Canberra and Gungahleen, 1927-79

Component identifier:

Series 10

Content Summary:

In 1927 Watson moved to Canberra but he continued to spend a good deal of time in Sydney, especially in his last years. He was a member of the Federal Capital Commission in 1929. In 1934 he purchased a property 'Gungahleen', north of Canberra, and in this period he took a prominent part in social and sporting activities in Canberra and the surrounding district.

This series contains invitations to functions at Parliament House, Canberra Grammar School and elsewhere in Canberra, photographs of Shows and race meetings, invitations and greeting cards, correspondence concerning the purchase of 'Gungahleen' and the erection of a R.A.A.F. transmitter on the property, a volume of acceptances to a garden party to celebrate the 108th anniversary of the discovery of Canberra, scrap book entitled 'Beginnings and origins in Canberra', a collection of race meetings tickets, and cuttings about Canberra kept by Pauline Watson. Correspondents include A. Percival and H.S. Foll.

Also included in this series is one folder of material relating to Canberra, including a copy of The fight for Canberra, 26 July 1915, which was given to Watson by A.J. Macdonald. Macdonald had the power of attorney of Walter Burley Griffin.

NOTE: Papers concerning Watson research on history of Canberra may be found in Series 6.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The original consignment of Papers of Frederick Watson were purchased from his daughter Pauline Watson in 1989. Further papers were donated by his granddaughter, Patricia Ritter, in 2018.

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