Guide to the Papers of Tom Uren, 1941-1994

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Summary

Collection number:
MS 6055
Creator:
Uren, Tom
Extent:
29.4 metres and (210 boxes and 1 folio box)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Tom Uren, National Library of Australia, MS 6055, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Availability:
Available
Access conditions:
Part available for research; part open with exception (OWE). Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:
The collection comprises personal and official correspondence, diaries and notebooks, financial papers, legal papers, speeches, press releases, articles, newspaper cuttings, reports, ministerial briefing notes, cabinet documents and other papers relating to Uren's career in politics, and the Ministerial portfolios of Urban and Regional Development, Territories and Local Government, and Local Government and Administrative Services. The papers also contain a large number of files on uranium as well as papers on energy and industry, the environment, and the Australian Labor Party.
Biographical Note:

Tom Uren was born in Balmain, NSW in 1921. In 1939 he enlisted in the Royal Australian Artillery, later serving as a Bombadier with the 2/1 Heavy Battery in Timor. From 1942 to 1945 he was a Japanese prisoner of war in Timor, Java, Singapore, on the Burma/Siam Railway and in Japan.

In 1946-47, Uren worked as a professional boxer in Australia and England and in 1947 married Patricia Palmer (d.1981). In 1949 he joined Woolworths as Store Manager in Lithgow and in 1952 joined the Lithgow Branch of the Australian Labor Party. In 1955 Uren returned to Sydney and in 1958 was elected as Federal Member for Reid in the House of Representatives.

In 1969-72 Uren was Opposition Spokesman on Housing, Urban Affairs and the Environment. When the ALP gained government in the 1972 elections, Uren was made Minister for Urban and Regional Development and in 1973 set up the Committee of Inquiry into the National Estate which led to the establishment of the Australian Heritage Commission.

Following Labor's election defeat in 1975, Uren was Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Opposition Spokesman on Urban and Regional Development, 1976-77. From 1977-83 he was Opposition Spokesman on Urban and Regional Affairs, Decentralisation, Local Government, Housing and Construction. In 1978 Uren was gaoled for his involvement in a civil liberties rally and march in Brisbane. In 1979 he represented the Australian Parliament at the funeral of Lord Mountbatten in London.

After Labor gained power in the 1983 election, Uren served as Minister for Territories and Local Government and Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Community Development and Regional Affairs. In November 1983 he was appointed to the Task Force on Self Government for the A.C.T. From 1984 until 1987 Uren served as Minister for Local Government and Administrative Services. After 1987, Uren returned to the backbench and served as Leader of the Australian delegation at the International Parliamentary Union. In 1990, he visited Baghdad to negotiate for the release of Australian hostages.

In March 1990 Uren retired as Member for Reid.

Throughout his career, Uren maintained an interest in issues relating to uranium, peace, urban and regional development and the welfare of former prisoners of war. Uren was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1993.

Provenance:

The papers were donated to the Library by Mr Uren in 1994.

Arrangement:

The Uren Papers have been largely rearranged into the present series structure. Series 2, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 24 were generally retained in the groupings or order maintained by Uren.

Indexed terms

Names:
Uren, Tom

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn571769).
Conditions Governing Use:
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Tom Uren, National Library of Australia, MS 6055, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact:
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