Development of Northern Australia

Component identifier:

Series 8

Content Summary:

Items 485-724. Correspondence, 1926-9, between the government and private enterprise on the development of northern Australia, including Lord Luke's visit in 1929, discussions with the Western Australian government in 1929 on the control and development of northern Australia; 1923-4 press cuttings in northern Australia development; the initial report in 1927 of the North Australia Commission on a scheme for developing northern Australia; and Sir Charles Nathan's efforts in 1928 to attract British capital to develop the north. Also Pearce's 1933 memorandum for Cabinet on the development of northern Australia, and Cabinet's decisions on the proposal; 1933-5 correspondence and memoranda on the unsuccessful plan by Northern Territory lease-holders to form a chartered co-operative company; and C.L.A. Abbott's 1936 letter about the development of the Northern Territory.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The National Library's collections of Pearce Papers were received in three separate groups, the first of which was received in 1951 from Sir George himself. The other two groups received in 1966 and 1967 came from his son Philip, through Peter R. (later Sir Peter) Heydon.Other papers from Sir George's three terms between 1908 and 1921 as Minister for Defence, were lodged in the Australian War Memorial. A further set of papers are held in the Commonwealth Archives Office (CP 820) having been transferred there in August 1960 via a strongroom from Pearce's office in Parliament House. These include (i) personal papers while he was Vice-President of the Executive Council (1926-29) and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (1930-31) and (ii) private papers 1915-30 relating to private and business interests, chiefly property, taxation and legal matters.

Names:

George Foster Pearce

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