The Gowrie Foundation established in 1943 to maintain research scholarships in perpetual memory of those Australian men and women who gave their lives for their country in the Second World War. Established in the name of Australia's 10th Governor-General, the scholarship was "for graduates who were members of the forces during WWII or are descendants of such persons. Special consideration given to lineal descendants of a member of the forces who died as a result of any occurrence which happened during his period of enlistment". The first trustees were Sir John Latham, Sir Robert Garran and Sir Claude Reading.

The scholarship was awarded for 1 or 2 years to graduates of Australian universities to support study at universities or other research institutions, either in Australia or overseas.

The trust was dissolved in with ANU managing the scholarship from 2011. It is now known as the Gowrie Bursary.