NRS-995 | Copies of letters to Engineering and Public Works officers

Full description

Copies of letters, mainly to the Civil Engineer and to March 1827 to the Inspector of Roads and Bridges, from November 1828 to the Director of Public Works, and from April 1832 to the Colonial Architect. There are also letters in the early period to the Assistant Inspector of Roads and Bridges, the Town Surveyor, the Mineral Surveyor to 1836, the Superintendent of Works, the Superintendent at Newcastle and at Parramatta, and the Clerk of Public Works, Bathurst.

By the general order of 5 January 1826 the Chief Engineer was to superintend all public works including the construction and maintenance of all public buildings and the making and repairing of streets, wharves, sewers, canals and drains.

The Inspector of Roads and Bridges was in charge of the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges, the general superintendence of road parties and clearing gangs.

Dumaresq acted in both positions from 1826 until a Surveyor of Roads and Bridges was appointed in April 1827 to take charge of that department. Letters to him are in a separate series (NRS 1002).

The position of Director of Public Works was created in 1828 but the office was abolished in March 1832, the Surveyor General being made responsible for surveying and describing Sydney town allotments, of marking out the Crown lands for enclosure, and for laying down the alignment of streets and the repair and construction of the same.

A separate department, the Colonial Architect's Department was created in April 1832 to be responsible for the Public Buildings. At the end of March 1833 control of the Colonial Architect's Department was transferred to the Surveyor General's Department by direction of the Secretary of State. Letters continue to be addressed to Hallen, the Architect, in this series till May 1833. From April 1833 to December 1834 see NRS 1001 for letters re the functions of the Colonial Architect. From 31 December 1834 the Colonial Architect corresponded directly with the Colonial Secretary (Colonial Secretary to Surveyor General 9 December 1834) and copies of the letters are again in this series. (For instructions to the Colonial Architect on his duties see the letter to him from the Colonial Secretary dated 8 January 1835 in this series.)

In January 1836 Captain Barney was appointed Colonial Engineer and had a separate staff for the superintendence of roads, bridges, wharves, quays etc. and this department remained in existence to the end of 1843 (see NRS 954 and NRS 996).

In 1844 the duties of the Colonial Engineer's Department were added to those of the Colonial Architect and his books transferred to that office. On 1 October 1848 the military buildings and works were placed under his charge.

By 1855 the duties of the Colonial Architect's Department comprised: the erection of and repair of buildings, military works, roads, bridges, lighthouses, abattoirs, gaols and lockups, lunatic asylums, wharves, drainage, ironwork, cells, water dams, ship fittings, valuations of land and buildings, and the supply and repair of furniture.

(4/3878-90; microfilm copy SR Reels 2997-3001). 13 vols.

Note:
This description is based on Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.