ (1971): Alpha, Barcaldine, Beaudesert, Blackall, Capella, Charleville, Clermont, Emerald, Goondiwindi, Injune, Longreach, Miles, Mitchell, Monto, Mt. Morgan, Moura, Roma, Springsure, Stanthorpe, St. George, Stradbrooke Island, Taroom, Thursday Island, Wandoan, Winton. [9]

Groups attached to Branch HQ (2005): Brisbane 1st Chinese Scout Group, Rang Dong (Vietnamese) Scout Group, Dong Da (Vietnamese) Scout Group [10]

Groups attached to Branch HQ (2012): Brisbane 1^st Chinese Scout Group, Annerley Scout Group (African) [11]

Groups attached to Branch HQ (2015): Brisbane 1^st Chinese Scout Group, Brisbane South Chinese Group [12]

Regions, Areas, Districts and Counties by Alphabetical order

Districts by Region, Area and County order

The historical information and descriptions associated with each badge has been obtained from a mixture of oral recollections, electronic databases and formal documents.  The work of documenting and updating the information is ongoing, and will be updated at 3 monthly intervals.  If you have any update information or amendments, please send them to the email below.  All information provided must include the source of the information such as a scan of the document, or the name, rank and group/area/region of the person whom the information was obtained from.  Please also provide your name and how you are associated with the Scout Association.  Information should be emailed to badgehistory@scoutsqld.com.au