Guide to the Papers of Walter Bunning, 1933-1976

 

Collection context

Summary

Collection number:
MS 5543
Creator:
Walter Bunning
Extent:
0.64 metres and (4 boxes, 19 folio items)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Walter Bunning, National Library of Australia, MS 5543, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Availability:
Available
Access conditions:
Available for reference. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:
The papers consist of correspondence, reports, plans, specifications, and newspaper-cutting books, photograph albums, official publications and issues of journals. They document Bunning's early work as an architectural writer, records of the architectural firm of Bunning and Madden (1945 and 1976) and papers relating to the official inquiries on planning matters that Bunning undertook in the last ten years of his life. Of special interest are the papers relating to the design and construction of the National Library building, which Bunning regarded as his greatest achievement.
Biographical Note:

Walter Ralston Bunning was born in Brisbane on 19 May 1912 and was educated at the Slade School at Warwick, Queensland. He studied architecture at the Sydney Technical College, where he won the Kemp Medal in 1933. In 1937 the New South Wales Board of Architects awarded him a two-year travelling scholarship and he worked in several London architectural offices. He wrote many articles in journals and newspapers on architectural topics and his strong belief that buildings should be designed to suit the Australian environment was elaborated in his book Homes in the sun, published in 1945.

In 1945 Bunning established an architectural practice in Sydney and a year later he formed a partnership with Charles Madden. The firm of Bunning and Madden was responsible for the design of many outstanding buildings in Sydney and Canberra, including Anzac House, International House at the University of Sydney, and the National Library of Australia. Bunning was Chairman of the New South Wales Town and Country Planning Advisory Committee from 1945-64 and the New South Wales Government made frequent use of his expertise as a planner. He was a member of the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority from 1970 to 1977. In 1958 he was appointed a trustee of the New South Wales Art Gallery and he was Vice-President from 1960 to 1974 and president until his death. He was awarded the C.M.G. in 1975.

Walter Bunning died in Sydney on 13 October 1977. He was survived by his wife Gillian, whom he had married in 1944.

Sources: Who's who in Australia, 1977; Obituary, Sydney morning herald, 15 October 1977; Bunning Papers.

Provenance:

Walter Bunning presented his papers to the National Library in December 1976, ten months before his death.

Arrangement:

The papers have been organised into eleven Series that cover both the personal and professional aspects of Bunning's life.

Indexed terms

Names:
Walter Bunning

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn535283).
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 Walter Bunning, National Library of Australia, MS 5543, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact: