NRS-12420 | Miscellaneous files [M files]

Full description

It is not known when this series commenced in its present form. However it appears that some of the records in the series pre-date this recordkeeping system and that the Department of Public Works introduced a system of files with alphabetical prefixes some time later than 1914. (1). The ‘M’ Files are one of these series.

This is the principal series under which files concerning administrative, non-project and non-construction matters are maintained.

The general administrative matters that may be found here include legislation administered by the of the agencies; general administration; legal and accounting matters; industrial relations; information and communications technology; departmental procedures; policy formation; minutes and proceedings of committees, seminars and conferences; reviews of operations; progress reports, special reports, reports of commercial operations; departmental structure including internal re-structuring and transfer of functions between the Department and other Government agencies.

The Government operated industrial undertakings in which goods were manufactured or structures built for profit (particularly during the period 1910 – 1930’s). These included State Saw Mills, Metal Quarries, Timber Yards, Monier Pipe and Reinforced Concrete Works, Brickworks, Workshops, Cement Works and Tile works, and proposed State Iron and Steel Works. The series contains reports from these Undertakings, particularly financial reports.

The series contains some records created by most of the Department’s branches and business units and committees, but most of these sub-agencies also created a range of additional series of continuing value. The series should therefore be used in conjunction with the record series created by all of the major functional areas of the agencies that have created this series over time.

Amongst the widely- varying subjects covered in this series are land disposal and resumption by the government, major planning projects such as replanning of Macquarie Street and Circular Quay; heritage buildings (not restricted to government-owned premises); fulfilment of government policy undertakings; regionalisation; pre qualification and pre registration of tenderers for civil engineering projects; proposals for new government agencies related to infrastructure or other public works; new industries with relationship to public works.

Note regarding the disposal of the series
Some files relating to routine matters such as the purchase of equipment, payment of fees were authorised for destruction by the Archives Authority of New South Wales on various occasions commencing in 1972.
Some material was culled from the series prior to the making of the disposal recommendation in 1990 (2)

Endnotes
1. Public Works Department General Instructions to Officers Part II Records and Correspondence and Part III Records. Sydney, The Department 1 December 1914 describes a different system of file classification.
2. Archives Authority of NSW Disposal Recommendation DR 4170, 19 September 1990.