Guide to the Papers of Peter Harrison
MS 8347
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Peter Harrison
- Title
- Papers of Peter Harrison
- Date Range
- 1901-1990
- Collection Number
- MS 8347
- Extent
- 13.75 metres (66 ms boxes + 1 large folio box + 1 small rolled items box+ 1 outsized phase box + 6 map folios)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Special Collections (Manuscripts)
Introduction
Scope and Contents
Comprehensive collection of personal papers, correspondence and research materials relating to Walter Burley Griffin; town planning and urban development generally and specifically in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory; papers relating to official government and professional bodies including the National Capital Development Commission, National Capital Planning Committee, Design and Siting Review Committee, Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Royal Australian Planning Institute; and papers relating to his activities as a Canberra planning activist.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2202164).
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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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 Peter Harrison, National Library of Australia, MS 8347, [series and/or file number]'.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers were donated to the Library by Sheila Harrison in 1991. Small additions were made by Mrs Harrison in 1996 and by Ed Wensing in 1997.
Related Materials
Oral history interviews with Peter Harrison are held by the Library at ORAL TRC 2404 and ORAL TRC 2635.
Separated Materials
When the Harrison Papers were acquired, they were found to contain papers of Eric M. Nicholls, relating to Walter Burley Griffin. These had been lent to Harrison for use in his research into Griffin. The Nicholls Collection was returned to the Nicholls family in 1996.
Biographical / Historical
Peter Firman Harrison was born in Brisbane on 28 October 1918 and grew up in Rose Bay, Sydney. He was educated at the Sydney Technical College (Diploma in Architecture, 1942), the University of Sydney (Diploma in Town and Country planning, 1950) and the University of New South Wales (Master of Architecture, 1970).
In 1972 he was awarded the Sidney Luker Memorial Medal for services to town and regional planning in Australia and in 1980 was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). He was a Life Fellow of both the Royal Australian Planning Institute and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. Harrison died in Canberra on 30 October 1990.
Appointments
Town planner. Chief Town Planner, National Capital Development Commission, Canberra, 1958-1967. Research fellow, Urban Research Unit, Australian National University, 1967-1980.
Item Descriptions
Class MS 8347. Original Consignment
Series 1. Personal Documents, 1934-90
This series contains documentation, chiefly in the form of certificates, statements, references and correspondence, on Peter Harrison's education and employment. Also included is the Sidney Luker Medal he was awarded in 1972 with the associated citation; and a folder of correspondence relating to his nomination for membership of the Order of Australia, the conferral of the award in 1980, and his resignation from the Order in 1985. Two folders of papers concern Harrison family history, and family matters such as the death of his brother Arthur and estate of Reginald Harrison. A few photographs of Harrison, and articles about him, are also present.
Employment: references, correspondence; documents on education, qualifications (folder titled 'Household') (File 1) - Box 1
Invitations to inauguration of Lake Burley Griffin and neighbourhood of Hughes, 1964; articles about Harrison, 1964, 1968; position appointments, Luker Medal (1972) and other papers, 1976-83; resume, 1979 (File 2) - Box 1
Certificate of Royal Australian Air Force discharge, 1942; certificates of educational results, and professional qualifications and awards, 1934-80; photograph of participants at Seminar on Land Policy and Land Taxation in Asia, 24 August 1970; photocopy of Order of Australia appointment, 1980. [folio] (File 7)
Series 2. General correspondence, 1968-90
Correspondence filed alphabetically by Peter Harrison and covering a range of subjects over a 22 year period. Identified correspondents are listed below. Other correspondence, including letters to or from some of the persons below, exists in many other series in the Harrison Papers.
Major correspondents include Wally Abraham (1989), Robert Freestone, (1978, 1981-84), Margaret Bonham, (1989), David Hain, (1984-86), Terry Birtles (1982, 1986, 1988), Roger Johnson (1983, 1985), John Black, (1983-85), Laurie Knox (1989), Raymond Bunker (1976, 1978, 1980, 1983-86), Laurie Malanot, (1989), Peter Navaretti, (1982), Derek Cartwright (1984-90), R.S. Parker (1987), Betty and Ruth Coleman (1989), Roger Pegrum (1983, 1985-86), Patrick Coleman, (1985-86), Peter Proudfoot (1989), Elizabeth Cocke (1988-89), Paul Reid (1990), Christina De Marco (1989-90), Richard Stringer (1968), Milo Dunphy (1985), Ena Towndrow (1989-90), Karl Fischer (1978, 1982, 1985), and Gwen Wilson (1982).
Series 3. Gordon Stephenson Correspondence, 1961-90
Peter Harrison had a long-standing association with Professor Gordon Stephenson, the distinguished British architect and planner. Stephenson, who was a consultant to the Western Australian Government on the Perth metropolitan plan in 1953-55, emigrated to Australia in 1960 to become foundation Professor of Architecture at the University of Western Australia. Stephenson had many planning consultancies in Australia and New Zealand over the next two decades. His involvement with Canberra planning included appointment by the National Capital Development Commission as a planning consultant (1960-66), an interdisciplinary Canberra planning study (1971), and membership of the National Capital Planning Committee (1967-73).
A close friendship developed between Harrison and Stephenson, and mutual respect and admiration is evident in the extensive correspondence in this series. The letters concern both personal and professional matters.
Series 4. Papers relating to Denis Winston, 1970-83
Professor Denis Winston was Professor of Town and Country Planning at the University of Sydney in 1948-74 and Emeritus Professor, 1974-80. Harrison studied under Winston for his Diploma in Town and Country Planning in 1950, and worked under him in 1951-58 as Senior Lecturer in Town Planning.
This small group of papers and printed material includes a few letters and postcards written by Winston (1972, 1975-79) ; a 1976 pamphlet on Port Sunlight Village inscribed by Winston to Harrison ; and two typescript copies of letters from Harrison to Winston (1977, 1979). Other papers concern a video documentary interview of Winston, tributes made by Harrison following Winston's death in 1980, and the Denis Winston Memorial Committee. There is also a copy of Robert Freestone's publication Denis Winston: an annotated bibliography 1949-1976, published in 1983.
Papers associated with Harrison and Winston's City of Adelaide Planning Report consultancy in 1971 may be found in Series 5, piece 14.
Series 5. Writings, Papers, Addresses and Interviews of Peter Harrison, 1951-90
A prolific writer on the subject of town planning, Peter Harrison had numerous articles published in books, journals and newspapers from 1951 until his death in 1990. He kept copies of many of his writings, both published and unpublished, as well as conference papers and lectures delivered, and transcripts of interviews with Gavin Walkley and J.A. Hepburn in 1981.
This series includes a set of obituaries, book reviews, unpublished papers and publications kept originally in binders by Harrison. The binder contents have been kept in original order by the Library. There is a large group of writings of various kinds (folders 8-16) arranged chronologically, including publications, articles, lectures, submissions, letters to the editor and newspaper articles, occasionally with associated correspondence, notes or other papers.
A list compiled by Peter Harrison of his published works may be found in folder 4.
Harrison's most ambitious work, unpublished at the time of his death, was a book based on his 1970 MA thesis: 'Walter Burley Griffin : landscape architect.' In writing this work Harrison drew on his extensive knowledge and years of research on Walter Burley Griffin. Copies of this thesis, and annotated chapters for the book, are in this series. Walter Burley Griffin: landscape architect was published by the National Library of Australia in 1995.
Engineering Heritage of the ACT (vi); ANU campus history (not by P. Harrison), 1982 (File 26) - Box 6
'Walter Burley Griffin: Landscape Architect'. Thesis (set 1), Chs. 1-4; slight marking up (File 27) - Box 6
Walter Burley Griffin. Thesis (set 2), Chs. 1-5, with annotations by P. Harrison and Edward Fielder Billson (File 30) - Box 6
Series 6. Research papers on Walter Burley Griffen, 1901-88
Peter Harrison had an abiding interest in the work of Walter Burley Griffin and is acknowledged as one of the earliest people to undertake serious and scholarly study into Griffin's life and career. Griffin received scant respect from many of his colleagues in his own lifetime. Despite his fame as the designer of the Australian national capital, relatively little study had been made of Griffin. In 1933 Nancy Price, who is thought to have worked briefly with him as a summer student, wrote a slim thesis on Griffin. From the 1950s Harrison undertook his own research, making contact with colleagues of Griffin including Eric Nicholls, Edward Fielder Billson and Roy Lippincott. Other Griffin scholars, both American and Australian, made contact with Harrison to seek his advice and share ideas: first the American Mark Peisch, then in later years James Birrell, Donald Johnson, James Weirick and others. It was not until 1970 that Harrison completed his major work on Griffin, an MA thesis titled 'Walter Burley Griffin: Landscape Architect'. He at first planned to publish this work, but eventually decided against the idea, despite encouragement from a major publisher. Harrison's expertise on Griffin was an important factor in his appointment as Director of Town Planning at the National Capital Development Commission in 1958. Elements of Griffin's vision for Canberra influenced Harrison in his work for the Commission and in subsequent years as a Canberra planning activist.
The papers in this series were accumulated by Harrison over a long period and include research material spanning Griffin's career in the United States, Australia (principally in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney) and India. Included is correspondence of Harrison ; records of his interviews with Griffin contemporaries ; photographs of Walter Burley Griffin, Marion Mahoney Griffin and their works ; printed material of various kinds including articles and cuttings ; Harrison's own research notes ; a partial set of photocopies of Marion Mahoney Griffin's 'The Magic of America' ; listings and copies of Griffin holdings in American libraries ; and other published and unpublished sources. Of special interest is the original draft of Nancy Price's thesis with annotations in Griffin's hand (piece 35). There is also a large tracing and watercolour drawing made by Harrison of Griffin's perspective submitted for the Canberra design competition in 1912 (piece 44).
In the 1950s Harrison borrowed documents and photographs originally owned by the Griffins that later passed to Eric Nicholls. Some of these documents were found in the Harrison Papers at the time of processing and were separated to form the E.M. Nicholls Collection. The listing below indicates where this has occurred. In 1996 the Nicholls Collection was returned to the Nicholls family. Copies of the Nicholls material were occasionally made by Harrison and these have been retained in the Harrison Papers.
Peter Harrison's writings on Griffin, including various drafts and a bound copy of 'Walter Burley Griffin: Landscape Architect', together with illustrations intended for the book, are located in Series 5.
Mark L. Peisch - correspondence on Griffin, 1956-66 ; includes E.M. Nicholls - Peisch correspondence, 1954-56 (File 4) - Box 9
Research papers, including: James Weirick notes ; Leeton (The Irrigation Record, 1 May 1915) (File 9) - Box 9
Newspaper clippings, 1963-64, 1972, 1987 ; 'About WBG' ; Marion M. Griffin ; 'WBG personal' ; photographs (File 11) - Box 10
'Articles etc. by WBG on landscape etc.' ; Peter Harrison photocopies (partial set of originals in E.M. Nicholls Collection) (File 12) - Box 10
Folders (envelopes) on buildings, works of Griffin - (other folders and items from these folders are in the E.M. Nicholls Collection) (File 16) - Box 10
Files (envelopes) - Castlecrag houses and buildings, chiefly photographs and plans (other folders and items from these folders are in the E.M. Nicholls Collection) (File 18) - Box 10
Walter Burley Griffin - Castlecrag, building plans ; Work in Australia (excluding Castlecrag, Newman College and Canberra) [folio] (File 20)
Nancy Price. 'Walter Burley Griffin'. Thesis, with annotations by Walter Burley Griffin (holograph and typescript), 1933 (File 35) - Box 12
Nancy Price. 'Walter Burley Griffin', 1933. Photocopies (2) with explanatory note by Peter Harrison (File 36) - Box 12
Photographs - negatives, positives ; Griffin plans, including those held at Northwestern University (File 37) - Box 12
Griffin works, USA - plans and drawings - microfilm print and copies (Avery Library, Columbia University) (File 38) - Box 12
Aerial view of Sydney, 1914; Griffin and Canberra - notes, references, source material (File 39) - Box 12
Proceedings of Congress of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors on the Building of the Federal Capital, 1901 (copy) (File 41) - Box 13
'View from summit of Mount Ainslie'; 'Cycloramic view of Canberra Capital site - view looking from Camp Hill (File 43) - Box 13
'View from summit of Mount Ainslie' - tracing and watercolour. "This is a tracing of one of the drawings submitted by Walter Burley Griffin for the design competition for the national capital in 1912. The original is photoprinted on three sheets of linen and rendered in colour; it was almost certainly drawn and rendered by Marion Mahoney Griffin. Peter Harrison, April 1958". [folio] (File 44)
Photographic reproductions of Federal Capital site map and plans; early aerial photographs (File 46) - Box 13
Photographic reproductions of design perspectives and other material, chiefly on the Federal Capital design competition and Griffin plan (File 47) - Box 13
Federal Capital design. Griffin report 1913 ; Royal Victorian Institute of Architects Journal articles, 1911-19 (copies) (File 51) - Box 14
Royal Commission on Federal Capital Administration. Particulars summary; minutes of evidence, 1917; notes by P. Harrison (File 52) - Box 14
Royal Commission on Federal Capital Administration, 1917, minutes of evidence. (i) (File 53) - Box 14
Royal Commission on Federal Capital Administration, 1917, minutes of evidence (ii) (File 54) - Box 14
Royal Commission on Federal Capital Administration, 1917, minutes of evidence (iii) (File 55) - Box 14
Royal Commission on Federal Capital Administration, 1917, minutes of evidence (iv) (File 56) - Box 15
Royal Commission on Federal Capital Administration, 1917, chiefly reports (originals and copies) (File 57) - Box 15
Copies of official records regarding (i) engagement of W.B. Griffin as Federal Capital Director of Design and Construction 1919-21; (ii) Henry F. Halloran 20/3/1924; Federal Capital Advisory Committee report 1926 (C.S. Daley's copy) (File 62) - Box 15
Works on Griffin sent to Harrison for comment: J.D. Hodgson, P.L. Johnson, A.J.W. Powell, 1968-84 (File 64) - Box 16
Series 7. Lecture and reference files, 1950s - 1960s
The series comprises a group of 18 titled files (one empty) and an album of 35 mm. photographic negatives. Most files appear to have been created by Harrison in the 1950s, when he was Senior Lecturer in Town Planning at the University of Sydney. Some titles refer to specific courses, while others have broader subject headings. There are course outlines with related material, Harrison's own notes, and both unpublished and published reference material. The bulk of the file contents date from the early 1950s to mid 1960s, but some items have an earlier or later date.
Series 8. Town Planning in NSW, SA, WA, 1953-86
While Peter Harrison is most widely known for his association with the planning of Canberra, he was also involved in other states and in particular New South Wales. Harrison worked as a planning officer for the Cumberland County Council from its inception in 1946 until 1950, and was a member of the Height of Buildings Advisory Committee of the State Planning Authority of NSW. Later he was a consultant on planning projects in Adelaide, Darwin and Sydney, as well as overseas.
Most of this series on planning policy and law in New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia is comprised of various kinds of published and unpublished reference material, although some correspondence and notes are also present. The greater part of the series concerns NSW planning, especially Sydney. There is a substantial group of newspaper cutting files (1965-81), and copies of some publications sent to Harrison, together with associated correspondence, comments or other documents he inserted in these works.
Sydney Central Business District (including Height of Building papers), 1956-68 [bulk] (File 2) - Box 18
Miscellaneous papers : Kelly's Bush, 1974-83 ; Straten title, 1961, 1970-77 ; Clippings - Perth planning, 1977-80 ; other papers and clippings (File 7) - Box 19
Cuttings : Planning Control (Land and Valuation Court), 1969-73 ; State Planning Authority (i) 974-81 (File 15) - Box 20
NSW Minister for Planning and Environment, 1974, 1975 ; Reports on NSW planning system with associated papers, 1975 (File 25) - Box 22
NSW Planning and Environment Commission. Report to the Minister for Planning and Environment, Nov. 1975 (annotated copy) (File 26) - Box 22
Leoni Sandercock. 'Public participation in planning: a report prepared for the Monarto Development Commission', 1975 with associated documents on planning participation, 1978 (File 27) - Box 22
Series 9. Committees of Inquiry, 1955-88
Peter Harrison sent submissions to, or presented evidence at, a number of inquiries into aspects of ACT planning during his career. His representations were made variously as an academic, an NCDC planner, a member of professional associations, and as a concerned private citizen.
The series contains papers kept by Harrison on eight inquiries between 1955 and 1987 for which he provided submissions or gave evidence. It commences with the 1955 Senate Select Committee on the Development of Canberra, at which Harrison was an influential witness, and finishes with the 1987 Parliamentary Committee on the ACT, for which he provided a submission on city development (Section 38). Included are copies of his own submissions and statements, as well as those of others, Hansard transcripts, correspondence and a variety of reference papers (both published and unpublished) and notes.
Senate Select Committee appointed to Inquire into, and Report on the Development of Canberra. Report, 1955 (File 1) - Box 23
Parliamentary Joint Committee of Public Accounts - NCDC. Minutes of evidence, 1966 (File 2) - Box 23
Parliamentary Joint Committee on the ACT. Freehold Land Inquiry ; evidence of Harrison ; NCDC and other submissions and papers, 1967 [bulk] (File 3) - Box 23
Parliamentary Joint Committee on ACT. Freeholds Lands Inquiry. Submissions, papers, report, 1967-68 (File 4) - Box 23
Parliamentary Joint Committee on ACT. Freeholds Lands Inquiry. Transcript of Proceedings, 1967 (i) (File 5) - Box 23
Parliamentary Joint Committee on ACT. Freeholds Lands Inquiry. Transcript of Evidence, 1967 (ii) (File 6) - Box 23
Parliamentary Joint Committee on ACT. Freeholds Lands Inquiry. Transcripts of Evidence, 1967 (iii) (File 7) - Box 23
Parliamentary Joint Committee on ACT. Freeholds Lands Inquiry. Transcript of Evidence, 1967 (iv) (File 8) - Box 24
Joint Select Committee on the New and Permanent Parliament House. Correspondence, 1968-69 ; Reference documents, 1961-64 (File 9) - Box 24
Joint Select Committee on the New and Permanent Parliament House. Transcript of Evidence, 1969 (File 10) - Box 24
Parliamentary Joint Committee on the New and Permanent Parliamentary House - submissions, 1969 ; Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works ; Commonwealth Centre, Woolloomooloo NSW - report and minutes of evidence, 1972 (File 11) - Box 24
Land Tenures Inquiry. Letters from Commission to W.D. Borrie and Harrison ; Harrison submission ; Commission draft documents, reference material, 1973 (File 12) - Box 24
Committee of Inquiry into Expansion of the National Capital of NSW, 1975. Terms of reference; correspondence; evidence of Harrison; Royal Australian Planning Institute submission; other papers, 1973-75; Report of Committee (unbound copy), 1975 (File 20) - Box 25
Committee of Inquiry into the Expansion of the National Capital into NSW. Reference documents (File 21) - Box 25
Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Capital Territory. Hansard, Sept. and Oct. 1982; Joint Committee on the Australian Capital Territory. Evidence by P.F. Harrison (File 22) - Box 25
Parliamentary Joint Committee on the ACT. Variation of Canberra Plan - 89th series, 1987. Harrison's submission; Hansards (File 23) - Box 26
Parliamentary Joint Committee on the ACT. Variation of Canberra Plan - 89th series, 1987. Hansard [proof] (File 24) - Box 26
Parliamentary Joint Committee on ACT. (file 'PJC'); correspondence and other papers, 1986-87 [bulk] (File 25) - Box 26
Inquiry into the Canberra Leasehold System, 1988. Correspondence; submissions of Harrison and others (File 26) - Box 26
Series 10. National Capital Development Commission, 1958-67
After some negotiation, Peter Harrison left the University of Sydney in 1959 to become inaugural Chief Town Planner of the NCDC. He was recruited by Sir John Overall, who was mindful of Harrison's knowledge of Walter Burley Griffin. Harrison spent the next eight years at the Commission, serving as Director of Town Planning and First Assistant Commissioner.
The series does not reflect the scope of Harrison's work, or the extent of his influence during the period with the Commission. It includes papers from the October 1958 National Capital Planning Committee meeting; files and papers on aspects of Commission planning in its early years including definition of the Australian National University site, and Canberra city centre planning. There are papers on Harrison's consultancy visits, especially in North America in 1965, his resignation from the Commission in 1967, and some printed material including reports of Sir William Holford.
Papers concerning Harrison's appearance as a Commission representative at the 1967 Land Tenure Inquiry are in Series 9.
National Capital Planning Committee meeting, October 1958; documents on Canberra, 1958-64 (File 2) - Box 27
Washington visit of Harrison, 1964-65, including copies of a reports by R.B. Lansdown (File 8) - Box 27
Series 11. NSW Land Commission, 1979-84
Harrison served as a part-time commissioner of the Land Commission of New South Wales during 1979-83. When Harrison left the Commission the Minister for Housing, Tony Sheehan, wrote to express appreciation for his contribution to the work of the Commission since its establishment 'despite the fact that your views have not always accorded with the Government's aspirations for the Commissioners role in its housing programme'.
The series contains correspondence and minutes, (mostly copies) notes, legislation, cuttings and Land Commission publications.
Series 12. National Capital Planning Committee, 1980-84
Harrison's first association with the National Capital Planning Committee, an advisory body associated with the National Capital Development Commission, began when he attended its October 1958 meeting around the time he joined the staff of the Commission. While at the Urban Research Unit of the ANU in 1979 he became a member of the Committee as a nominee of the Royal Australian Planning Institute. He resigned from the Committee in 1984, referring to his increasing concern about the practices and policies of the NCDC. This series contains papers for the 179th to 190th NCPC meetings (August 1981 to May 1984); correspondence concerning Harrison's resignation from the Committee; and a 1980 draft of the City Centre Policy Plan circulated to Committee members.
Some correspondence relating to Harrison's views and activities as an NCPC member may also be found at Series 15/56.
Series 13. Design and Siting Review Committee, 1981-84
Harrison became a member of the Design and Siting Review Committee (DSRC), a government body, as a nominee of the National Capital Planning Committee. As a member of the DSRC, he participated in the determination of appeals lodged against refusals of the NCDC under its Design and Siting Policies. This work was in an honorary capacity. In 1984 Harrison resigned after being required to appear before the Deputy Ombudsman in a particular case: "I am not prepared to continue in a position where I can be summoned like a perfidious public servant by any nut who chooses to complain to the Ombudsman".
The series contains papers relating to appeals between 1981 and 1984, together with correspondence on Harrison's resignation.
Series 14. Professional Associations, 1976-90
Peter Harrison was a long-standing member of two professional associations: the Royal Australian Planning Institute (and its predecessors, the Australian Planning Institute and Town and Country Planning Institute of Australia) and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. A Life Fellow of RAIA, he resigned his fellowship in 1990 in protest at the policies of the ACT Chapter on the Canberra Metropolitan Plan. Harrison was also a Life Fellow of the Royal Australian Planning Institute. He was awarded the Institute's Sidney Luker Memorial Medal in 1972.
This series contains small groups of papers concerning Harrison's membership of the two associations in later years. It comprises mainly correspondence and printed material. Harrison's Sidney Luker Medal and citation are in Series 1.
Series 15. Canberra Planning Activist, 1965-90 (bulk 1983-90)
Harrison retired from the Urban Research Unit of the Australian National University in 1983. His interest in the planning of the national capital, however, remained as strong as ever. Until his death in 1990, Harrison was very active as a private citizen in seeking to resist Canberra planning policies that he felt were contrary to earlier NCDC principles. Particular concerns included the move away from the 'neighbourhood' principle in residential areas, the overdevelopment of Civic Centre, and flaws in the leasehold system, including changes to lease purpose clauses that benefited lessees. Harrison's increasing disillusion led to his resignation from the Design and Setting Review Committee (Series 13), Royal Australian Institute of Architects (Series 14) and even from the Order of Australia (Series 1).
This series contains a range of material, both printed and manuscript, created and accumulated by Harrison. It reveals the extent of his efforts as a planning activist, including his considerable research. There is a significant group of documents on the various court cases involving office development in Civic, most of which involved Harrison. Other subjects represented include the Metropolitan, National Capital and Civic Plans; the 1982 Committee of Review of the NCDC; transport and parking; heritage and environment; inner suburban development, including the Reid Residents Association; and planning in Woden and Tuggeranong. There are research notes; court transcripts and submissions; NCDC proposals and policy reports of various kinds; correspondence, including Harrison's letters to The Canberra Times as well as to the NCDC, Interim Territory Planning Authority and National Capital Planning Authority ; and other papers. Many of the publications and reports bear Harrison's annotations. These reports, although printed, were often internal documents or had only limited circulation.
Court Cases (Pieces 1-54) (see also folders 175-191)
Morpath Pty. Ltd. v ACT Youth Accommodation Group Inc. (Federal Court) - court transcripts and judgements, 1987 (File 14) - Box 31
Morpath Pty. Ltd. - Federal Court judgement; ACT Supreme Court costs, 1987-88 (also copy of Concrete Constructions judgement, 1989) (File 15) - Box 32
Tekmat Investments (formerly Axiom Pty. Ltd.), ACT Supreme Court: lease variation application - affidavits, judgements, 1986-87 (File 16) - Box 32
Tekmat Investments - transcript of proceedings, judgement and order for costs, 1987 (File 17) - Box 32
'Rocky Knoll' (O'Neill v Wyderman, NCDC & Unity Church) - Federal Court judgement, 1987 (File 20) - Box 32
Braddon lease applications - ACT Supreme Court orders : Pongara Holdings, 1987, Gregorys (Properties) Pty Ltd, 1989, Atherane Pty. Ltd 1988 (File 21) - Box 32
Concrete Constructions Group Pty Ltd lease variation application, ACT Supreme Court - Court papers (i), 1988-89 (File 22) - Box 32
Concrete Constructions Group - Affidavits and submissions, 1988-89 (see also folders 175-76) (File 25) - Box 33
Concrete Constructions Group - Federal Court - Gallop, Sheppard, Neaves 13.3.90 (judgements) and case chronology (referenced to Appeal Books) (File 28) - Box 33
Concrete Constructions Group Pty Ltd v McNamara, Harrison, Wensing& Minister for Industry, Employment and Education. Appeal Book, Vol. 1, 1988-89 (File 29) - Box 33
Legislative Assembly Canberra Times site inquiry - transcript of proceedings, Sept-Oct 1989 (File 39) - Box 35
Rondda Enterprises Pty. Ltd., lease propose variation (ACT Supreme Court) - affidavits, 1990 (File 40) - Box 35
Rondda Enterprises - affidavit draft and other papers, correspondence re court costs, 1987-90 (File 42) - Box 35
YMCA, White Industries, Uniting Church, Civic - notes, calculations and working papers, 1984-89 (File 43) - Box 35
Copies of NCDC file documents (bound) - White Industries, Sections 11, 41, 60 (City), pt 1 (File 48) - Box 36
Copies of NCDC file documents (bound) - White Industries, Sections 11, 41, 60 (City), pt 2 (File 49) - Box 36
Copies of NCDC file documents (bound) - Idonz Town House Motel, Section 23 (City) (File 50) - Box 36
Environmental assessments relating to the proposed redevelopment of the former Canberra Times site, 1990 (File 51) - Box 37
Papers on Concrete Constructions case - notes, articles, policies, sketch plans, 1987-88 (File 53) - Box 37
Territory Planning Authority - copies of ITPA policy variation proposals ; submission by Harrison, 1989 (File 59) - Box 37
Committee of Review of the NCDC - correspondence, notes, reference material, submissions, 1982-83 (File 62) - Box 38
Committee of Review of the NCDC - submissions by NCDC, Dept of the Capital Territory and other bodies, 1982-83 (File 63-70) - Box 38, 39
NCDC - 'Response to Committee of Review on Economic Future of Canberra', April 1983 (File 71) - Box 39
NCDC. Metropolitan Canberra : Policy Plan, Development Plan (final published version) July 1984 (File 75) - Box 39
Parliamentary Joint Committee in the ACT (Reference: Metropolitan Plan) - Hansard reports, 1984-86 (File 76-84) - Box 39, 40
Parliamentary Joint Committee on the ACT : Review of the draft National Capital Plan. Hansard transcripts, 1989 (File 87-88) - Box 41
NCPA and Interim Territory Planning Authority. 'Analysis of metropolitan planning issues for a population of 500,000' - First draft, May 1989 (File 89) - Box 41
Civic planning policy - office accommodation and retailing - notes, calculations, plans and research papers c.1985-88 (File 92-93) - Box 41
NCDC. Civic Centre Policy Plan, Development Plan : Summary of conclusions and proposals. Draft for discussion., Feb. 1982 (File 98) - Box 42
NCDC. Civic Centre Canberra Policy Plan : published drafts for discussion and final version, 1982-89 (File 99) - Box 42
Reid (Residents), 1975 ; Turner Residents' Association, 1987 ; Braddon Oval, 1989-90 - various documents (File 100-112) - Box 42, 43
Reid Residents Association, 1987, 1990; Reid ; Turner ; city parking - various papers (File 113) - Box 43
Turner Sections 24 & 43 policy planning, 1984; Queanbeyan City Council - duplex design/siting, 1985 (File 114) - Box 44
Ed Wensing. 'Review of the Draft Policy Plan for Braddon Section 21, Blocks 1 to 12'. Report for NCDC, 5 Sept. 1985, 2 vols (File 115-116) - Box 44
Loder& Bayley Pty. Ltd. 'Reid Braddon LATM Study : Report to NCDC and ACT Administration', August 1987 (File 117) - Box 44
John Gilchrist. 'Woden-Weston Creek New Town'. MSc Architecture (Town Planning), February 1985 (File 118) - Box 44
Heritage and environment - media release, drafting instructions for Planning and Environment Bill, 1989 (File 128) - Box 46
R.J. Nairn and Partners Pty Ltd 'City Distributor Roads Study : Final Report', March 1985 (report for NCDC) (File 136) - Box 46
R.J. Nairn and Partners Pty Ltd 'Final Report for the City Bus Interchange Study', March 1989 (report for ACT Administration) (File 137) - Box 47
'Serving the Community : the Future Direction of Public Transport in Canberra'. Final report for the NCDC/DCT Joint Public Transport Study, July 1987 (File 138) - Box 47
Nelson, English, Loxton & Andrews Pty Ltd 'Civic Parking Pricing Policy - Implementation Study ; Report for NCDC', January 1985 (Reid Residents Association copy) (File 139) - Box 47
NCDC Engineering Division. 'Transport Implications of City Development', draft reports, 1985 (File 140-141) - Box 47a
Loder & Bayley Pty Ltd 'Monash Drive or Majura Parkway?' - draft report to NCDC, September 1987 (File 142) - Box 47a
Surplus schools - policies and plans (ACT Government/Interim Territory Planning Authority), 1989 (File 146) - Box 48
Canberra Association for Regional Development (CARD) - submissions, reports, 1981-84 (File 147) - Box 48
CARD, BOMA (Business Owners & Managers Association), business/property development - newsletters, submissions, papers, 1985-89 (File 148) - Box 48
Letters, articles, talk notes, printed material on aspects of Canberra planning, 1981-88 (File 151) - Box 48
Peter Harrison - letters to The Canberra Times, 1985-90; letter to PruGoward (Radio 2CN), 1990 (File 152) - Box 49
Radio interviews of Malcolm Latham, George Snow and others - transcripts and notes, 1985-89 (File 152A) - Box 49
Planning education, community environments and other planning matters - various papers, 1977, 1983, 1987 (File 153) - Box 49
Reports and publications prepared by and for the NCDC on Canberra planning, 1965-85, including The future Canberra, (1965), Tomorrow's Canberra, (1970) and reports/studies on retailing (1961-81), transportation (1963), the Canberra Plan concept (1967-75), city size considerations (1972), Lower Gooromon (1973), Lanyon (1974), West Murrumbidgee Structure Plan (1976), waters of the Canberra region (1981), Parliamentary Zone development (1983) and urban consolidation (1985) (File 159-172) - Box 50, 51
ITPA. Towards a new Territory Plan for the ACT: key issues for discussion, September, 1990 (File 173) - Box 51
NCPA. Submission to Commonwealth Grants Commission Inquiry into Financing the ACT, September 1990 (File 174) - Box 51
Added 21 October 1997
Mainly briefing material supplied by Peter Harrison and Ed Wensing to barrister Brendan Hull regarding the Concrete Constructions Group court case.
Papers, 1976-90 including 'Redevelopment of the former Canberra Times site' (report of the ACT Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Infrastructure, Oct. 1989), and article 'Changing times and the civic environment' by Harrison (July 1990), correspondence, legislation and a lecture by M.M.B Latham (File 178) - Box 63
'Belconnen Town Centre policy plan development plan draft for discussion' (NCDC, Apr., 1985) (File 180) - Box 63
'City distributor roads study', final report, R.J. Nairn and Partners, Mar. 1985 (File 181) - Box 63
Metropolitan Canberra policy plan and development plan: transport and land use, NCDC, Nov. 1986 (File 186) - Box 64
'Parking control measures: Braddon, Turner and Reid', R.J. Nairn and Partners, Apr. 1986 (File 187) - Box 64
Report on proposals for variations of the plan of layout of the city of Canberra and its environs, Standing Committee on the ACT, 1987 (File 188) - Box 64
Series 16. ACT Land Tenure Papers, 1963-72
The papers in this small series were assembled by Harrison while at the Urban Research Unit of the ANU. The two files include copies of a few NCDC documents dating from Harrison's period as Chief City Planner.
Folder/piece
ACT Leasehold tenure, 1964-72 - reference documents prepared by NCDC Research Section; 'answers to questions by Senior Legal Officer' (NCDC briefing, 1963); copy of letter from R. Kingsland to J. Overall, 15 June 1963 re matters to discuss with Henry Wells; and other reference material (File 1) - Box 52
'ACT' (leasehold and land rent) 1962-72 - NCDC minutes 1962-64; articles, cuttings, and reference documents including report of the interdepartmental Working Group to Review Provisions Relating to Planning and Development (1972); correspondence , 1970 re abolition of Canberra land rents (File 2) - Box 52
Series 17. References and Examiner Reports, 1976-87 [Restricted]
During the 1970s and 1980s Peter Harrison was asked on a number of occasions to act as a referee by colleagues and associates in support of their job applications. He also acted as an examiner for several Masters theses in town planning and urban studies at the University of Adelaide, Australian National University, University of Queensland and University of Sydney.
The series, formerly housed in one binder, contains correspondence and associated papers. There are also copies of two assessor's reports provided by Harrison for Australian Research Grants Scheme applications in 1984 and 1985.
Correspondents include Gareth Roberts, John Black, Raymond Bunker, Geoffrey Hunt, Roger Pegrum, Dean Lambert, James Conner and Doug Daines.
Series 18. Newspaper Cuttings on Canberra Planning, 1964-90
Peter Harrison accumulated a large reference set of Canberra-related newspaper clippings that he considered relevant to his planning interests. Most of these clippings were originally stored in binders. They cover a range of subjects including land use, housing, office development, planning administration and other issues. There are a few clippings on more general planning matters at the end of the series. While the great majority of the cuttings are from The Canberra Times; there are a few from other newspapers including The Canberra News, Courier, The Australian and the Sydney Morning Herald. Harrison occasionally filed other reference documents and magazine articles amongst the cuttings.
Series 19. Reference and Research Material on Canberra, 1950-89
This series contains material relating to Canberra of a more general nature that was kept by Harrison. It includes copies of newspapers and photographs; a handwritten chronology made by Harrison of events in Canberra's history; a draft of Jim Gibbney's history of Canberra, with Harrison's annotations; maps and plans; and a range of articles and printed material. Other series, notably Series 6 and 15, contain research material more directly related to Harrison's activities as an authority on Walter Burley Griffin and as a Canberra planning activist. Series 18 contains a reference set of Canberra newspaper cuttings.