Party: Rockhampton Historical Society. Rockhampton and District Historical Society, School of Arts, Bolsover Street, Rockhampton, 4700
Summary
Plans were underway for the Society to move to new premises in the old James Steward Building, at the time of this survey. Researchers should direct any queries to: The Honorary Librarian, P.O. Box 169, Rockhampton, 4700. The collection includes a rare book section, printed and manuscript material, and a large collection of historical papers presented to meetings of the society. Minutes of meetings and annual reports of the Rockhampton and District Historical Society, 1949-present, are also held. A large collection of historical photographs dates from the 1870s and includes a quantity of glass negatives. Principal manuscript items include the following:
Archer papers. Selections from the complete Archer Family papers held in the Mitchell Library:
Letters, chiefly to William and Julia Archer of Tolderodden, Laurvig, Norway, from their sons, written mainly from Australia, 1833-1855, with Archer family tree, from 1786 and maps, typescript, photocopied, bound, pp. 226, 1 vol.
Journal, kept by Colin Archer of Gracemere Station, 10 March 1858- 9 July 1859, contains daily entries of station activities, includes a list of Gracemere sheep and lambing stations, typescript, photocopied, pp. 69, 1 folder.
Additional papers relating to the Archer Family:
Letters, Colin Archer to his family in Norway, 24 April-28 July 1854, 5 items, with covering letter and notes by Alastair Archer to the Rockhampton and District Historical Society, 7 June 1957.
Letter, T. Archer, to Sandy, from Gracemere, Rockhampton. 15 January 1880, giving an account of pastoral pioneering in central Queensland, typescript, copy, pp. 6. copy, pp.6.
Typescript, Some notes on the Archer Family, by Alistair Archer, an historical account of early settlement by the family in central Queensland, photocopy, pp. 9.
Typescript, The Fitzroy Valley - Centenary of the Archers' Discovery. First Event in Rockhampton's History is 100 Years Old Today, 7 May 1953, by Alistair Archer, read before the Rockhampton and District Historical Society, 7 May 1953, foolscap, pp. 8.
Archer Family Tree, extracted from the books of the Glover Incorporation of Perth, typescript, pp. 3.
MacDonald Collection. Station diaries, papers and letterbooks, of Peter Fitzallan Macdonald and family, early pastoral settlers of Yemeappo Station, Yaamba, via Rockhampton. Records cover the period ca.1858-1900, currently unavailable for reference, they will probably be housed in the Rockhampton Municipal Library in the future, some 38 vols.