Reflections on growing up on the Capricorn Coast and misadventures in the Central Highlands minefields have won this year's Lorna McDonald Essay Prize.

The annual prize honours the work of late historian Dr Lorna McDonald OAM, who brought the history of Central Queensland to life through her meticulous research and gift for storytelling.

The $2000 first prize went to Yeppoon's Nicola Apps for Growing up on the Capricorn Coast, a piece looking back at life in the ‘70s when Nicola moved with her family from Papua New Guinea to Australia.

Ms Apps' essay is also a meditation on nostalgia and belonging, and looks towards building a just and sustainable future as well as reflecting on the past.

Last year's winner Lesley Synge is represented again, winning the $500 runner up award for My Year with Lasseter's Grandson on the Central Highlands Goldfields.

This personal account documents a tumultuous year in the early 1980s on a mining lease near Clermont with Lesley's then-partner Alaister. Alaister was grandson of Lewis Harold Bell Lasseter, who claimed to discover a vast – and never again found – gold deposit in central Australia known as Lasseter's Reef.

Prize judge Roger McDonald, Miles Franklin Award-winning author and Lorna’s son, said the judging panel were very impressed by the quality of this year’s entries, with several essays in the running for the main prize.

Lorna McDonald Essay Prize 2019 winners

First prize ($2000)

Nicola Apps, Yeppoon

Growing up on the Capricorn Coast

Runner up ($500)

Lesley Synge, Highgate Hill

My Year with Lasseter's Grandson on the Central Highlands Goldfields

Highly commended

Donald Richardson, Yeppoon

Built on Clay

Julie Davies, Coowonga

A Love Letter

Julie Davies, Coowonga

Advance Fair Australia