Guide to the Papers of William Graham Holford, 1st Baron Holford (as filmed by the AJCP)
M1945 - M1948
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: 2019
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Holford, William Graham, Sir
- Title
- Papers of William Graham Holford, 1st Baron Holford (as filmed by the AJCP)
- Date Range
- 1948 - 1974
- Collection Number
- M1945 - M1948
- Extent
- 112 items
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Australian Joint Copying Project
- Sponsor
- The Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) online portal was created with the assistance of the Australian Public Service Modernisation Fund, 2017-2020. The National Library of Australia gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the other foundation AJCP partners, the State Library of New South Wales and The National Archives of the UK, and all other organisations which supported the work of the AJCP, the world's most extensive collaborative copying project, operating from 1948 to 1997.
Introduction
Scope and Contents
Papers from 1951 concerning Holford's visit to Australia, referring to town planning in Australia.
Canberra papers 1957-1974 referring to: Holford's report on the future of Canberra; appointment of Sir John Overall; Holford's consultancy agreements with the National Capital Development Commission, Australian Planning Institute, and National Urban and Regional Development Authority; and visits by Holford and R.W. Gray to Canberra between 1959 and 1966. Correspondents include Peter Harrison, Sir Robert Menzies, W.C. Andrews, R.B. Landsdown, G. Stephenson, R.K.H. Johnson, Sir John Overall and Walter Bunning.
Papers 1956-1964 concerning town planner Grenfell Ruddock.
Canberra reports 1957-1965, referring to: proposed National Gallery; Parliamentary Triangle; Central Basin area; Lake Burley Griffin; Commonwealth and Kings Avenue bridges; and Capital Hill.
Notes, correspondence and drawings 1963-1968 on Canberra Carillon.
Papers 1956-1970 concerning town planning and public buildings in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Hobart.
Conditions Governing Access
Available for Access.
Conditions Governing Use
Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.
Preferred Citation
Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.
Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.
Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)
Archival History
Material selectively filmed at the Liverpool University Archives as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project, 1985 (AJCP Reels: M1945-M1948). Original microfilm digitised as part of the AJCP Online Delivery Project, 2017-2020.
Existence and Location of Originals
Special Collections and Archives, University of Liverpool, Liverpool.
Collection reference: D. 147. For further reference see William Graham Holford at the University of Liverpool Library (https://sca-archives.liverpool.ac.uk/Record/30929/Description#tabnav).
Existence and Location of Copies
The original AJCP microfilm of the records filmed from this collection is available at the National Library of Australia [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn765663] as well as other institutions holding AJCP microfilm.
Finding-aid Notes
This finding aid is a revised online version of the original finding aid prepared by the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP), published by the National Library of Australia in 2019. The original AJCP finding aids were unpublished typescripts or photocopies available from libraries that held copies of the original microfilm.
Dates used in this finding aid refer to the date range of the records selected for filming rather than to the date range of the Series or Files.
The identifiers used in this finding aid were accurate at the time of filming. They have been kept to preserve the historical context of the collection.
Subjects
Adelaide, South Australia: buildings; Andrews, W.C.; Australia; Australia: visits to; Australian Planning Institute; Bunning, Walter; Canberra, Australian Capital Territory; Gray, R.W.; Harrison, Peter; Hobart, Tasmania: buildings; Holford, Sir William G., 1st Baron; Johnson, R.K.H; Lake Burley Griffin, Australian Capital Territory; Lansdown, R.B.; Melbourne: buildings; Menzies, Sir Robert G.; National Capital Development Commission; National Gallery of Australia; National Urban and Regional Development Authority; Overall, Sir John; Paintings, drawings and prints: Australian Capital Territory; Perth, Western Australia; Perth: buildings; Ruddock, Grenfell; Stephenson, G.; Sydney, New South Wales ; Town planners
Bibliography
Originally cited in Australian Joint Copying Project Handbook. Part 8: Miscellaneous (M) Series. Third Edition, published 1998. Entry 229, pp85-86.
Biographical / Historical
Sir William Graham Holford (1907-1975), Baron Holford (created 1965). Educated at Cape Town Diocesan College and Liverpool University School of Architecture. Senior lecturer in Architecture, Liverpool University, 1933-1936, Professor of Civic Design, Liverpool University, 1936-1948, Chief Architect for Ordnance Factories and Hospitals, 1939-1942, Chief Technical Officer, Ministry of Town and Country Planning, 1943-1946, Professor of Town Planning, University College, London, 1948-1970. Senior partner in architectural firm William Holford and Partners, based in London, Liverpool and Edinburgh. In 1958 wrote a report for the Australian Government, Observations on the future development of Canberra, A.C.T., followed in 1966 by The growth of Canberra 1958-1965 and 1965-1972: a review. Consultant to the National Capital Development Commission, 1958-1970.
Item Descriptions
Series AU. Australia, 1948 - 1974
109 itemsArchival history
Originally filmed on AJCP Reel M1945-M1948
Subseries AU2. Australia - 1950s, 1948 - 3 July 1957
23 itemsFilmed selectively.
Subseries. 1951 Visit, 1948 - 3 July 1957
23 itemsNotes made by Holford during tour, August 1951 (File 2)
13 items
Federal Congress on Regional and Town Planning, 10 August 1951 (Item (3))
Synopsis of paper by Holford, A critical analysis of planning policy and administration in Great Britain. (5pp) and discussion on paper (2pp)
Notes for address on metropolitan planning problems to Western Australian Branch of Planning Institute of Australia and on discussion with Town Planning Board (6pp), 24 August 1951 (Item (9))
Notes for address on planning problems of an expanding city to Town Planning Institute at Adelaide (2pp), 28 August 1951 (Item (10))
Correspondence, telegrams, notes, programs, itineraries relating to the visit, January 1951 - November 1951 (File 5)
They refer to the tour arrangements, social events, town planning in Australia, teaching of planning at Australian universities, criticisms of Melbourne public transport, and Federal Congress of Town and Country Planning Institutes. Correspondents include R.G. Menzies, A. Fadden, C.L. Hewitt, C.J. Farrington, P.F. Harrison, C.F. Trathan, Sir Patrick Abercrombie, A. Ashton, T.S. Weir, C.S. Daley, W. Prest, R.J.H. Risson, W.R. Laurie, J.J. Sheils and G. Walkley. (66 items)
Miscellaneous correspondence on establishment of Town Planning Institute of South Australia and Torrens Island development, Adelaide (4 letters), 1948 - 1952 (File 9)
Subseries AU3. Canberra - Accounts and Fees, 1958 - 1968
2 items
Subseries AU4. Canberra - General Correspondence, 1957 - 1974
Correspondence and invitations, 1957-1974, dealing with the following subjects: Holford's report on the future of Canberra (1957), appointment of J. Overall as National Capital Development Commissioner (1958), Holford's consultancy agreement with N.C.D.C. (1958) and later agreements, gift of clarillon from British Government, memorial to G. Rudduck (1965), planning within Australian National University, appointments at Australian universities, visits by Holford and R. Gray to Australia, work of Australian Planning Institute, articles by Holford, political situation in Canberra, siting of new Parliament House, visits by Australian architects and planners to England, establishment of National Urban and Regional Development Authority (1972), and such construction projects as Commonwealth Avenue Bridge, Kings Avenue Bridge, Russell Offices, Bureau of Mineral Resources building, Commonwealth Gardens, Australian National Gallery, and Tuggeranong Town Centre.
Correspondents include Sir Eric Harrison, D. Winston, A. Fairhall, Sir Robert Menzies, R.W. Gray, P. Harrison, Sir John Overall, W.C. Andrews, R.B. Lansdown, E.M. Birkett, H. Ashworth, G. Freeth, W. Bunning, L.W. Engledow, G. Stephenson, Sir Daryl Lindsay, D.K.R. Hodgkin, G.E. Robert, H. Oakman, G. Walkley, D.A. Speechley, J. Toon, R.K.H. Johnson, J. C. Haskell and P. Reid. (488 items)
Subseries AU5. Canberra - Grenfell Rudduck, 15 December 1956 - 1967
3 items
Holford. Notes for a memoir of Grenfell Rudduck, Associate Commissioner of National Capital Development Commission (19pp), 1958 - 1964 (File 1)
G. Rudduck (Karachi) to Holford, 2 January 1957 (File 2)
Work with Pakistan Central Planning Board; establishment of architectural and town planning schools.
Correspondence, obituaries and memoirs of Rudduck, 15 December 1956 - 1967 (File 3)
Including notes by Loma Rudduck, memoirs of Rudduck's early life (15pp), letters concerning proposals to publish his papers and to erect a memorial in Canberra, and a paper by Rudduck, Housing and town planning in Pakistan, 15 December 1956. (9pp)
Subseries AU6. Canberra - Plans, Press cuttings and Photographs, 1951 - 1968
2 itemsFilmed selectively.
Subseries AU7. Canberra-Reports (General), October 1958 - June 1965
2 itemsFilmed selectively.
National Capital Development Commission. Brief summary of civic survey of Canberra City District (26pp, typescript), October 1958 (File 4)
Papers of Department of the Interior and National Capital Development Commission, February 1964 - June 1965 (File 9)
Papers on joint accounting studies, recording of assets, acceptability of neighbourhood design for municipal purposes, housing policy in Canberra, release of undeveloped land, urban economics and urban government for Canberra (1 file, photocopies)
Subseries AU8. Canberra - Reports by Holford, June 1957 - 1965
13 itemsFilmed selectively.
Miscellaneous notes, including notes of interviews in Canberra and notes on Burley Griffin's plan (12pp), 11 June 1957 - 24 June 1957 (File 1)
Notes on Parliamentary Triangle, Lakes and Central Area (6pp, typescript), September 1961 - October 1961 (File 6)
Notes on Parliamentary Triangle, Lakes and Central Area (5pp, manuscript), September 1961 - October 1961 (File 7)
Note of matters discussed at meeting between Commissioner and William Holford and Partners in London (7pp, manuscript), 25 September 1962 - 1 October 1962 (File 8)
Subseries AU9. Canberra - Reports by William Holford and Partners and R.W. Gray, September 1957 - November 1967
27 itemsFilmed selectively.
R.W. Gray. Diary kept on visit to Canberra, Sydney and Perth (20pp, manuscript), 3 December 1958 - 19 December 1958 (File 2)
Queries raised by Commissioner and staff concerning preliminary sketches of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge (5pp, typescript), 12 October 1959 (File 4)
Report on the landscape of the Central Basin and its surroundings (18pp, typescript), February 1960 (File 6)
Advisory report on the landscape of the Lakes Scheme with special reference to the Central Basin and its surroundings (38pp, typescript), September 1960 (File 8)
R.W. Gray. Aspects of the task of designing the new Parliament House (14pp, typescript), November 1961 (File 9)
Capital Hill-preliminary notes on the use of land and form of building within State Circle (8pp, typescript), 2 March 1962 (File 12)
R.W. Gray. Report on visit to galleries and museums in the United State of America, Holland and France 1962/63 (42pp, roneoed), March 1963 (File 15)
R.W. Gray. Capital Hill; memorandum on the landscape characteristics of the ground within State Circle; on vehicles and pedestrian movements; and on the conception of the National Centre (7pp, roneoed), June 1963 (File 17)
R.W. Gray. Accommodation for the Executive and the Press in the Legislature buildings at Westminster, Ottawa and Washington D.C. (13pp, photocopy), November 1967 (File 29)
R.W. Gray. Central Basin landscape report; synopsis of plans, drawings and photographs which might be reproduced as illustrations (3pp, typescript), n.d. (File 30)
Subseries AU10. Canberra - United Kingdom Gift (Canberra Carillon), December 1962 - 1968
11 itemsFilmed selectively.
Notes and correspondence concerning Canberra Carillon competition, design of Carillon tower, Holford's 1966 report, and visits of R.W. Gray to Australia, December 1962 - September 1968 (File 1)
Correspondents include R.W. Gray, Sir John Overall, R.B. Lansdown, Sir Robert Menzies, W.A.B. Hamilton, E. Bedford and D. Gibson.
Drawings by Holford of (1) proposed carillon and clock tower, January 1963 (2) proposed carillon, peal and lantern tower, January 1963 - November 1963 (File 2)
G. Maunsell and Partners. Note on Canberra bell tower, 30 January 1964 - February 1964 (File 3)
(3pp), with note by William Holford and Partners on architectural considerations, February 1964. (2pp)
R.W. Gray. Confidential memorandum on the United Kingdom Gift to the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia (8pp, manuscript), October 1965 (File 4)
Draft on limited architectural competition for a structure to house a carillon, annotated by Holford (11pp, photocopy) (File 6)
Notes and correspondence concerning carillon competition, September 1966 - March 1968 (File 8)
Correspondents include Sir John Overall, E. Bedford and Rev. G. Thurlow. (20 items)
Subseries AU11. Canberra - Visit by Holford and R.W. Gray, June 1959 - July 1959
3 itemsSubseries AU12. Canberra - Visit by Holford, July 1963 - August 1963
3 itemsSubseries AU13. Canberra - Visits by Holford and R.W. Gray, May 1965 - October 1966
5 items
Correspondence concerning the visits, landscape problems in Canberra, the U.K. gift to Australia, Holford's 1966 Report, and the response of the National Capital Development Commission to the Report, May 1965 - October 1966 (File 1)
Correspondents include Sir John Overall, R.W. Gray, H. Oakman, R.B. Lansdown, L.W. Engledow, A.H. Higgins and W.C. Andrews.
Address by Holford, 'Universities and cities in a rapidly changing world', given at the Academy of Science, Canberra (12pp, roneoed), 16 August 1965 (File 2)
Subseries AU14. Canberra - Miscellaneous, June 1957 - July 1967
5 itemsSubseries AU16. Melbourne - Civic Centre, June 1970 - December 1970
1 item
Correspondence concerning possible appointment of Holford as consultant for Melbourne Civic Square Project and possible establishment by William Holford and Partners of an office in Melbourne, June 1970 - December 1970 (File 1)
Correspondents include D.M. Cato, R.W. Gray, P.B. Marber and E.H. Doubleday.