Guide to the Papers of Sir Robert Southey

Searching...

MS 9901

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Sir Robert Southey
Title
Papers of Sir Robert Southey
Date Range
1962-1994
Collection Number
MS 9901
Extent
5.32 metres (38 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
National Library of Australia

Introduction

Scope and Contents

The Papers of Sir Robert Southey document his involvement with the Liberal Party of Australia and the Australian Ballet Foundation. They comprise minutes, correspondence, reports, circulars, invitations, and publicity material.

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2057303).

Conditions Governing Use

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.

Preferred Citation

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Sir Robert Southey, National Library of Australia, MS 9901, [box number and series and/or file number]'.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Papers of Sir Robert Southey were donated to the Library by Lady Southey in August 2002.

The Library holds an oral history interview with Sir Robert Southey conducted by Michelle Potter in 1994 relating to his experiences as Chairman of the Australian Ballet Foundation, as well as a small number of publications by Southey on the policies of the Liberal Party of Australia.

Correspondence by Southey is included in the records of the Federal Secretariat of the Liberal Party Australia (MS 5000), the papers of Frederick Osborne (MS 3662) and the papers of Geoffrey Dutton (MS 7285).

Arrangement

The papers have largely been left in the order in which they were received. However, some of the Australian Ballet Foundation material was re-ordered to reflect the overall chronological arrangement of associated files.

Biographical Note

Robert John Southey was born in Melbourne on 20 March 1922, the son of Allen Hope Southey, a lawyer, and his wife Ethel Thorpe McComas, MBE. He undertook his schooling at Glamorgan School, Toorak, and later at Geelong Grammar School.

Southey pursued his tertiary education briefly at Melbourne University in 1940 before continuing at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he studied philosophy, politics and economics. When the Second World War interrupted his studies in 1941, he joined the Coldstream Guards and was commissioned as a captain. He saw active duty in North Africa and Italy, where he was involved in the siege of Monte Cassino. In 1946 he married Valerie Clarke, daughter of Sir Frank and Lady Clarke, with whom he had five sons. Valerie died in 1977.

In 1949 Southey returned to Australia and joined the family business of William Haughton and Company Ltd as a clerk, later working as a junior wool buyer and sheepskin classer before becoming a director (1953-1959), managing director (1959-1975), and chairman (1968-1980). Southey's extensive business interests also included numerous positions as company director. He also held positions on a number of other cultural organisations including director of the Art Foundation of Victoria (1978-1981), president of the Geelong Grammar Foundation (1977-1988) and chairman of the School Council (1966-1972), a trustee of the Nuffield Farming Scholarships, and chairman of the Australian Advisory Committee for the Nuffield Foundation (1970-1982).

Southey's interest in ballet was initially prompted by the Australian tours of de Basil's Ballets Russes (1936-1940). In 1977 he became directly involved in ballet with his appointment as director of the Australian Ballet Foundation, serving as chairman in 1980-1990. He was also Chairman of the Executive and Finance Committee, Chairman of Australian Ballet Development Pty. Ltd. and a member of the Council of Management of the Australian Ballet School. During his decade as chairman, Southey steered the company through a number of problematic periods, including the 1981 dancers strike, an unprecedented financial deficit, the loss of key dancers, and criticisms of repertoire and employment of Australian dancers.

Southey's involvement in politics commenced shortly after his return from England, when he joined the Liberal Party of Australia in 1949. Between 1949 and 1959 he served on the committee of the Malvern Branch of the Victorian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia, later becoming President of the Frankston Branch, 1961-1966, and President of the Victorian Division, 1966-1970. In 1970 he became Federal President of the Liberal Party of Australia, a post he held until 1975, continuing his involvement with the party as a member of the federal executive until 1982.

Southey was awarded a CMG in 1970, knighted in 1972, and awarded an AO in 1993. In 1982 he married his second wife, Marigold Merlyn Baillieu Myer, the daughter of Sidney Myer and Dame Marilyn Meyer. He died in Melbourne on 29 September 1998. He is honoured by the Sir Robert Southey Centre at Glamorgan, Geelong Grammar School.

Sources: 'Meet the Chairman', in The Australian Ballet News, May 1987; 'Obituaries: Sir Robert Southey, AO', in Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday, October 1, 1998; Who's Who in Australia 1999.

Item Descriptions

Series 1. Liberal Party of Australia, Federal Secretariat, 1970-1977

These files relate to Southey's position as President of the Federal Secretariat of the Liberal Party of Australia, 1970-1975. The files contain minutes, correspondence, reports, press releases, speech notes, and ephemera, and have been arranged in an alphabetical sequence using the existing file titles. Some files contain material relating to the period prior to Southey's presidency of the Federal Secretariat..

Australian Liberal Students Federation, 1975 (File 1) - box 1

Australian Labor Party, 1968-1970 (File 2) - box 1

Australia Party, 1972 (File 3) - box 1

Bill of Rights, 1974-1977 (File 4) - box 1

Commonwealth/State Relations, 1967-1969 (File 5-7) - box 1,2

Conservative Party International Office, 1973-1976 (File 8) - box 2

Christmas Card List, 1970 (File 9) - box 2

Council Agenda Sub-Committee, 1977 (File 10-11) - box 2

Dissent, 1970 (File 12) - box 2

Includes copies of Research Notes, 'The theories of student revolt in Australia 1965-70' (No. 22/70) and 'The Vietnam moratorium campaign' (No. 28/70).

Eggleton, Tony, 1973-1979 (File 13) - box 2

Executive Council of Australian Jewry, 1972-1973 (File 14) - box 2

Federal Campaigning, 1973 (File 15) - box 2

Also includes papers relating to the National Campaign Committee and Allied Matters, and the Sub-Committee to Review the Role of the Federal Council.

Federal Campaign Committee, 1967-1968 (File 16) - box 3

Federal Council, 1968-1977 (File 17-24) - box 3,4

Federal Executive, 1966-1976 (File 25-74) - box 4,5,6

Federal Platform Committee, 1973 (File 75) - box 7

Federal Platform Review, 1973-1974 (File 76) - box 7

Federal Platform Review, 1977 (File 77) - box 7

Federal Rural Committee, 1968, 1970-1978 (File 78-95) - box 7,8

Finance, 1974 (File 96) - box 8

Fraser, Malcolm, 1975-1980 (File 97) - box 8

Fund Raising, 1975-1977 (File 98) - box 9

General Correspondence, Federal President, 1971-1973 (File 99-105) - box 9,10

Correspondents are arranged alphabetically.

General Correspondence, Federal President, 1974-1975 (File 106-109) - box 10,11

General Correspondence, Federal President, 1978-1980 (File 110) - box 11

General Correspondence, Federal President, Other Branches/States, Victoria, 1970-1974 (File 111) - box 11

Correspondents are arranged alphabetically.

General Correspondence, Federal President, Other Branches/States, New South Wales, 1970-1974 (File 112) - box 11

General Correspondence, Federal President, Other Branches/States, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, 1970-1974 (File 113) - box 11

General Correspondence, Federal Secretariat, 1970-1973 (File 114) - box 12

General Papers, 1973-1974 (File 115) - box 12

Includes Interim report: select committee on endorsement, re-endorsement and candidate training, An analysis of the second interim report of the committee of inquiry into the protection of privacy, and Report by the select committee on intra party communications.

Gorton, John, Sir, 1969-1971 (File 116) - box 12

Hartcher, B.G., 1974 (File 117) - box 12

Higgins Pre-selection, 1975-1976 (File 118) - box 12

Howson, Peter, 1978-1980 (File 119) - box 12

Joint Standing Committee on Federal Policy, 1966-1975 (File 120-123) - box 13

Liberal Party of Australia, London Group, 1975 (File 124) - box 13

McGrath, Charles, Sir, 1972-1975 (File 125) - box 13

Also includes material relating to Sir Robert Crichton-Brown

McMahon, William, 1971-1973 (File 126-127) - box 13

Manufacturing Committee, 1973-1976 (File 128-132) - box 14

Meeting of federal and state Liberal parliamentary leaders and presidents, Hotel Windsor, Melbourne, 2 September 1974 (File 133) - box 14

Miscellaneous, 1967-1980 (File 134) - box 15

Includes various Liberal Party of Australia publications, correspondence and speeches. A number of items relate to the Young Liberal Movement of Australia.

National Compensation Bill (The Liberal/Country Party Attitude), n.d. (File 135)

An information paper written by Don Chipp.

National Party, New Zealand, 1975-1976 (File 136) - box 15

New South Wales Division, correspondence, 1966-1974 (File 137) - box 15

New South Wales Division, lecture course, n.d. (File 138) - box 15

New South Wales Division, State Council, 1977 (File 139) - box 15

New South Wales Division, State Executive, 1974-1975 (File 140) - box 15

Policy Charter, 1973 (File 141) - box 15

Policy Research Group, 1970-1973 (File 142) - box 15

Policy Sub-Committees, 1969-1972 (File 143) - box 16

Includes minutes, notes and reports relating to the activities of various policy sub-committees including the Urban-Development, Education, Transport, Rural Policy, Federal Policy, Social Welfare, and Defence and Foreign Affairs Sub-Committees.

Press Releases/Speeches, Labor Government, 1971-1972 (File 144) - box 16

Queensland Division, 1967-1977 (File 145) - box 16

Retirements, 1967-1974 (File 146) - box 16

Includes correspondence relating to the retirements of B.G. Hartcher and E.G. Holt.

Robert Menzies Centre Appeal, 1971-1973 (File 147) - box 16

Research Notes, 1966-1974 (File 148) - box 17

Secondary Industry Consultative Committee, 1970-1973 (File 149-154) - box 17,18

Senate Campaign Committee, 1970 (File 155) - box 18

Solomons, L. Adrian, 1975 (File 156) - box 18

South Australian Division, 1969-1975 (File 157) - box 19

Speeches, 1971-1976 (File 158-161) - box 19,20

Staff Planning Committee, 1966-1975 (File 162-163) - box 20

Steering Committee on Re-examination of Liberal Philosophy on Federalism, 1970 (File 164) - box 20

Tasmanian Division, 1970-1974 (File 165) - box 20

UNESCO Education Committee, 1971-1973 (File 166) - box 20

Victorian Division, 1970-1975 (File 167) - box 20

Vietnam, 1970-1971 (File 168) - box 21

Voting, Federal Elections, 1977 (File 169) - box 21

Includes report Analysis of Voting, General Elections 10 December 1977.

Western Australia Division, Correspondence, 1968-1975 (File 170) - box 21

Western Australia Division, State Conference, 1974 (File 171) - box 21

Western Australia Division, State Executive, 1971-1974 (File 172-173) - box 21 (?)

Woodside-Burmah Oil N.L., 1973 (File 174) - box 21 (?)

Series 2. Liberal Party of Australia, Victorian Division, 1962-1978

These files relate to Southey's involvement with the Victorian Division of the Liberal Party, as President of the Victorian Division, 1966-1970, and President of the Frankston Branch, 1961-1966. The files contain minutes, correspondence, reports, press releases, speech notes, and ephemera, and have been arranged in an alphabetical sequence using the existing file titles. Some files contain material relating to the period after Southey's presidency of the Victorian Division.

3XY (Radio Station) and Senator Sir Magnus Cormack, 1966-1972 (File 1) - box 22

Education Committee and Grange Road Group, 1963-1965 (File 2) - box 22

Federal Council, 1967 (File 3) - box 22

Federal Elections, 1966, 1968-1969 (File 4) - box 22

Federal Sub-Committee on Senior Staff, 1966-1968 (File 5) - box 22

Finance, 1965-1968 (File 6) - box 22

Finance Statements, 1965-1970 (File 7) - box 23

General Correspondence, 1966-1970 (File 8-15) - box 23,24

Correspondents are arranged alphabetically.

General Correspondence, other branches, 1965-1970 (File 16) - box 24

General Secretary, Victorian Division, 1966-1971 (File 17) - box 24

Gorton, John, Sir, 1967-1970 (File 18) - box 24

Holt, Harold, 1967 (File 19) - box 24

Letters of congratulations on appointments as vice president and president of Liberal Party, 1966 (File 20) - box 24

Little Desert and conservation, 1969-1974 (File 21) - box 25

New building, 1968-1971 (File 22) - box 25

Press cuttings, 1966-1976 (File 23) - box 25

The file contains newspaper cuttings, election campaign ephemera, and an order of service for the state funeral of Sir Wilfrid Kent Hughes.

Publicity, 1966-1967 (File 24) - box 25

Publicity and Communications Committee, 1964-1966 (File 25) - box 25

State Council, 1966-1978 (File 26-33) - box 25,26

State Executive, 1962-1977 (File 34-46) - box 26,27,28

Victorian State Election, 1967 (File 47) - box 29

Includes a copy of Twelve years of dynamic progress in the Department of Agriculture Victoria : 1955-1967

Victorian State Election, 1970 (File 48) - box 29

Victorian State Election, 1973 (File 49) - box 29

Water, 1968-1969 (File 50) - box 30

Women's Sections, 1966-1967 (File 51) - box 30

Young Liberal Movement of Victoria, 1966-1967 (File 52) - box 30

Series 3. Australian Ballet Foundation, correspondence, 1973-1974, 1977-1994

These files relate to Southey's involvement with the Australian Ballet Foundation as a board member (1977-1980) and chairman (1980-1990). The series contains correspondence, board papers, invitations and reports.

Papers, 1973-1974, 1977 (File 1) - box 30

Papers, 1977-1978 (File 2) - box 30

Papers, 1978 (File 3-4) - box 30,31

Papers, 1979 (File 5-6) - box 31

Papers, 1980 (File 7-11) - box 31,32

Papers, 1981 (File 12_14) - box 32,33

Papers, 1982 (File 15_18) - box 33,34

Papers, 1983 (File 19_21) - box 34

Papers, 1984-1987 (File 22) - box 34

Papers, 1988 (File 23) - box 35

Papers, 1989 (File 24) - box 35

Papers, 1990 (File 25_26) - box 35

Papers, 1991-1994 (File 27) - box 35

Series 4. Australian Ballet Foundation, subject files, 1980-1987

These files relate to Southey's involvement with the Australian Ballet Foundation as a board member (1977-1980), and chairman (1980-1990). The subject files in this series contains correspondence and board papers.

1981 Industrial Dispute, 1981-1982 (File 1-2) - box 36

Australian Ballet Foundation, Building Sub-Committee, 1978-1980 (File 3) - box 36

Australian Ballet Development Fund, 1980 (File 4) - box 36

Australian Ballet Development Nominees Pty Ltd, 1983 (File 5) - box 36

Australian Ballet Development Pty Ltd, 1985-1987 (File 6-7) - box 37

Board, committees, structure, membership, 1980 (File 8) - box 37

Orchestras, 1983 (File 9) - box 37

Project Control Group, 1980-1982 (File 10) - box 37

Series 5. Australian Ballet, publications and programs, 1977-1980

These files relate to Southey's involvement with the Australian Ballet Foundation as a board member (1977-1980), and chairman (1980-1990). This series contains Australian Ballet publications including annual reports, programs, as well as photocopies of newspaper cuttings sent to Southey by the Australian Ballet Publicity Department.

Publications, 1977-1980 (File 1-5) - box 37,38

Includes programs, cast sheets, news releases, and circulars.

Annual reports, 1975-1979 (File 6) - box 38

Series 6. Miscellaneous, 1998 - box 38

This series contains the order of service for two memorial services for Sir Robert Southey held at St. John's Church, Toorak, on 5 October 1998, and at St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, on 16 October 1998.


Top