At the National Trust of Queensland AGM in September 1974, it was moved that a John Herbert Award be awarded annually for ‘a meritorious restoration or presentation project.’
The first John Herbert Award was presented in September 1975 to the Goondiwindi Town Council for the restoration of the Goondiwindi Customs House.
In response to the growth of the event, in 2004 the awards were renamed the Queensland Heritage Awards. The John Herbert Memorial Award is presented to the most outstanding nomination each year.
The John Herbert Memorial Award honours John Herbert MLA who was a strong supporter of the newly formed National Trust of Queensland. He was a member of the Trust’s first Council and served as its president from 1971 to 1974