NRS-4512 | Despatches, circulars and cables from the Secretary of State and the Under Secretary, and copies of despatches to the Secretary of State

Full description

The earliest volumes in this series are copies of the correspondence, several of which were made at a later date. The majority of the remaining despatches are originals including most of the enclosures. From 1833 to the first half of 1854 some missing original despatches have been replaced by duplicates. This interfiling was carried out while the despatches were still in Government House.

The despatches deal with most matters of any importance in the colony, eg. 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.

The correspondence is concerned with the ratification of acts, defence, the sending of troops to overseas wars (the Boer War and the First World War), the conferring of various honours on Australians, the Monarchy, procedures to be carried out on certain occasions (Coronations, Deaths of Monarchs, Royal Birthdays or Visits), Admiralty matters, and so on. The Governor also conveyed to the British Government requests of various kinds from private individuals.

From 1936 to 1969 the series consists of a mixture of copies of despatches, schedules and telegrams from and to the Secretary of State.

The extent of the holdings for 1971 is two despatches, dated 23 August and 20 October respectively.

A "Chart of Australia and the Adjacent Islands and Seas between its Northern Coast and the Equator showing the Northern Maritime Boundary of Queensland", 1878, an enclosure to a despatch in [4/1369], has been extracted and is now at [SR Map No.6233].

A chronological list of despatches may be found in the front of [4/1615] for 06/04/1787-27/06/1806. An alphabetical index for 1822-25 is in front of [4/1618].

Despatches for January to June 1847, Nos. 81-181 in [4/1325] have been microfilmed on Reels 709-710.