Guide to the Records of the Walter Burley Griffin Society

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MS 10492

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Created: September 2019

Online Items

Class 1. Consignment received May 2019, 1913 - 1959

This consignment comprises a boolket produced by Greater Sydney Development Association showing Castlecrag and its buildings from c1922 to c1926; a booklet containing descriptions and illustrations of buildings designed and constructed by Walter Burley Griffin using knitlock; Program for the 1936 annual Anthroposophical Festival; Carbon copy of typed reference by Walter B. Grriffin written for Louise Lighfoot; Copy of a thesis on the work of Walter Burley Griffin by Robert Meyer; Eight page original contract dated 1 November 1934. Signed by Eric M. Nichols and Walter B. Griffin on behalf of the Greater Sydney Development Association, and by E. A. Deans; Five page typewritten essay written by C. C. D. Brammall in 1947 and annotated by Edgar Deans describing the Griffins aims to build a Sydney suburb of Castlecrag; Newsletter published by the Cumberland County Council Cumberland;The Federal Capital: Report Explanatory of the Preliminary General Plan from 1913; Illustrated plan of the subdivision of Castlecrag Estate, produced by the Greater Sydney Development Association.

Castlecrag Album (second edition), c1928 (Item 1) - Box 1

Booklet produced by Greater Sydney Development Association (GSDA). Contains black and white photos of Castlecrag and its buildings from c1922 to c1926, including 'Mower House' in The Rampart, which was not pictured in the first edition. (16 pages and cover.) Donated to WGBS by Bob Meyer.

Segmental Reinforced Concrete Construction, late 1920s (Item 2) - Box 1

Booklet containing descriptions and illustrations of buildings designed and constructed by Walter Burley Griffin using knit lock . Includes eleven photos of knitlock houses in Melbourne, six photos of Sydney houses, and two perspective drawings. (20 pages booklet + cover). Donated to the WBGS by Mary Lightfoot, niece of Louise Lightfoot.

Michael Festival Castlecrag 1936, 1936 (Item 3) - Box 1

Program for the 1936 annual Anthroposophical Festival. Ten pages of typewriter text with handmade cover. Inside back cover has five black and white photographs of performers and the stone seats at the Open Air Haven Scenic Theatre. Donated to WBGS by Bim Hilder.

Reference for Miss Louisa M. Lightfoot from Walter B. Griffin on his letterhead, 1929 (Item 4) - Box 1

Carbon copy of typed reference by Walter B. Grriffin. Written for Louise Lighfoot who served her four years' articles with Griffin (1921-1925) towards completion of her Architectural course with the University of Melbourne. On letterhead annotated 'Walter Burley Griffin - Architect, Landscape Architect - Sydney, Chicago, Melbourne'. Donated to WBGS by Mary Lightfoot, niece of Louisa Lightfoot.

Walter Burley Griffin: an evaluation of his work, with special reference to Castlecrag and its significance to Australian architecture, by Robert Meyer, 1959 (Item 5) - Box 1

Copy of a thesis on the work of Walter Burley Griffin by Robert Meyer. Completed towards a degree in Architecture, University of New South Wales. Contents include the Chicago School, Griffins work in America, Griffin's work in Australia. Original thesis held by author.Original thesis digitised and returned to author. Photocopy retained.

Greater Sydney Development Association Ltd to Edgar Absalom Deans: Mortgage of Uncalled Capital, 1 Nov 1934 (File 6) - Box 1

Contract (8 pages), 1 November 1934 (Item)

Signed by Eric M. Nichols and Walter B. Griffin on behalf of the Greater Sydney Development Association, and by E. A. Deans. Edgar Deans Papers, donated to WBGS by Deans and Batterham families.

Annotated draft of contract (Item)
GSDA Ltd Particulars of Uncalled Capital, 28 May 1935 (Item)

List of shares held in the company and names of shareholders including Nathaniel Cheong, Walter Burley Griffin, The Hon. Agar Wynne, The Hon, King O'Malley, Julius Grant, Edward F. Billson Charles J. Cerrutty, James F. Irvine, David C. Jenkins, Eric M. Nicholls and others. Edgar Deans Papers, donated to WBGS by Deans and Batterham families.

'He Built the Australian Bush into his Homes – American Architect's Dream Suburb was Twenty Years before Its Time', by C.C.D. Brammall, 1947 (Item 7) - Box 1

Five page typewritten essay written by C. C. D. Brammall in 1947 and annotated by Edgar Deans. Describes the Griffins aims 'to build a Sydney suburb of Castlecrag, which would represent the Griffins idea for town planning and architecture and give full scope to their love of nature and the Australian landscape. ... By this plan, instead of wishing to escape from his mass-produced suburban home to the bushland for his leisure, the city man would return with relief to his tree-surrounded home, part of the very bush itself. Such was his ideal.' Describes the 'open-air community theatre', Betty Rowland's 'Pangloss Theatre', fund-raising activities for the community kindergarten and theatre, house materials, location on allotments, view preservation, 'the interests of the present and future residents cared for', covenants, road design, dedication of 15% of Castlecrag as public reserves (even though only 2% was required by law). Edgar Deans Papers, donated to WBGS by Deans and Batterham families

Castlecrag' Scenic Harbour Suburb: Contract and Conditions of Sale, 26 May 1924 (Item 8) - Box 1

Torrens Title contract for lot 331 of the Castlecrag subdivision. Signed by M.M. Griffin and purchaser, Jane Smith, 26 May 1924. Sets out fourteen conditions and fifteen special conditions. (4 pages, no cover). Edgar Deans Papers, donated to WBGS by Deans and Batterham families

County Plan, undated (late 1940s) (Item 9) - Box 1

Newsletter published by the Cumberland County Council Cumberland. Contains articles about issues relating to development in the county including sub-standard housing in inner suburbs of Sydney, traffic problems, children having to play on streets as there is no where else for them to play, factories fouling air in living areas, rapid population expansion, suburban ugliness, and the harbour foreshores being marred by unplanned and 'unrestricted housing development reaching to the water's edge. sets out reasons 'Why we need a Plan' i.e. a coordinated town plan for metropolitan Sydney. 4 pages , nd. Edgar Deans Papers, donated to WBGS by Deans and Batterham families.

The Federal Capital: Report Explanatory of the Preliminary General Plan, October 1913 (Item 10) - Box 1

Commonwealth of Australia Department of Home Affairs, Walter Burley Griffin, Federal Capital Director of Design and Construction. Chapters are as follows: Site Characteristics, Functions with the layout of Canberra described under subheadings including public group, Federal group, Government, Recreation, University, Military, Municipal Groups, Industry, Suburban Units, Initial Town, Railways and others. Schematic diagrams of Public Groups, Government Group, Recreation Group, University Group and a plan of City and Environs are included. Dated October 1913. 16 pages, cover. Edgar Deans Papers, donated to WBGS by Deans and Batterham families

Castlecrag Scenic Estate', 1920s (Item 11) - Map-Folio 2 (MS 10492)

Illustrated plan of the subdivision of Castlecrag Estate. Produced by the Greater Sydney Development Association. This copy has five house footprints pencilled in 'The Bastion' and three in 'The Parapet', illustrating varying street setbacks to retain views of Middle Harbour. Edgar Deans Papers, donated to WBGS by Deans and Batterham families


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