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Personal diary by William S. Andrew detailing tour of North West and Kimberleys, 21 June - 27 July 1926

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William S. Andrew

1926 - 1926

Subcollections

North West and Kimberleys tour, 1926

Overview

1 typescript (31 pages) + 2 maps.

Historical information

In 1926, Alexander McCallum was Minister for Public Works and made a ministerial tour of the North-West region which had recently come under his responsibility. After arriving in Meekathara by train, his small party travelled 4650 km by motor car and 2092 km by boat, taking in Nullagine, Port Hedland, Broome, Derby, Fitzroy, Halls Creek, Wyndham, Ord River Station and points between. The photographs record the difficulties of the motor car leg of the journey, was well as the landscape, industry and development, and local people. Further context for the photographs is provided by a diary in the collection kept by McCallum’s personal secretary, William S. Andrew.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-103-JCPML00823/1

Item type

Manuscripts

Themes

First Peoples
Nature
Mining and Resources

Material

Paper

Contextual Information

This transcription of Andrew’s diary gives a remarkable and disturbing picture of race relations in Australia’s north in 1926, with insights into the racism directed toward Aboriginal people and Chinese people. The account of other aspects of life on stations in the north is also valuable. Curtin University Library also hold over 100 photos from the trip.

Place made

Western Australia
Australia

Year

1926 - 1926

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Comparative significance criteria

Rare or representative

Well provenanced

Public Location

John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library

Curtin University Library