The pyrolysis characteristics of Queensland oil shales from the Condor, Duaringa, Lowmead, Nagoorin, Nagoorin South, Rundle, Stuart and Yaamba deposits were determined using the material balance modified Fischer Assay and a bench scale fluidized bed steam pyrolysis. The fisher assay oil yield, which ranged from 5.3 to 15.7 wt% of the dry shale, did not correlate well with the organic carbon contents of the shales. However, under both FA and BFSP conditions, a shale of high kerogen hydrogen to carbon ratio (H/C) had high organic carbon conversions to oil and high oil H/Cs. Steam pyrolysis gave 15 4% more oil for all shales except Duaringa which had a 33% increase in oil yield. However, the BFSP oils had lower H/Cs, higher sulfur and nitrogen contents, and more high boiling point fractions than the FA oils.