Federation of Australia - Part 1: 1840-1879

The process to federate the six Australian colonies into the Commonwealth of Australia took over fifty years from its beginnings in the 1840s. This page highlights the role of New South Wales in making the nation of Australia.

Overview

A need for intercolonial authority

In a despatch dated 29 September 1846, the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Charles FitzRoy, suggested the need for a central intercolonial authority, an idea which may have been inspired by his Colonial Secretary, Edward Deas Thompson.¹ Amid dealing with preparations for the separation of the Port Phillip district from New South Wales, constitutional changes were suggested by the then British Secretary of State, Earl Grey. In Despatch No. 203 dated 31 July 1847 he proposed

the creation of a central legislative authority…. for the whole of the Australian Colonies² to handle only matters of common concern such as posts, communication and customs.

Proposed constitutional changes without consultation were not welcomed by the colonists and despite William Charles Wentworth's endorsement in the Legislative Council the following year of a

Congress from the various colonial legislatures … with power to pass laws on intercolonial questions,³

such proposals did not progress.

Australian Colonies Government Act

In 1850 the British Parliament passed the Australian Colonies Government Act which gave increased powers to the New South Wales Legislative Council, and granted representative government to South Australia, Van Diemen's Land and the new colony of Victoria which would separate from New South Wales. In 1851 Sir Charles FitzRoy was given commissions as Governor of New South Wales, Van Diemen's Land, South Australia and Victoria and another as Governor-General of all Her Majesty's Australian possessions, the intention being that the Lieutenant Governors should communicate matters of intercolonial interest and be guided by the Governor-General.⁴ When FitzRoy's term ended in 1855, the Lieutenant Governors of Van Diemen's Land, South Australia and Victoria became Governors, although the title of Governor-General continued to be borne by the Governor of New South Wales until 1861.

Australia League

While most colonists were more concerned with achieving self government, the seeds of the popular movements for federation are evident with the establishment of the Australia League by Reverend John Dunmore Lang, Henry Parkes and James Wiltshire in 1850. The League aimed to abolish the transportation of convicts and create a federal republic. Reverend John West, founder of the Anti-Transportation League, also argued for federation in a series of popular newspaper articles in 1854.⁵

Responsible Government

In 1853, William Charles Wentworth chaired a Select Committee of the Legislative Council to prepare a new Constitution for New South Wales. Its report in part recommended,

a General Assembly to make laws in relation to the intercolonial questions.⁶

The Victorian Constitutional Committee in 1853 also alluded to a General Assembly for intercolonial interests.⁷ By 1856, responsible government had been achieved and bicameral parliaments met in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia in 1857.

In 1857, Edward Deas Thompson in New South Wales and Charles Gavan Duffy in Victoria chaired Select Committees on establishing a federal union which determined that a Federal Assembly should be formed and suggested that a conference would be the best way to include all colonies.⁸ While the Select Committees appeared to have reached similar conclusions their respective governments had different agendas and intercolonial rivalries caused suspicion. South Australia had also held a Select Committee and agreed to attend any conference which might be held. Despite a second and third Select Committee in Victoria, Duffy's efforts were futile and there was still no federal movement.

With the separation of Queensland from New South Wales in 1859, there were now six independent colonies whose geographic proximity led to matters of common concern on which it would be sensible to cooperate, though the newly independent colonies did not wish New South Wales to regain hegemony over them.⁹ Nevertheless between 1860 and 1900 mutual concerns such as defence, transport, communications (post and telegraph), immigration, trade and tariffs, resulted in 83 intercolonial conferences.¹⁰ The Colonial Secretary's Special bundles provide valuable insight into these concerns.

Free-trade agreements / Tarriffs

The colonies had been unable to reach agreement on uniform tariffs and intercolonial duties as most depended on the revenue generated. The collection of customs on goods travelling along the Murray River affected New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and free-trade agreements were made and broken amidst rivalries and disputes over distribution of revenue. The inconvenience and expense of having to pass through customs barriers prompted the people of the Riverina towns along the Murray River to call for greater political representation with the formation of the 'Riverine Association' in 1863 and proposals to form a separate colony. In March 1863, an intercolonial conference met in Melbourne to discuss uniform tariffs, trade and customs duties. Delegates from New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania agreed on a uniform tariff but New South Wales and Victoria could not agree on the distribution of the revenue collected. Victoria adopted a protectionist free trade policy whilst New South Wales advocated free trade. Without federation the tariff problem could not be resolved.

Henry Parkes

In 1867, at an intercolonial conference on postal communication with Europe, Henry Parkes, then Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, advocated federation when he urged that these colonies should be 'united by some federal bond of connection’ and a federal council was proposed.¹¹

At a conference in Melbourne in June and July 1870 delegates from New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania considered forming a customs union with a uniform tariff and intercolonial free trade. Such a union was not possible as each colony adhered to its own fiscal principles. While colonial rivalries kept the colonies divided at conferences, advances in communications (post and telegraph), railways and steamships were drawing the colonies closer and thus allowed commerce and employment to transcend colonial barriers. It was in this atmosphere that the Australian Natives Association was established in 1871, composed of Australian-born men who were strong advocates of federation and nurtured a growing popular federal sentiment.

Immigration

An issue on which it would appear the colonies were in agreement was social intolerance and restrictive immigration. In 1861 New South Wales passed the Chinese Immigration and Restriction Act. Restrictive immigration was a recurrent concern throughout the period and well into the twentieth century.

Defence

The other common concern among the colonies was how best to defend their territories. This issue came to the fore with the withdrawal of the last British troops in 1870 and replacement with local contingents. It was perceived external threats in the next decade that made the colonies realise that a unified front would be more effective and helped to highlight the need for federation.

A select list of record series

Collector of Customs

Customs duties were first collected in New South Wales by the Registrar of Imports and Exports (1799–1800) and the Naval Officer (1800–27). From 1 January 1826 all customs officers were placed under the direct control of the Board of Commissioners of Customs in London. Between 1850 and 1852 the control of the Customs Department passed to the colonial government.

Customs duties and tariffs provided a major source of revenue to the colonies. They were collected on goods passing between colonies as well as those from overseas. Customs duties and tariffs were a major issue in federation discussions. The records listed in this section may help in better understanding this important function. At Federation the Commonwealth Government took control of Customs whereupon formal machinery for this purpose was set up under the Customs Act 1901.

See the catalogue for additional records from the Collector of Customs.

NRS-3644 Letters received from the Sub-Collector of Customs, Port Phillip, 1836-1844

[4/5074–75]

These letters concern the collection of customs duties and routine administrative matters.

NRS-3645 Letters received from customs stations, 1844-1846

[4/5111]

Letters are arranged by the following customs stations and chronologically within each group: Port Phillip; Van Diemen’s Land (includes Hobart and Launceston); New Zealand (includes Auckland, Wellington and Nelson); Port Louis, Mauritius; Calentha; Newcastle; Sydney; Moreton Bay; Twofold Bay; British Consulate, Tahiti; Broken Bay; and Fremantle.

NRS-3653 Copies of letters sent to Sub-Collectors, 11 Mar 1854-18 Dec 1857

[4/5041]

These letters were sent throughout New South Wales concerning the collection of customs duties and routine administrative matters.

NRS-3662 Out-port Branch, Newcastle: Copies of letters sent by the Landing-Waiter, Morpeth, 3 Jan 1866-8 Sep 1873

[7/5842]

These are mostly covering letters to the Sub-Collector at Newcastle transmitting cheques for collection of customs duties and pilotage and tonnage dues, despatch notes, import entries and returns of the number and tonnage of vessels in and out of the port of Morpeth as well as their port of destination and departure.

Colonial Secretary

The Colonial Secretary's Office was the most important administrative unit in New South Wales during the nineteenth century and it had dealings with other public offices on nearly all major developments and activities, as well as having responsibility for a wide and varied range of functions. As a result, the records of the Colonial Secretary form not only one of the largest record groups (both in the number of separate series and in the physical quantity of the records), but also one of the most complex.

When searching for a particular letter or correspondence on a particular topic, the researcher should consult the NRS 922, Indexes and Registers to correspondence and the NRS 905, Main series of letters received. Papers on many important matters were extracted from the NRS 905, Main series of letters received to form NRS 906, Special bundles. While the majority include registered letters some non-registered material is also included. An interim finding aid to the Colonial Secretary's papers based on the original Guide to Colonial Secretary: Correspondence records published 1972 and Supplement 1980 is available in the reading room and contains a full list of titles. Special bundles of relevance to this Guide have been listed below and researchers should first check this list.

The NRS 909, Governor's and Colonial Secretary's Minutes and Memoranda which are often filed in the NRS 905, Main series of letters received may also be relevant.

NRS-906 Special bundles

• NRS-906-1-[4/714]-4/714.3 | Constitution Bill, 1855

Papers concerning the British Parliament’s assent to a Bill passed by the NSW Legislative Council in 1853 conferring the constitution of the colony of New South Wales. Includes form of proclamation to be used in proclaiming the new constitution.

• NRS-906-1-[4/725]-4/725.1 | Postal Service: 1854-68 Steam Postal Service, 1854-1868

Correspondence concerning steam postal communications between Great Britain, Sydney and Melbourne via Panama. Focuses on the termination of the European and Australian Royal Mail Company contract and the acceptance of the tender of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company.

• NRS-906-1-[4/730]-4/730.2 | Defence of the Colony, 1854-1861
• NRS-906-1-[4/732]-4/732.3 | Defence of the Colony, 1854-1861
• NRS-906-1-[4/722]-4/722.3 | Defence of the Colony, 1854-1861

Correspondence concerning the defence of the Colony against external aggression; concentrates on issues such as the extent of England’s obligation to subsidise a large military force in the Colony and the proposal for the formation of a Volunteer Corps in New South Wales.

• NRS-906-1-[4/7180]-4/7180 | Intercolonial Exhibition held at Melbourne, 1866

The Intercolonial Exhibition of Natural Products and Works of Industry and Art was held in Melbourne, August 1866. This bundle includes a questionnaire designed to elicit information on the language of the Indigenous Peoples of Australasia.

• NRS-906-1-[4/754]-4/754.2 | Riverina District - Political representation, population, justice, etc, 1863-1866

Correspondence concerning the establishment of a separate registry office in Deniliquin, population figures, judicial and political representation issues in the Riverina District. Includes a map showing the location of electoral boundaries, District Courts, Courts of Petty Sessions, railways and ordinary roads of communication.

• NRS-906-1-[2/8020]-2/8020.7 | Proposed formation of the Riverina into a separate colony, 1863-1867

Correspondence relating to constituting the 'Riverina' as a separate colony. A petition concerning the proposal and cabinet minute in response can be found in [2/8020.7]. The district’s response to the cabinet minute can be found in [4/809.2].

• NRS-906-1-[4/762]-4/762.1 | Organization and training of Volunteers, 1854-1867

Correspondence and printed papers on the reorganisation of the volunteer militia. Includes information on the volunteer forces in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and the United States of America.

• Colonial Governors' Reports (Colonial Secretary' s copies), 1845-69

Printed annual reports of the Governors of the various British colonies throughout the world including each of the Australian Colonies. See catalogue for a list of the records.

• NRS-906-1-[4/784]-4/784.2 | Intercolonial Exhibition, 1870

Correspondence concerning the Intercolonial Exhibition of General Industries and Arts held in Sydney, August 1870 to commemorate the centenary anniversary of the landing of Captain Cook in Australia.

• NRS-906-1-[4/770]-4/770.3 | Contribution of the NSW Government to cost of military forces, 1865-1871

Correspondence and statement of amounts due to the Imperial Government as contributions towards the support of Imperial forces stationed in New South Wales under the Military Contribution Acts of 1865 and 1867.

• NRS-906-1-[4/785]-4/785.3 | Sydney Defence, 1867-1871

Reports and correspondence concerning methods of fortification for the harbour of Port Jackson. Includes a proposal for the development of a system of torpedo defence and a description and lithograph plans of a new twin screw gun boat. Applications for appointment to the proposed Colonial Defence Force are to be found in [4/786].

• NRS-906-1-[5/7029]-5/7029.3 | London International Exhibition of 1873, 1873

This bundle gives details of the erection of the permanent colonial annex 'Colonial Court' at the International Exhibition for 1873. Includes copies of lithograph drawing and plan of the Colonial Court project.

• NRS-906-1-[4/792]-4/792.1 | Intercolonial Conference, Sydney, 1873
• NRS-906-1-[4/790]-4/790.4 | Intercolonial Conference, Sydney, 1873

This conference dealt primarily with telegraphic communication, ocean mail services and the policy of intercolonial free trade. These bundles contain reports, proceedings and general correspondence as well as a 'Telegraph Map of the World' showing the main lines of communication existing in 1872.

• NRS-906-1-[4/748]-4/748.2 | Customs and Border Duties: 1864-65 Border customs, 1864-1865

Correspondence and printed parliamentary papers concerning intercolonial conferences and border customs. Includes the reports and minutes of proceedings on Intercolonial Conferences held in Melbourne, March and April 1863 and in Sydney on 15, 17 and 18 April 1865. Much of the discussion concerns goods crossing the Murray River, collection of duties and seizure of dutiable goods. There is also an appendix to the 1863 Intercolonial Conference concerning the maintenance of lighthouses in the Bass and Banks Straits by the neighbouring colonies.

• NRS-906-1-[4/788]-4/788.1 | Customs and Border Duties: 1871 Border duties conference, 1871

Correspondence and printed papers relating to the Border Duties Conference of 1871. Includes returns of customs collected, tables showing old and new tariffs, proposed agreements and arrangements for the collection of border duties.

• NRS-906-1-[4/789]-4/789.1 | Customs and Border Duties: 1871-72 Collection of customs duties, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, 1871-1872

New South Wales and Victorian parliamentary papers relating to border duties. Correspondence and telegrams concerning the collection of border duties and the opposition of the residents of towns along the Murray River. Discussion as to alternative arrangements for collection such as lump sum payments, and proposed agreements for free trade. Also includes papers relating to border duties between New South Wales and Queensland; a memorandum of an agreement between New South Wales, New Zealand and Queensland to make representations to the Secretary of State for the Colonies concerning their powers to make trade agreements with foreign countries, investment in Government securities, apprehension of offenders when they pass from one colony to another and to approach the United States Government to allow wool from the Australasian Colonies to be admitted duty free.

• NRS-906-1-[4/792]-4/792.4 | Customs and Border Duties: 1873 Border duties - Convention between NSW, Victoria and South Australia, 1873

Correspondence and working papers concerning a border duties convention between New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia for the collection of customs on the Murray River.

• NRS-906-1-[4/7037]-4/7037 | Customs and Border Duties: 1873 Customs convention between New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria, 1873

This volume contains the signed conventions between New South Wales and Victoria and New South Wales and South Australia for the purpose of enabling each of the Colonies to receive duties from goods imported across the Murray River. There is a supplement to the New South Wales—South Australian Convention concerning the import of tobacco.

• NRS-906-1-[4/726]-4/726.2 | Postal Service: 1856-59 Post Office, 1856-1859

Correspondence concerning the establishment of Book Post and a new postal system with the Australian colonies.

• NRS-906-1-[4/766]-4/766 | Postal Service: 1854-68 Steam Postal Service, 1854-1868
• NRS-906-1-[4/727]-4/727 | Postal Service: 1854-68 Steam Postal Service, 1854-1868

These bundles consist largely of government despatches concerning postal communications between England, the East Indies, China, Japan and the Australian Colonies. There is particular focus on the proposed Steam Postal Service via Panama and the intercolonial arrangements that would make this possible. The advantages and disadvantages of proportional contribution to the service by each of the colonies and the push to adopt a policy of united action among all the Australian Governments in matters involving common interests is also covered.

• NRS-906-1-[4/1091]-4/1091 | Postal Service: 1862-68 Correspondence with other Australian Colonies, New Zealand, England, Java, France, and shipping companies re establishment of steam communication between Great Britain and Australia via New Zealand and Panama, and between Sydney, Brisbane and Batavia via Torres Strait. Postal Conference, Melbourne 1867, 1862-1868

Correspondence and printed papers concerning the three Ocean Postal Services and notices, papers and proceedings of the Postal Conference held in Melbourne, March 1867 attended by representatives of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and New Zealand are included.

• NRS-906-1-[4/789]-4/789.2 | Postal Service: 1868-72

Correspondence and printed papers concerning Postal Conference in Melbourne, Ocean Mail communication, steam postal service and cooperation between colonies.

• NRS-906-1-[4/7036]-4/7036 | Postal Service: 1872-75 Articles of Agreement and Bonds - mail service between Sydney and San Francisco, 1872-1875

Signed articles of agreements entered into for the mail service between Sydney and San Francisco, tenders and related correspondence are also included.

• NRS-906-1-[4/788]-4/788.3 | Annexation of Fiji, 1870-1875

Correspondence urging the annexation of Fiji by Great Britain to protect commercial interests; printed parliamentary papers of the cession of Fiji, 1875. Also includes papers concerning the appointment of the Consul General of Fiji for the Australian Colonies, 1872 and the extradition of criminals to the Australian Colonies, 1870.

• NRS-906-1-[4/800]-4/800.1 | Constructions of Telegraph between New Zealand, New South Wales, Queensland and Singapore, 1872-1875

Correspondence, contracts and a draft agreement for the constitution of the cable. Includes a map of the world showing cable routes.

• NRS-906-1-[4/802]-4/802.3 | Military matters, 1875-1876

Correspondence and printed papers concerning the organization of the voluntary and military forces of New South Wales. Includes a Memoranda and suggestions relative to defence forces for the Australian Colonies and New Zealand, 1876.

• NRS-906-1-[4/791]-4/791 | Contracts for mail services via San Francisco, 1871-1878

Correspondence and printed papers concerning alterations to the San Francisco mail service with New Zealand and the Australian colonies. Also includes contracts, timetables and postage rates.

• NRS-906-1-[4/1086]-4/1086 | Report and returns of Dr Roberts on Australian hospitals: Report, 1878
• NRS-906-1-[X66]-X66 | Report and returns of Dr Roberts on Australian hospitals: Returns, 1875

Correspondence and a printed report concerning the Colonial Hospitals of Australasia compiled by Dr Alfred Roberts. This provides comparative material for each colony.

• NRS-906-1-[4/823]-4/823.2 | Papers re Border Customs duties between New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, 1878-1880

Correspondence concerning various border duties conventions, intercolonial customs unions and postal arrangements between New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland with returns of goods imported from South Australia 1875-79 and border trade with Queensland 1877-78. Includes a petition received 8 January 1879 from the farmers of the Albury District for free admission of Riverina produce to Victoria.

• NRS-906-1-[2/8095B]-2/8095B.2 | Confidential printed papers, 1870-1901
  • Progress Report of Defence Commission, 1870
  • Report on the islands of the Western Pacific, 1879
  • Note on the Military and Naval Defences of the Australian Colonies by Colonel P.H. Scratchley, 1882
  • Report on Defences of Sydney and Newcastle, 1885
  • The Mount Rennie Case, 1886-87
  • Fall of the Jennings Ministry, 1886-87
  • Papers re Chinese Immigration, 1888
  • Correspondence re precedence of Colonial Governors, 1889
  • Federation of Australia, 1889-90
  • Instructions for mobilizing Naval and Marine Pensioners on the Australian Station, 1895, and
  • Commonwealth Defence Bill drafted by the Federal Military Committee, 1901.

NRS-931 Register of customs conventions and postal agreements, 1873

[4/7038]

This register gives a list of customs conventions and postal agreements between New South Wales and other Australian colonies and companies providing postal services

NRS-963 Copies of letters to the Collector and Controller of Customs and the Surveyor of Distilleries, 3 Jan 1827-7 Sep 1855

[4/3695–700] Reels 2855–2856

The letters are mostly relating to routine business matters such as: exemption from or collection of dues, interpretation of regulations, arrangements about landing imported goods and some quarantine matters. Letter 83 of 8 June 1854 is from William Elyard, the Colonial Secretary’s Chief Clerk, to the Controller of Customs setting out the Governor-General’s decision against levying duty at Albury on imported goods on which duty had already been levied in Melbourne.

NRS-895 Copies of letters to Naval and Military Officers, 6 Nov 1832-19 Oct 1900

[4/3799–818] Reels 2870–2877

Copies of letters to the above which include the Military Secretary, the Major of Brigade, the Aide de Camp, the Commandants of the Mounted Police, the Barrack Master, the Ordnance Storekeeper, the Officer Commanding Royal Engineers (later the Commanding Royal Engineer) to 1839, and the respective officers of Ordnance.

From 1853 letters to Lieutenant Colonel Barney RE again appear in this series and relate to the defences of Port Jackson.

NRS-993 Copies of letters to Port Phillip, 2 Aug 1839-21 Apr 1856

[4/3767-76] Reels 2879-282

This series was commenced after Charles La Trobe reached the colony. It includes copies of letters to him while still in Sydney and then letters to officials in Port Phillip and from July 1851, Victoria, most of the letters being addressed to the Superintendent and later the Lieutenant Governor or Colonial Secretary. Other officials addressed include Police Magistrates, the Protector of Aborigines, Clergy and the Sub Treasurer. There are also a few letters to groups such as the Directors of the Port Phillip Bank.

NRS-1008 Copies of telegrams to and from the Agent General for New South Wales in London, 1873-1908

[4/3973-89]

Copies of telegrams sent and received. Occasionally other official telegrams between Sydney and London are included [in [4/3973-74] and [4/3983]). The registered number of an acknowledging letter is noted where applicable. From about 1885 some of the telegrams are coded and translations are attached.

The telegrams deal with a wide variety of matters reflecting the Agent General’s duties such as raising loans, purchase of various goods, and immigration.

Telegraphic communication between New South Wales and the other Australian colonies was not effected until after self-government in 1856, and overseas contact was not made until 1872.

Executive Council

Instructions to Governor Darling (17 July 1825) contained references to the establishment of an Executive Council to assist the Governor in the execution of his duties.

After 1856, the chief executive authority was the Cabinet, consisting of all the ministers of the Crown. The Executive Council comprised the Governor, and advisers appointed by him in accordance with his instructions and with the conventions of responsible government. The Council's chief purpose was to give legal authority to the more important instruments of executive government, such as Orders in Council, regulations and proclamations and include matters relating to federation.

NRS-4232 Minute books, 1825-1900, 1901-1935

[4/1515-1604, 9/608-653]

Copy of [4/1516-1518] and [4/1520-52] at Reels 2436-2448

This series contains an almost complete record of the Minutes of the Executive Council from the time of its inception until 1935.
Minutes usually contain an abstract or summary of minute papers tabled before the Council. Minutes note members present and record the decision of the Council as a whole.

NRS-4235 Registers of minute papers laid before the Executive Council, 1846-1909

[4/1453-1512]

Registers of minute papers received from government departments and private persons tabled before the Executive Council. The volumes indicate the location of the original minute papers should the summary in the Minute books prove inadequate.

This series loses most of its usefulness after September 1900 when departmental registration numbers ceased to be entered, and subject entries become so brief that little indication of the contents of minute papers can be obtained. The series appears to have been discontinued in January 1909.

Governor

The Governor represents the Crown, and acted on orders transmitted by the British Secretary of State until the Australia Act 1986 ended the right of the British Government to legislate for Australia. Legislative and political developments have limited the extent of the Governor's powers over time, but the role of executive head of government, and representative of the Crown, has remained constant. As the Governor dealt with officials both here and in England he was involved in many important matters relating to federation.

See the catalogue for more details of records from The Governor.

NRS-4511 Indexes and registers to despatches from the Secretary of State, 13 Oct 1837-30 Mar 1899, 11 May 1914-29 Sep 1949

[4/1605-1614, 7/4118–7420]

Each register records: registered number or type of despatch (circular, confidential etc.); date of despatch and receipt; subject; whether an answer is required; date and number of answer; and remarks (action to be taken or information to be acquired).

NRS-4512 Despatches, circulars and cables from the Secretary of State and the Under Secretary, 6 Apr 1787-27 Jun 1806, 13 May 1809-1961 and copies of despatches to the Secretary of State, c.1906-1969, 1971

[4/1615-1618, 4/1281-1403, Map No. 6233, 7/1524-1623, 12/1428.2-1438.1, 12/2063.2, 12/2064.1, 12/2070.2-2071.1]

The despatches deal with most matters of importance in the colony, such as convicts, land, expenditure, military affairs, exploration and settlement and immigration. After responsible government the series reflects the Governor’s role of intermediary between the Government of New South Wales and the British Government. Issues raised in the course of discussions about federation are documented in this series.

Also includes correspondence concerned with the ratification of acts, defence, the sending of troops to overseas wars (the Boer War and the First World War).

NRS-4521 Register of intercolonial correspondence received, 10 Jun 1851-3 Jan 1856, 17 Dec 1859-20 May 1862

[4/1630, 4/1632 part], Reel 2914

The volumes register correspondence from the Governors of the other Australian colonies, New Zealand, and the Governor General of India. It was a regular custom for the various Governors to communicate directly with each other on matters of common interest to their respective colonies.

The following information is given: dates of despatch and receipt, the sender’s name and colony, a brief summary of the subject, details of the action taken, plus quite comprehensive remarks as to the feasibility, etc. of the request.

NRS-4522 Despatches to and from Governor of Fiji, 14 Oct 1874-1 Jun 1875

[4/1633, 4/1654]

The Governor of New South Wales, Sir Hercules Robinson, presided over the cession of Fiji to Britain in 1874 and acted as provisional Governor of Fiji until the arrival of Sir Arthur Gordon in June 1875. These despatches are concerned with the cession of the country and its administration from Sydney. This series has been included because of Fiji’s initial interest in joining the federation of the Australian colonies.

NRS-4523 Despatches and enclosures from the Governor of New Zealand, 15 Dec 1853-15 Apr 1862

[4/1629], Reel 2914

Correspondence from the Governor of New Zealand and from various officials and military personnel. They are chiefly concerned with the Maori uprisings, requests for reinforcements and stores, complaints of vessels leaving Australian ports and bartering warlike stores with the natives, the occupation by the French of the Isle of Pines and New Caledonia, and postal arrangements.

NRS-4524 Despatches and enclosures from the Governor of Queensland, 12 Dec 1859-26 Sep 1860

[4/1631]

The despatches include copies of the Queensland Government Gazette of 10 December 1859 which printed the Queen’s Letters Patent creating Moreton Bay as a separate Colony and appointing Sir George Bowen Captain General and Governor in Chief; and deal with such matters as the need for immigrant labour; requests for payment by New South Wales of monies owing to Queensland; supply of New South Wales postage stamps to Queensland; the nominated members of the Queensland Legislative Council (including copies of the Queensland Government Gazette of 11 May 1860 constructing the first Queensland Legislative Council); arrangements to light the Torres Strait route; the possibilities of steam trade through Torres Strait and Singapore with the English and French troops in China; proposed nautical survey of the Australian coast and arrangements for the defence of Queensland.

NRS-4525 Despatches and enclosures from the Lieutenant Governor of South Australia, 5 Jul 1851-2 Nov 1860

[4/1626]

The correspondence conveys Lieutenant Governor Young's congratulations to Sir Charles FitzRoy on his appointment as Governor in Chief, and deals with such matters as the establishment of steam communication with England, the expediency of the mail steamers continuing to call at Kangaroo Island, and a proposed nautical survey of the Australian coast.

NRS-4526 Despatches and enclosures from the Governor of Tasmania, 3 Jul 1831-18 Jan 1860

[4/1627]

Correspondence dealing with such matters as the difficulties experienced by the Commissariat in obtaining fresh meat due to the crews of vessels sent to Port Phillip abandoning them for the goldfields; the sending of Enrolled Pensioners and other troops to assist the Victorian Government to maintain order among the goldminers; the establishment of monthly steam communication with England; the stores, stock, crop etc. on Norfolk Island available for the Pitcairn Islanders (September 1855); and the defence of Tasmania by sea

NRS-4527 Despatches and enclosures from the Lieutenant Governor of Victoria, 28 Jan 1851–28 Dec 1860

[4/1625]

These despatches are mainly concerned with administrative matters, such as the establishment of steam mail boats between England and Australia, the system of keeping the public accounts, applications for employment, provision for the Colonial Secretary of Victoria to sit on the Executive Council, requests for more troops to deal with the confusion arising out of the gold rushes, troubles on goldfields over 30/- licence fee, and the censure of Charles La Trobe.

Also on file are the following printed papers: Report of the Select Committee of the Legislative Council on the Bill for the better Management of the two Gold Fields; Bill for the better Management of the Gold Fields in Victoria; Act to alter an Act entitled 'An Act to restrain by summary proceedings unauthorized Mining on Waste Lands of the Crown'; and, Votes and proceedings of the Legislative Council 30 August–1 September 1853.

NRS-4528 Despatches and enclosures from the Governor of Western Australia, 3 Jan 1853-9 Jun 1855

[4/1628]

There are three despatches: 3 January 1853 - Despatch relating to the character of Singapore merchant, William Henry Mills, who had supplied Mr Hume and others with material for various attacks on Sir James Brook; 20 February 1855 - congratulating Sir William Denison on his appointment as Governor-General of the Australian Colonies; and, 9 June 1855 - Relating to the establishment of monthly steam communication with England.

NRS-4529 Copies of letters to officials and private individuals, 20 Mar 1823-16 Nov 1833, 25 Jan 1855-25 Mar 1890, 18 Dec 1896-24 Apr 1899

[4/1639, 4/1655-70, 8/2021A]

Copies of letters covering a variety of subjects including land grants, cultivation, convicts and assigned servants, church property, various regulations, applications for appointments and salary increases, commissariat stores, native affairs, exploration, bushrangers, and court sentences. The earlier volumes refer also to Van Diemen's Land, the Lieutenant Governor there being one of the chief recipients.

The later volumes deal with rather different matters - Norfolk Island, disturbances in New Zealand, Executive and Legislative Council, Polynesian labour trade, and guano. (For further details see item list.)

Copies of despatches to the Governors of other colonies will be found in this series again from September 1862. For those covering the period 1849-62 see series below.

NRS-4532 Letterbook of despatches to the Governors or Lieutenant Governors of the other Australian Colonies and New Zealand, the Governor of India, and various officials and private individuals, 18 Oct 1849-30 May 1862 

[4/1653], Reel 2156

The despatches are concerned with such matters as postal arrangements; navigational suggestions arising out of Captain Denham’s exploration of Torres Strait; disturbances on the Victorian goldfields; sending of troops to India; defence precautions following fears of Russian attack; occupation of New Caledonia by French; appointments; slave trade in the Pacific islands; sending of troops to assist in the Maori War; and the withdrawal of the Southern Whale Fishery Company from Auckland Island.

NRS-4533 Despatches to and from the Governor of Fiji, 14 Oct 1874-1 Jun 1875

See description above at NRS-4522.