The collection comprises reports and files accumulated by Bryant Allen and his colleagues Gaye Thompson and Doug Porter while researching their book Development in practice: paved with good intentions (Routledge, 1991) on Australia's role in the Magarini Settlement Project in Kenya. The papers include data on rainfall, research notes, articles, Joint Review Mission papers, correspondence, interview transcripts, drafts, illustrations and chapter outlines. Interviewees include Bob McCown, Paul McGowan, Henry Nix, Coral Bell, Kevin Stephens, Helen Hughes, Doug Campbell, Anthony Vale and Bill Hayden. There are also unpublished reports and official reviews and documents which were used as source material for the book.
Papers of Bishop W. Poynter, Rev. R. Gradwell, Bishop J.Y. Bramston, Bishop T. Griffiths, Cardinal N.P.S. Wiseman, Cardinal H.A. Vaughan and Cardinal F. Bourne. They deal with: establishment of the New Holland Mission by Rev. J. Flynn 1818-19; selection of priests for the Mission; relations with political authorities; appointment of J.B. Polding as Vicar-Apostolic in 1834; creation of dioceses; emigration; missions in Pacific; and visit of Archbishop D. Mannix to England 1920. Correspondents include J. Flynn, P. Connolly, J.J. Therry, J.B. Polding, J.B. Pompallier and J.M.B. Serra.
The papers comprise family correspondence, general correspondence, handwritten and typed drafts (including the original sketches for many of his stories and the drafts of three novels which were never completed), notebooks of articles and book reviews, newspaper cuttings, invitations, printed material and other papers. There are also papers relating to Waten's membership of the Literature Board of the Australian Council for the Arts, his Presidency of the Melbourne Centre of International P.E.N. papers on his membership of the Communist Party of Australia and Socialist Party of Australia.
The collection contains approximately 300 documents, comprising correspondence and other documents of Sir Joseph Banks. The documents originating with Banks include letters and copies of letters, speeches, notes and minutes of meetings. The remainder of the collection includes correspondence addressed to Banks from some 83 people, including Lord Bathurst (2), David Collins, W.B. Conyngham (5), Alexander Dalrymple (3), James Fleming, Georg Forster (20), J.R. Forster (5), John Hunter (4), Philip Gidley King (7), Lord Nelson, William Paterson (5), W.P. Perrin (11), William Perry (5), William Petrie (7), Arthur Phillip and Lord Radnor. Also contained in the collection are memoranda and journals of Sarah Banks.
The papers comprise letters, speeches, speech notes, a diary, a few photographs and some miscellaneous printed items, together with the typescript biography. They form a relatively small and uneven collection. Apart from some speeches and the 1929 diary, they provide little information about Bavin's distinguished career as a New South Wales parliamentarian and Premier. They are, however, an important source on Australian politics and law in the period 1900-1920 and, in particular, document Bavin's close association with the first two Prime Ministers of Australia.
Microform reproductions of mainly Australian local, church and school history pamphlets, arranged by state and locality, collected by John Alexander Ferguson. The collection includes material relating to New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea and Antarctica and some Pacific islands.