The David Scott Mitchell Memorial Fellowship 2027, hosted by the State Library of New South Wales, offers researchers and writers a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the Mitchell Library’s extraordinary collections and uncover new insights into Australia’s past. With $12,000 in funding and privileged access to one of the nation’s most significant historical archives, the fellowship supports the development of a substantial, research-driven work of Australian history. If you’re looking for a short course to help you start on your historical book idea, then you may want to look at our Creative Non-fiction course first!
Here are the details from the State Library’s website:
The principal purpose of the David Scott Mitchell Fellowship is to encourage and support the use of the Library's collections for the study and research of Australian history in writing and publication amongst scholars, researchers and the wider community, including internationally.
The David Scott Mitchell Fellowship was established in 2007 through the generous benefaction of Edward John Merewether, great-great-nephew of David Scott Mitchell. The Fellowship celebrates the centenary year of Mitchell’s bequest of his collection to the Library.
It is expected that David Scott Mitchell Memorial Fellows will:
- be experienced researchers who are able to demonstrate a successful record of scholarship, publications and research outcomes
- be able to demonstrate a high-level capacity to promote their work through a variety of media channels in collaboration with the Library
- agree that the Fellowship is a priority during their tenure and that a concentrated period of effort, in the one-year tenure, will be made to deliver the Fellowship
- attend a formal induction program on the second Monday of February
- actively promote the research undertaken during their tenure
- make a presentation about the project at the conclusion of the Fellowship
- ensure any publications, outcomes or media coverage which result from the Fellowship prominently acknowledge the support of the Library and the Fellowship
- contribute to Library's print and online publications
- submit, to the Mitchell Librarian, a four-page summary of their completed project, copies of any research outcomes (presentations and publications) and a bibliography
- acquit their Fellowship in a timely manner.
FAQs
If I’m not currently employed as a researcher am I able to apply?
Yes. Many previous recipients of Fellowships have been early career researchers or independent scholars.
Do I need to be an Australian citizen or Australian resident?
No. You are, however, expected to engage with the collections at the State Library of NSW unless you are applying for the:
- Coral Thomas Fellowship
- Dr AM Hertzberg AO Fellowship
- Australian Religious History Fellowship.
In which case, you can draw on the Library’s and any other repository’s collections.
Can a team of researchers apply for a Fellowship?
No. The research projects must be undertaken by a single researcher.
Am I able to apply if I am currently enrolled in a tertiary course?
Yes. Your application, however, will need to provide evidence that you are an experienced researcher, the Fellowships are not scholarships designed to facilitate the completion of a course.
If you are completing a doctoral program, you should consider the workload of finalising a research higher degree and embarking on a new project at the same time.
Who is an emerging writer or early career researcher?
An emerging writer is a writer who is yet to publish a full-length work, or who has had a debut full-length work published in the last five years (at the time of application). An early career researcher is a researcher who has graduated with a PhD in the last five years (at the time of application), or who has been practising in their field for less than five years (at the time of application).
What is a full-length work?
A full-length work is a volume published in book or eBook form, of at least 60,000 words, for commercial sale by a single author (excluding edited collections). Some types of writing, such as poetry, might be shorter than 60,000 words but should still present as a book made available for commercial sale.
Who are the judges?
The judging panel comprises experienced scholars, including former Fellows. The Mitchell Librarian serves on all the judging panels.
What are the judges looking for?
- Well-structured, well-written applications
- evidence of your research experience, particularly experience with archival or special collections
- the collections being utilised and how the outputs will engage the Library’s audiences.
Applications close on Friday, 10 July 2026 at 5pm AEST.
To find out more about the Fellowship and to apply, visit the State Library of NSW’s website.
