ACT Heritage Library Manuscript Collections
HMSS 0164 NATIONAL TRUST (ACT) RECORDS
Scope and Content Notes
Call Number | HMSS 0164 |
---|---|
Collection | National Trust (ACT) Records |
Date Range | 1967-2005 |
Quantity | 1.75m (10 manuscript boxes) |
Access Conditions | unstated |
Copying Conditions | unstated |
Related Collections |
The Australian National Trust movement was established in NSW in 1945 and spread across Australia with offices set up in the States during the 1950s and 1960s, and in the Northern Territory and the ACT in 1976. In 1965 the Australian Council of National Trusts was incorporated as the peak body, providing each of the state and territory autonomous Trusts with a national secretariat and a national and international voice. In 1985 it was decided that all state and territory bodies and the peak body should adopt a national corporate identity with a single logo.
The National Trust in NSW formed a Southern Tablelands branch in July 1967, meeting in Goulburn. In August a Women’s Committee was formed to raise funds to purchase Riversdale, a former inn in Goulburn and only the second property bought by the Trust. Early in 1968 several Canberra members of the Committee proposed that they hold meetings in Canberra and continue to raise funds for the Goulburn branch.
The ACT Committee, later the ACT and Regional Women’s Committee, of the National Trust of Australia (NSW) was formed on 9 May 1968 and forwarded profits to the Southern Tablelands branch. In July 1969 the Canberra group was renamed the Canberra Women’s Committee, and forwarded profits directly to NSW Trust headquarters in Sydney. When it was decided to form an ACT branch of the Trust, the Committee funded the establishment of the branch and disbanded about a year later, their last meeting being in November 1976.
A steering committee was set up on 24 February 1975 to establish an autonomous branch of the Trust in Canberra. Having resolved the many legal difficulties attendant on setting up such a branch in the ACT, the National Trust of Australia (ACT) branch was finally incorporated as a limited company on 20 December 1976. In April 1977 the ACT Trust was formally admitted as a member of the Australian Council of National Trusts, which has its headquarters in Campbell, ACT.
Before constructing its own building in Deakin, the Trust ACT branch occupied office and shop premises in Kingston and Manuka, and managed the Trust Shop in Old Parliament House from about 1996 until it closed in 2010. In 2002 the office moved to Civic Square, London Circuit, Canberra City.
The collection consists of minutes, correspondence, reports, submissions, publications, school education kits, research notes on historic properties and families, some maps and site plans, some photographs. Annual reports and a collection of postcards have been placed in the general collections of the ACT Heritage Library.
Files have been re-ordered to maintain coherent subject groups. Many files were not originally numbered, but where National Trust file numbering exists, that file number is included in the description. Judith Baskin’s working files overlap the official files to a significant extent but also extend the coverage of some of the files, particularly in the area of classification of properties for heritage listing.
Box List
BOX |
DESCRIPTION |
QUANTITY |
DATE RANGE |
1 |
SOUTHERN TABLELANDS REGIONAL COMMITTEE |
|
1967 – 1977 |
1 |
John Whelen’s file, covering his association with the National Trust (NSW) as foundation member and later President of the Southern Tablelands Regional Committee, 1967-1972; his assistance to the National Trust (NSW) re classification of buildings in the district; his brief association with the steering committee that established the National Trust (ACT). Includes Rules of the Trust (NSW) 1960, lists of heritage buildings, typescript history of Riversdale, newscuttings, brochures, invitations, correspondence, some minutes of Southern Tablelands Regional Committee, objectives of the National Trust (ACT) |
1 file |
1967 – 1977 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
SOUTHERN TABLELANDS REGIONAL COMMITTEE – CANBERRA COMMITTEE |
|
1968 – 1977 |
1 |
Canberra Committee papers, including minutes, correspondence, newsletters, National Trust Bulletin, membership matters, financial papers, newscuttings |
1 file |
1968 – 1977 |
1 |
House inspections – visits to properties in the Canberra – Goulburn district |
1 file |
1968 – 1973 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
WOMEN’S COMMITTEE Includes correspondence, minutes including first Directors’ meeting 13 January 1976, financial returns to NSW Trust, membership matters |
1 folder |
1968 – 1978 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
INCORPORATION · Report by Director of the NSW Trust 1971, Articles of Association 1976, draft incorporation document · incorporation documents, correspondence with other Trust offices, invitations to potential Councillors and related correspondence, return to Companies Office |
2 files |
1971 – 1979 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL TRUST IN CANBERRA Several versions, handwritten and typescript, of the early history, by Pam Rothwell |
1 folder |
1983 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
CORPORATE IDENTITY · Original logo designs for ACT and several other state branches (file 1/6/1) · Bryce Design Consultants design proposals and manual for a national corporate identity for the National Trust (file 2/5/1) |
2 folders |
1985 – 1987 |
|
|
|
|
2-3 |
COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES |
|
1977 – 2005 |
2 |
Minutes of Directors’ meetings and Council meetings |
1 minute book |
13 January 1977 – 30 July 1984 |
2-3 |
Minutes and meeting papers of Directors’ and Council meetings |
4 folders |
1978 – 29 February 1988; 2002 – June 2005 |
3 |
Minutes and meeting papers of Executive Committee |
1 folder |
September 1981 – May 1985 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
OFFICE ACCOMMODATION The lease document for the Civic Square premises is in the Minutes file, March 2002 |
|
1982 – 1987 |
3 |
Accommodation options · accommodation offers 1982-1983 (file 3/3/1) · options investigated, no action, 1984-1985 |
2 folders |
1982 – 1985 |
3 |
New accommodation - planning data and briefs |
1 folder |
1984 – 1985 |
3 |
Trust headquarters, Deakin – competition design, correspondence, estimates, project management |
1 folder |
1984 - 1986 |
3 |
Trust headquarters, Deakin – papers relating to design and construction, draft lease agreement, correspondence, maps and plans (file 3/2/1) |
1 folder |
1986 – 1987 |
3 |
Trust headquarters, Deakin - renting of lettable space |
1 folder |
1986 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
TRUST GIFT SHOP Trust shop, Style Arcade, Manuka – lease, alterations, correspondence |
1 folder |
1984 – 1985 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
STAFF · Trust Executive Officer, general staff and volunteers – lists, rosters, duties, correspondence, CVs (file 3/1/1) · Letter of complaint – closed until 2020 (file 3/1/6) |
2 folders |
1982 – 1990 |
|
|
|
|
4 |
HERITAGE BUILDINGS, ACT Except for Lanyon, these files appear to pre-date the formation of the Heritage Committee and the Heritage Register |
|
1968 – 1978 |
4 |
General files – include correspondence, lists, maps, newscuttings, historical information. File 1 deals mainly with the Canberra and District Historical Society (CDHS) |
3 folders |
1953 – 1982 |
4 |
ACT buildings E – Z: arranged by locality; Duntroon and Lanyon separately |
1 folder |
1971 – 1983 |
|
|
|
|
4 |
Duntroon: Campbell family, Duntroon House, Apple Shed, Dairy – includes correspondence, lists, maps and plans, newscuttings, historical information, brochures |
1 folder |
1968 – 1978 |
4 |
Lanyon: · Main file includes correspondence, lists, maps, newscuttings, historical information, brochures, National Capital Development Commission report on use as a museum; 1971 – 1978 · Items on loan – lists of items on loan, conditions of loan, room notes and other information for National Trust Guardians, minutes on Lanyon Committee meeting 22 May 1991, correspondence; 1978 – 1991 (file 8/4/4) · Furnishing Lanyon – correspondence, information brochures, room notes, photographic negatives and contact sheets; 1986 (file 8/4/8) · Nolan Gallery – initially inside Lanyon Homestead, then in a purpose-built gallery near the homestead; site plan, correspondence, newscuttings; 1975 – 1979 (file 8/6/1) |
4 folders |
1971 – 1991 |
|
|
|
|
4-5 |
ACT HERITAGE COMMITTEE The Committee’s functions are to advise the Minister on matters relating to heritage; to identify heritage places and compile and maintain an inventory of them; to advise on the preparation of management plans for heritage places; to advise on making historical places or artefacts readily accessible to the general public; to encourage and promote public interest in heritage issues; to further training and education in conservation, improvement and promotion of heritage. · ACT Heritage Committee – establishment, correspondence; 1981 – 1991 (file 11/1/1) · ACT Heritage Committee meetings – minutes, meeting papers; 1980 – 1988 (file 11/1/4) · ACT Heritage and Classification Committee – recommendations, reports, correspondence, newscuttings, brochures; 1968 – 1981 · ACT Heritage Register – guidelines and criteria for local and national heritage listings, handbooks for heritage evaluations; 1990 – 2002 · ACT Heritage Committee – unsorted papers |
3 folders, 2 wallets |
1968 – 2002 |
|
|
|
|
5 |
AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF NATIONAL TRUSTS – NATIONAL CONSERVATION STRATEGY Reports, position papers, legislative framework, correspondence (file 2/5/8) |
1 folder |
1980 – 1986 |
|
|
|
|
5 |
ACT CLASSIFICATION COMMITTEE Papers, minutes, recommendations and correspondence dealing with nominations for classification of ACT places and objects |
1 file |
1998 – 2000 |
|
|
|
|
5 |
EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL COMMITTEE · Minutes of meetings, 1980 – 1993 (file 5/1/2) · General papers – objectives and responsibilities, annual report of projects, 1979 – 1989 |
2 folders |
1979 – 1993 |
|
|
|
|
5 |
COMMUNITY EDUCATION Miscellaneous projects, for guidelines and ideas: · T W Payne, Community Education and the Trusts, 1978 · Ian McShane, History and Cultural Resources Project, parts 1 and 2, 1985 · Ian McShane, Archives and Museums, 1987 · Correspondence and notes |
1 folder |
1978 – 1987 |
|
|
|
|
6 |
HERITAGE WEEK Includes background papers, programs, correspondence, lists of participants, posters, Heritage Week newsletters, newscuttings, speeches, committee papers, minutes and reports |
3 folders |
1985 – 1990 |
6 |
Heritage Week background papers – philosophy, examples of programs, etc |
1 folder |
1985 – 1990 |
6 |
Heritage Week opening speeches and notes |
1 folder |
1986 – 1990 |
6 |
Heritage Week – World Heritage Display |
1 folder |
1988 – 1989 |
6 |
Heritage Week 1988 – planning papers, minutes, co-ordinator’s report |
1 folder |
1988 |
6 |
Heritage Week 1990 – ideas |
1 folder |
1990 |
6 |
ACT Heritage Week 1990-1991 – planning papers, minutes, co-ordinator’s reports, financial reports |
1 folder |
1990 – 1991 |
6 |
ACT Heritage Week 1991 – Save the Bush Report |
1 folder |
1991 |
6 |
Canberra Day Ecumenical Service at St Christopher’s Cathedral, Manuka |
1 folder |
1991 |
|
|
|
|
6 |
TOURS AND VISITS National Trust (NSW) Industrial Archaeology Committee tours of Canberra |
1 folder |
1977, 1981 |
|
|
|
|
6 |
YOUNG NATIONAL TRUST (also called YOUNG TRUST) Junior membership of the National Trust (ACT) was begun about 1977-1978. Activities included bus tours, cycle and skiing weekends; each tour file includes planning documents, correspondence, handouts and participant lists |
|
1977 – 1988 |
|
Junior membership – correspondence |
1 folder |
1977 |
|
Cross-country skiing weekend, Jindabyne (file 13/4/3 or 13/9/1 or 13/9/2) |
1 folder |
1986 |
|
Bundanoon cycling tour (file 13/4/1 or 13/9/2) |
1 folder |
1986 |
|
Conimbla and Nangar National Parks tour (file 13/4/5 or 13/9/3) |
1 folder |
1987 |
|
Hotels tour (file 13/8/1) |
1 folder |
1988 |
|
Cooma Cottage and Yass tour (file 13/8/2) |
1 folder |
1988 |
|
Namadgi Huts tour (file 13/8/3 and/or 13/2/9) |
1 folder |
1988 |
|
|
|
|
7 |
PUBLICATIONS |
|
1982 – 1989 |
|
The Heritage of Jervis Bay (file 10/2/1); typescript text, correspondence |
1 folder |
1986 – 1989 |
|
Federal Capital Architecture – Canberra 1911-1939 (file 10/3/1); includes pre-production design and layout, and advance order records |
2 folders |
1982 - 1984 |
|
|
|
|
7 |
SCHOOL EDUCATION KITS As part of the school and community education role of the National Trust, a series of kits were prepared, based on historical buildings, funded in part by the National Estate Program. · School education kits working party papers (file 12/2/1) · School education kits – general correspondence, background papers, ideas (file 12/1/4) · Sample kits (file 12/1/5) · School education kits – Bicentenary funding (file 12/2/1) · Northern Sites – teachers’ notes (file 12/2/2) · Capital Buildings – teachers’ notes (file 12/2/4) · Campbell Family – teachers’ notes (file 12/2/3) · School education kits – audit of program (file 12/5/1) |
8 folders |
1980 – 1988 |
|
|
|
|
7 |
FOUNDER’S DAY DINNER Includes brief history of the National Trust (ACT), correspondence, menu, guest list and seating arrangements for 1988 dinner (file 5/5/1 |
2 folders |
1982, 1988 |
|
|
|
|
7 |
MUGGA-MUGGA MEMORIAL HISTORY PRIZE Sponsored by Sylvia Curley and promoted by the National Trust (ACT), this was an essay competition for primary school students |
1 folder |
1991 |
|
|
|
|
7 |
CRAFT IN TRUST EXHIBITION An exhibition of craft items made either for necessity or for decoration, loaned for exhibition at Pilgrim House, Civic, 15-17 April 1999. Includes list of contributors, catalogue giving history of craft items, some photographs of craft items, administrative papers for the exhibition |
1 folder |
1999 |
|
|
|
|
7 |
UNITY CUNNINGHAM Notes for a biography by Judith Baskin |
1 folder |
1998 |
|
|
|
|
8 |
JUDITH BASKIN’S WORKING FILES These are unsorted and include both National Trust (ACT) papers and personal papers from Judy’s heritage consultancy. The collection includes minutes, reports, background papers on various heritage and classification matters, assessment criteria, correspondence, brochures, newscuttings. Three files are primarily concerned with classification of properties |
8 folders |
1996 – 2002 |
|
|
|
|
9 |
TRUST ADMINISTRATION · National Trust (ACT) superannuation fund trust deed and rules, 1990 (file 3/1/13) · Trust review, 1998-1999 · National Trust (ACT) website, 2003 · National Trust (ACT) bequest brochure, 2005 · National Trust (ACT) administrative file management; includes History of the National Trust of Australia to 2000, membership of professional organistions, archival policy, archiving Trust files with ACT Heritage Library 2004 · Garth Setchell – staff-in-confidence |
1 book, 5 folders |
1998 – 2005 |
|
|
|
|
9 |
TRIG POINTS IN THE CANBERRA – GOULBURN AREA Extracts from an application for a Heritage Order over the Lake George Trigonometrical Base Line, from the NSW Department of Conservation and Land Management. Includes extracts from surveys taken from 1870 to 1966 |
1 sleeve |
1992 |
|
|
|
|
9 |
CONSERVATION OF CEMETERIES In the late 1980s and 1990s the Australian Council of National Trusts convened a working group of representatives of State Trusts in order to establish a national guideline on the recording and conservation of cemeteries in Australia. These are the working papers of the ACT Trust Committee |
|
1980 – 2004 |
9 |
Publications and reports on cemetery recording and preservation: · J S Kerr. Notes on grave yard surveys in New South Wales, 1980 · National Trust (NSW). A guide to the conservation of cemeteries. 1982 · Department of Planning, Heritage Council of NSW. Cemeteries: Guidelines for their care and conservation. 1992 · ACT Government. Greenhouse strategy: a draft framework for action and options for consideration. 1992 · National Trust (NSW). Cemeteries: a National Trust policy paper. 1986 |
3 books, 1 sleeve |
1980, 1986, 1992 |
9 |
National Trust (ACT) Conservation of Cemeteries Committee: · National conservation of cemeteries policy – drafts, 1988-1995 · Background papers |
2 files |
1980 – 1995 |
9-10 |
Research notes by Maura O’Connor on three cemeteries in the ACT: · Report on the Weetangera Methodist Cemetery, prepared for the National Trust (ACT), 1988 – typescript with corrections · Weetangera Cemetery research papers, including 2 photographs · Report on the Tharwa General Cemetery, prepared for the National Trust (ACT), 1990 · Cuppacumbalong (De Salis) Cemetery, Tharwa, including the identification of the unmarked burials, 1994 · Notes for the compilation of the report on the Cuppacumbalong (De Salis) Cemetery, Tharwa |
3 files, 1 folder, 1 sleeve |
1988 – 1994 |
10 |
Cemetery Survey of the ACT – includes maps, burial records, historical background, photographs and oral history transcripts of public cemeteries, private and church cemeteries and lone graves |
6 files |
Ca 1990 - 2004 |
10 | Research notes by Maura O’Connor on Ginninderra Cemetery – maps, extracts from books, newscuttings, correspondence, lists of burials at St Paul’s Church of England; list of historic sites in Gungahlin and Hall and locations on accompanying map, handwritten notes | 1 file | 1988-1994 |
10 | Research notes by Maura O’Connor on ACT and NSW graves and cemeteries – notes on single burial sites, notes and colour photographs of homestead remains and grave sites | 2 files | 1988-1994 |
10 |
Historic sites ACT and NSW – notes on Majura Valley; photographs of:
|
1 file | 1988-1994 |