Guide to the Diaries of Sir David Wedderburn, 3rd Baronet (as filmed by the AJCP)

D.A. Percival. Sir David Wedderburn Bart. M.P. 1835-1882; life sketch. (typescript, 46 pp.), 1985 (File 1)

Diary of Sir David Wedderburn, Vol.4, 1 April 1874 - 10 August 1874 (File 2)

Extremely detailed diary describing the voyage from Italy to Australia and travels in Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales. It refers to his stay in Ceylon (26 April - 11 May); the voyage on the Nubia; brief visits to Albany (26 May) and Adelaide (30 May); arrival in Melbourne (2 June); impressions of city and visits to Parliament House, museums, art gallery, opera, coursing match; meetings with Sir George Bowen, S. Wilson, R. Simpson; visit to Bendigo goldfields; arrival in Hobart (12 June); ascent of Mt. Wellington; reflections on convict heritage of Tasmania; visit to Tasmanian Museum; meeting with Sir Robert Officer; travels in Tasmania and stay with Archer family near Longford; return to Melbourne (27 June); travels in Western District of Victoria visiting Geelong, Colac, Hamilton, Ararat, Ballarat; life on stations; kangaroo hunting; descriptions of landscape; visit to Melbourne Observatory; arrival in Sydney (26 July); impressions of city and harbour; visits to Sydney University, Sydney Mint, Observatory, Model School, opera; picnics and social events; meeting with Sir Hercules Robinson, H. Parkes, H. Russell, Louis Hope; excursions to Manly and Botany Bay; journey over Blue Mountains to Bathurst.

Diary of Sir David Wedderburn, Vol.5, 11 August 1874 - 9 January 1875 (File 3)

Very detailed diary describing travels in New South Wales, Queensland and New Zealand and the voyage from New Zealand to Hawaii. It refers to his visit to Bathurst; inspection of freezing works of T. Mort at Bowenfels; Darlinghurst Gaol; arrival in Brisbane (17 Aug.); description of city; stay with Hope Family at Ormiston; meeting with E. Dalrymple; travels in Queensland visiting Kilcoy, Maryborough, Rockhampton and staying at sugar farm and sheep and cattle stations; encounters with Indigenous Australians; Archer Family; hunting and shooting; inspection of copper mine at Copperfield; reflections on Queensland life; return to Sydney (13 Oct.); visit to Australian Museum and meeting with E.P. Ramsay; journey to Goulburn and stay at Camden Park; Sir William Macarthur; voyage to New Zealand on Hero; arrival in Auckland (25 Oct.); impressions of city; visit to Sir George Grey at Kawan; extensive travels in North Island visiting Hamilton, Waikato Valley, Rotorua, Lake Taupo, Tarawera, Napier; stay with Leslie Family; reflections on Anglo-Maori relations; visits to Maori whares; descriptions of landscape; New Zealand Armed Constabulary; arrival in Wellington (20 Nov.); description of city; visit to Wellington Museum; arrival in Nelson (27 Nov.); reflections on character and future of Maori race; travels in South Island visiting Greymouth, Hokitika and western goldfields; arrival in Christchurch (2 Dec.); impressions of city; prosperity of Canterbury Plains; observation of transit of Venus; meeting with J. von Haast and W. Rolleston; travels in Canterbury and visits to farms; bird shooting; flora; return to Wellington (22 Dec.); meeting with J.H. Hector; voyage around west coast to Auckland; New Plymouth and Mt. Egmont; departure from Auckland (30 Dec.); voyage on Cyphrene; arrival at Honolulu (19 Jan.).