LETTERS PATENT, SEPTIMUS BURT, QUEEN'S COUNSEL APPOINTMENT, 1887

« Prev Item Next Item »

Fraser, Malcolm

Overview

Letters Patent appointing Septimus Burt as Queen's Counsel in Western Australia. Dated 17 July 1887.
Handwritten on single sheet of cream paper with a vertical bifold The text is on the front page and on the first inside page to the left of the fold. Near the top left of the front page of the document the red wax Public Seal of the Colony of Western Australia is affixed. A stain from the seal is on the lower left, apparently occurring when the document was folded in half again for storage.
The document was created by Colonial Secretary Malcolm Fraser on behalf of Governor Frederick Napier Broome. Fraser’s signature is at the bottom of the second page and Broome’s signature is at top left of the front page.

Historical information

The Honourable Septimus Burt KC (1847-1919), son of Sir Archibald Paull Burt, was born in St Kitts Island (formerly known as St Christopher in the West Indies) and came to Western Australia in 1861 as a 13 year old. Septimus became a prominent lawyer, politician and grazier. His political work was central to the achievement and development of the Western Australian constitution as the first Attorney General after self-government was achieved. The Hon Septimus Burt rejected knighthood and offers to be a Supreme Court Judge.

Macolm Fraser, signatory on the document, was Colonial Secretary, Perth 1883-1890.
Sir Frederick Napier Broome, by whose authority this document was created, was Governor of Western Australia from 2 June 1883 to 20 December 1889.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-46-1976.61

Item type

Documents

Material

Ink

Paper

Width

205 mm

Height or length

330 mm

Contextual information

This document is a Letters Patent appointing Septimus Burt to Queens Counsel in Western Australia. The appointment recognised Burt's abilities as a senior member of the legal community in the colony and carried with it some prestige both locally and overseas. It is of historical interest documenting the advancement of Burt's career and his increasing influence on the public affairs of Western Australia. The Letters Patent is also representative of the adherence to English legal traditions in Western Australia.

Place made

Malcolm Fraser, Colonial Secretary, Perth 1883-1890

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Links to additional resources

https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/burt-septimus-179

Australian Dictionary of Biography: Septimus Burt (1847–1919)

https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/broome-sir-frederick-napier-3068

Australian Dictionary of Biography entry: Sir Frederick Napier Broome (1842–1896)

Last modified

Sunday, 31 August, 2025

Completeness