Biographical entry: Clarke, Rev. William Branwhite (1798 - 1878)
- Born
- 1798
- Died
- 1878
Summary
Various Collections. Clergyman and geologist, William Clarke arrived in Sydney in 1839 and became headmaster of the Kings School, Parramatta. He was later appointed rector of St Thomas Church North Sydney, and thereafter combined clerical duties with geological work in New South Wales and southern Queensland. His Queensland work and analysis of the possible geological nature of the northern sector of the colony was of great interest during later exploration and occupation of the region. Clarke maintained a wide correspondence: of particular interest to north Queensland history was his long standing exchange with Richard Daintree who became first government geologist in north Queensland from 1868. The Daintree-Clarke correspondence continued to 1878. Manuscripts relating to W.B. Clarke are contained in several Mitchell Library collections; the principal records concerning Queensland are as follows:
Papers and Notebooks, 1827-1934.
I. Correspondence and papers, 1835-1934.
A. Comprising mainly geological and clerical papers, including two letters to Ludwig Leichhardt, [1844?]. Contents list in volume.
II. Geological notebooks, 1829-1868.
A. Europe, England, Africa.
B. Australia.
i. Queensland geology, ca.1859-1867, manuscript. Also notes by Leichhardt on the geology of New South Wales and Queensland, 1842-1843, printed. Two maps at SER. 4.000/1, MSS.454, Maps 1-2.
III. Miscellaneous papers, 1828-1883. This collection includes pictorial material. For location and description see PIC.ACC.834 in Pic. Source File, one volume, two boxes. MITCHELL: ML.MSS.454.
Correspondence, Richard Daintree to W.B. Clarke, ca.1860-1878. Collection of letters covering Daintree's work with the Victorian Geological Survey, his move to north Queensland in 1864 and partnership with William Hann in Maryvale and Bluff Downs Stations, Geological work in north Queensland, his appointment in 1870 as Queensland Agent General in London, and continuing communication from England. Includes sketches, photograph. MITCHELL: UNCAT.MSS.139 No.5.
Additional material relating to W.B. Clarke is contained in the following manuscripts:
Clarke, Reverend William Branwhite.
Notebooks, 1847-1877, one box. MITCHELL: ML.MSS.141.
Clarke, Reverend William Branwhite.
Papers 1834-1951. Chiefly relating to Kings School Paramatta, also clerical, New South Wales geology and personal records. One volume, one box. MITCHELL: ML.MSS.490.
Clarke Family. Papers, 1797-1954. Chiefly clerical and personal records. Two volumes, two boxes. MITCHELL: ML.MSS.368.
Linnean Society of London. Correspondence from W.B. Clarke, 1843-1852. On geological subjects. Microfilm. MITCHELL: F.M4/2699-2700
Calvert, Caroline Louisa. Letters. Chiefly on botany, includes letters from W.B. Clarke, January 1865. MITCHELL: A.4496-4501
Leichhardt, Ludwig. Notebooks, 1842. Include details of remarks made by Reverend W.B. Clarke on Queensland Geology. MITCHELL: ML.MSS.C154.