Previous find of the month - 12/2015 - Page 1


Previous find of the month


December 2015

"Three Antiquities Writing a Book"

Writing the Bicentennial History of Canberra


In addition to providing access to ACT Government records, ArchivesACT also holds a small library of publications, which for the most part, we have inherited over time. One of these is a three-volume set collectively called 'The History of Canberra' that cover the region's history from 1820 to 1980.


History of Canberra Set


The 'History of Canberra' set include the three books:

  • Canberra 1820-1913 by Lyall Gillespie (1991)
  • Canberra 1913-1953 by Jim Gibbney (1988)
  • Canberra 1954-1980 by Eric Sparke (1988)

Together, they provide a comprehensive history of the Canberra region since European settlement up to 1980. Unfortunately, none has been in print since their first and only run.

While opening up one of these volumes recently, not only did it provide the answer to our research needs but also gave us a little treat. Out popped a handmade Christmas card!


Christmas card coverLimerick inside card


The card has three signatures of the book's authors and contains a limerick that reads:

Three antiquities writing a book
Were convinced word processors were crook
Till departmental work
Brought them up with a jerk
The whole thing had received a new look

This card is the ArchivesACT Christmas 2015 Find of the Month.

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Who is Neville?

The Christmas card was not the only card inside the Gibbney volume. There was also an invitation for Mr and Mrs N. Braidwood to attend the book's launch. The Gillespie volume also contained an invitation for a Mr Neville Braidwood to attend. We now had a name.


1988 invitation

Invitation to the launch volumes two and three by Emeritus Professor Manning Clark, AC, at Olims Ainslie Hotel on the 19th of April 1988


Neville Braidwood was born in Perth in 1928 to Nelson and Marjorie Braidwood. Following in his father's footsteps, Neville became a journalist. In 1949, he was working for the Maryborough Chronicle in Queensland when he became engaged to Elaine Fitzgerald whom he married in October 1950. After spending time in Perth and Albury, the Braidwood family moved to Canberra in 1962.

Neville spent several years as Chief of Staff for the Canberra Times before joining the Department of the Interior in 1968. In December 1969, he was appointed Director of the Department's Information and Public Relations Branch, a position he remained in until his retirement in January 1987. During his time as Director, Neville maintained "an excellent working relationship" with Graham Downie at the Canberra Times, often feeding him stories.


1991 invitation

Invitation to the launch of volume one by ACT Chief Minsiter, Trevor Kaine, at the Albert Hall on the 12th of March 1991.


It was in his role as Director of Information and Public Relations Branch that Neville and his staff provided support and assistance to the authors of the History of Canberra books. The authors in turn showed their appreciation for Neville's assistance in their signing of the books presented to him and this lovely handmade Christmas card presented to Neville and his staff.

After leaving the Public Service, Neville went on to become the Community Relations and Marketing Manager for Koomarri. In 1989, he was instrumental in organising the Koomarri Art Union House Raffle with its major prize being a new house on Outtrim Avenue in Calwell.

Neville and Elaine returned to Queensland in the 1990s. Elaine passed away on the 8th of March 2001 and Neville on the 31st of March 2005 aged 77. Neville Braidwood's family kindly donated his personal copies of the History of Canberra volumes to ArchivesACT after his death.

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A General Lack of Reliable Material on Canberra

The idea for the books was conceived in early 1980 when the former Secretary of the Department of the Capital Territory (DCT), Laurie Daniels, suggested that the DCT should produce a "History of Canberra". In September 1980, Acting Director of the DCT's Information and Public Relations, Graeme Barrow, recognising the "general lack of reliable published material on the history of the City" proposed that:

"...as a means of acknowledging the 1988 Bicentenary, the Department, through AGPS [Australian Government Publishing Service], publish a detailed history of the development of Canberra from the days of discovery."

Barrow proposed that the DCT contract a historian to research and write this history following the general topics:

  • Aborigines who lived in the general area;
  • Discovery by the British, and pioneer settlement;
  • Selection of the site as the National Capital;
  • Work of Walter Burley Griffin;
  • Development of the City;
  • Establishment of the National Capital Development Commission (NCDC);
  • Biographical detail of prominent people in the district.


Concerns Over Cost

On the 6th of June 1981, the DCT advertised for authors, gathering 23 responses. "Tenders for authorship, research and related expenses ranged from $22,000 to $150,000 for a single volume history." With an estimated $50,000 to cover publishing costs, the DCT expected the total production costs to be around $200,000.

In December 1981, Minister Michael Hodgman, concerned about the cost of project, asked the DCT to explore "alternative ways" in producing the history. By now, the DCT had refined the project to a three-volume set; however, they were unable to find an alternative method of funding. This resulted in the DCT advising the 23 tenders that they were unable to proceed with the project as "the Department has been unable to have (the) project accorded priority and as a result no funds are available..."

Despite this, the DCT did continue to search for alternate funding and in July 1982, former City Manager, Lyall Gillespie came to the rescue. Gillespie, who had recently retired, offered to write volume one "as a gift to the Department."

The following month, Director of the Information and Public Relations Branch, Neville Braidwood, suggested a solution, "without special funding arrangements", for the remaining volumes. He noted that one of the 1981 tenders was Frank Brennan, a Senior Legal Officer with the Deputy Crown Solicitor's Office. He suggested an arrangement between the two Departments to allow for the transfer of Mr Brennan to the Information and Public Relations Branch for a period of four years to produce the two volumes.


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