Dr Amy Clarke is a Senior Lecturer in History and the Associate Dean (Learning & Teaching) for the School of Law and Society at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She specialises in the history and heritage of material culture, ranging from giant roadside landmarks to themed environments, living history museums, and architectural identity politics. She has a keen interest in academic governance and policy, particularly in the Learning & Teaching space.
Amy is a global expert on Big Things and roadside attractions. She was awarded a Duke University Fellowship (2018-19) for this work, and more recently served as the academic advisor on the State Library of Queensland’s curatorial team for the ‘Big Things of Queensland’ 2026-2027 exhibition. Her research on Big Things has been featured in international media including the New York Times , Washington Post , Guardian (UK and Australia), Globe and Mail (Canada), and Singapore Straits Times .
Amy’s other research is focused upon Scotland. She completed a Master of Sciences in Architecture at the University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh College of Art in 2009 while working with the National Trust for Scotland’s Policy team. Her PhD, conferred in 2015 by the University of Queensland, investigated the politicisation of Scottish heritage in the lead-up to the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum. As a result of this research Amy was an early contributor to the ‘heritage diplomacy’ discourse, and she continues to investigate Scotland’s nation branding and para-diplomatic agendas.
