About the Archive
The Rawson Archive showcases a rare and insightful collection of hand-written pen and ink illustrated diaries and photographs of the Rawson family who were among the first European settlers to the Mackay area. The images have been selected from a large collection of family documents held by the John Oxley Library, part of the State Library of Queensland and devoted to Queensland history.
The material relates to members of the Rawson family and was purchased by the Queensland Library Foundation at auction on Monday, 17 April 2000. Before the purchase of the Rawson Archive, the John Oxley Library held another Rawson photograph album, which was purchased in England through the Library's Heritage Retrieval project. It is thought that the original archive was split up at some stage. This purchase, therefore, has reunited all the known items of the archive.
The Significance of the Archive
The Rawson Archive is important from a historical perspective as it contains rare documentation that fills a great void in Mackay’s history.
Following a major cyclone and tidal wave in the area in 1918, much of Mackay’s documented history up to this point was lost. The archive material survived because when the Rawson family returned to England in the late 1880s they took with them the material they collected during their time in Mackay.
What Does the Archive Contain?
Some of the major archive items held at the State Library of Queensland include the list below.
- Letter Book (December 1890 to June 1893): hand-written letters by Charles Rawson relating to the North Queensland Separation Council.
- Shamrock Vale Diary (1871): a handwritten diary, illustrated throughout with sketches in pen and ink, about daily life on ‘The Hollow’ station, plus a similar diary, more elaborately illustrated, for the year 1877.
- Photograph Album (1870s and 1880s): compiled by Charles Rawson, containing photographs of the main house and surrounding buildings at ‘The Hollow’, Mackay streetscapes, the Port Mackay Wharf, Trinity Church and other family photographs.
- Autograph Book: containing signatures (both original and facsimile) of Australian Prime Ministers and other politicians.
- Dame Nellie Melba Scrapbook: Winifred Rawson (wife of Charles) formed a friendship with Dame Nellie Melba when the family moved to Mackay. They maintained a life-long friendship. The book contains newspaper cuttings and several original photographs of Melba, one of them signed by her.
Last updated: 10th January 2008
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