James Stewart Bequest (Geology)

The James Stewart Bequest (Geology) is a scholarship offered at Federation University Australia to support continuing domestic students undertaking studies in geology at the Bachelor or Honours level. The scholarship is valued at $3,500 and is awarded to one student annually. Named after Dr. James Stewart, an Irish physician, surgeon and philanthropist who was instrumental in the growth of Ballarat during the Australian gold rush (1852-1869), this scholarship continues his legacy of benevolent contributions to education. Dr. James Stewart, born in County Tyrone, Ireland in 1829, emigrated to Victoria in 1852 and made significant contributions through his medical work on the goldfields, including during the Eureka Stockade in 1854. When he died in 1906, he left generous bequests to Victorian and Irish institutions, establishing trusts to provide income in perpetuity to benefit future generations. The scholarship incorporates the wishes of Stewart's will and his original bequest to the Ballarat School of Mines, supporting research and education in areas relevant to his life and where he made important impacts. The scholarship is located at the Ballarat campus and is part of Federation University's Foundation scholarship category. Applications open on January 5, 2026, with a closing date of March 1, 2026. This funding opportunity is exclusively for continuing domestic students enrolled in geology studies at the undergraduate or honours level.