Letters received relating to Moreton Bay and Queensland 1822-1860
“The correspondence of the Colonial Secretary is one of the most valuable sources of information on all aspects of the history of the Colony and the State of New South Wales. Chiefly responsible for this was the Colonial Secretary's pre-eminence in public life and the fortunate occurrence of the survival of the greater part of his papers.” – NSW State Records website [new window]
A number of indexes to locate information relevant to a range of aspects of the history of Queensland, its events and individuals are listed. Use the indexes to locate the relevant documents on microfilm.
Introduction to the records
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the John Oxley Librarian negotiated with the Archives Authority of New South Wales to undertake a filming program to copy all correspondence relating to the Moreton Bay settlement and the area which after December 1859 became known as the Colony of Queensland. The films held at the State Library of Queensland were designated the A2 series, starting with Reel A2.1, progressing through to A2.53 in chronological order; although one reel might contain records for more than one year.
As the correspondence commenced in 1822 and continued until late 1859 (this continuing project currently covers to 1850), the material is of particular interest to researchers of the years of penal settlement followed by the period after 1842 when the district was opened to free settlers. In many cases annotations on the back of letters indicate the decision taken by the Governor and the course of action taken. On occasions, earlier or later documentation between the settlement and headquarters which concerned the same subject was batched and filmed together.
Letters were sent by well-known personalities such as Commandants Miller, Logan, Clunie, Fyans, Cotton, Gravatt and Gorman to Governors Brisbane, Darling, Bourke, Gipps and Denison. Also reports appear created by Surveyor Generals Oxley and Mitchell, Master Attendant John Nicholson, Doctors Cowper, Murray, Robertson, Ballow and Cannan, the Reverends John Vincent, Johannes Handt and John Gregor plus other eminent pioneers. Contrasting with official circulars and despatches can be found convict petitions, applications by early settlers and listings of land sales.
This inspiring source, outlining the establishment of the colony of Queensland from its inception, has now been indexed by a State Library volunteer Christine D’Ath to provide easy access to the reels.
For material between 1822 and December 1825, an index created by State Records of New South Wales to The Papers of the New South Wales Colonial Secretary 1788-1825 should also be consulted.
Dr Jennifer Harrison
Index
An index has been created for each microfilm and a number of reels have yet to be indexed. Due to the size of the indexes there may be a number of documents for each reel.
To locate the information needed choose which reel you want (the date range is next to each reel), click on the link to open a pdf, then do a keyword search of the document.
A2 series microfilm
Reels A2.1 – A2.53 Contents of all the reels [new window 
91 kb]
New South Wales – Colonial Secretary
Letters Received 1826 – 1934
- Letters relating to Moreton Bay and Queensland, 1822 – 1860
From the Originals in the Archives Office of New South Wales
Reel A2.1 : 1822-1827 plus Special Bundle No. 4/1917.1
- Entire document [new window 679 kb]
- Part 1 - 1822-1826 [new window 248 kb]
- Part 2 - SPECIAL BUNDLE NO 4/1917.1 [new window 147 kb]
- Part 3 - 1827 [new window 438 kb]
Reel A2.2 : 1827-1828 [new window 332 kb]
Reel A2.4 : 1829-1830 [new window 316 kb]
Reel A2.5 : 1830-1831 [new window 355 kb]
Reel A2.6 : 1831-1832 [new window 355 kb]
Reel A2.7 : 1832-1833
- Entire document [new window 509 kb]
- Part 1 - 1832 [new window 300 kb]
- Part 2 - 1833 [new window 287 kb]
Reel A2.8 : 1833-1836
- Entire document [new window 541 kb]
- Part 1 - 1833 [new window 219 kb]
- Part 2 - 1834 [new window 228 kb]
-
Part 3 - 1835-1836 [new window 244 kb]
Reel A2.9 : 1836-1838
- Entire document [new window 547 kb]
- Part 1 - 1836 [new window 315 kb]
- Part 2 - 1837-1838 [new window 311 kb]
Reel A2.10 : 1838-1839
Reel A2.11 : 1839-1841 plus Special Bundle 4/7088 (Penal Settlement Regulations M1099)
- Entire document [new window 561 kb]
- Part 1 - 1839-1840 [new window 396 kb]
- Part 2 [new window 210 kb]
-
- Special Bundle 4/7088 (Penal Settlement Regulations M1099)
- 1841
Reel A2.12 : 1841-1842
- Entire document [new window 789 kb]
- Part 1 - 1841 [new window 283 kb]
- Part 2 - 1842 (page 279-513) [new window 266 kb]
- Part 3 - 1842 (page 514-860) [new window 340 kb]
Reel A2.13 : 1842-1843, plus Special Bundle 4/7203, Special Bundle 4/7312, and Special Bundle 4/7358.
- Entire document [new window 842 kb]
- Part 1 - 1842 [new window 110 kb]
- Part 2 - 1843 (page 044-356) [new window 320 kb]
- Part 3 - 1843 (page 357-726) [new window 387 kb]
- Part 4 [new window 257 kb]
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- Special Bundle 4/7203 (Commissioner of Crown Lands – Moreton Bay, Reports re Border Police 1843-6)
- Special Bundle 4/7312 (NSW Civil Establishment, Returns of the Agent for Immigration, 1843-50 and 1852-6)
- Special Bundle 4/7358 (NSW Civil Establishment, Returns of the Medical Establishment, 1829, 1831, 1833-35, 1837-48)
Reel A2.14 : 1844-1845 plus Special Bundle 4/7358 (NSW Civil Establishment, Returns of the Medical Establishment, 1829, 1831, 1833-35, 1837-48)
- Entire document [new window 932 kb]
- Part 1 [new window 146 kb]
-
- Special Bundle 4/7358 (NSW Civil Establishment, Returns of the Medical Establishment, 1829, 1831, 1833-35, 1837-48)
- Part 2 - 1844 (page 038-331) [new window 356 kb]
- Part 3 - 1844 (page 332-671) [new window 370 kb]
- Part 4 - 1845 [new window 295 kb]
Reel A2.15 : 1845-1846
- Entire document [new window 788 kb]
- Part 1 - 1845 [new window 292 kb]
- Part 2 - 1846 (page 298-612) [new window 368 kb]
- Part 3 - 1846 (page 613-885) [new window 284 kb]
Reel A2.16 : 1846-1847
- Entire document [new window 587 kb]
- Part 1 - 1846 [new window 286 kb]
- Part 2 - 1847 [new window 391 kb]
Reel A2.17 : 1847-1848
- Entire document [new window 711 kb]
- Part 1 - 1847 [new window 120 kb]
- Part 2 - 1848 (page 054-449) [new window 388 kb]
- Part 3 - 1848 (page 450-842) [new window 381 kb]
Reel A2.18 : 1848-1849
- Entire document [new window 968 kb]
- Part 1 - 1848 [new window 100 kb]
- Part 2 - 1849 (page 018-356) [new window 361 kb]
- Part 3 - 1849 (page 357-642) [new window 352 kb]
- Part 4 - 1849 (page 643-873) [new window 344 kb]
Reel A2.19 : 1849-1850
- Entire document [new window 742 kb]
- Part 1 - 1849 [new window 190 kb]
- Part 2 - 1850 (page 111-499) [new window 365 kb]
-
Part 3 - 1850 (page 500-873) [new window 366 kb]
Reel A2.20 : 1850-1851
- Entire document [new window 825 kb]
- Part 1 - 1850 (page 001-410) [new window 379 kb]
- Part 2 - 1850 (page 411-791) [new window 383 kb]
- Part 3 - 1851 [new window 175 kb]
Reel A2.21 : 1851 (continued)
- Entire document [new window
877 kb] - Part 1 - 1851 (page 001-258) [new window 317 kb]
- Part 2 - 1851 (page 259-557) [new window 336 kb]
- Part 3 - 1851 (page 558-877) [new window 371 kb]
Reel A2.22 : 1851 (continued)
- Entire document [new window 1.08 MB]
- Part 1 - 1851 (page 001-331) [new window 442 kb]
- Part 2 - 1851 (page 332-616) [new window 393 kb]
- Part 3 - 1851 (page 617-862) [new window 403 kb]
Reels A2.23 to A2.40 - Yet to be indexed
Reel A2.41 : 1859 [Partly indexed]
- Entire document [new window 634 kb]
- Part 1 - 1859 (page 090-490) [new window 340 kb]
- Part 2 - 1859 (page 491-847) [new window 344 kb]
Reel A2.42 : 1859
- Entire document [new window 683 kb]
- Part 1 - 1859 (page 001-419) [new window 373 kb]
- Part 2 - 1859 (page 420-856) [new window 397 kb]
Reel A2.43 : 1859 [Partly indexed] [new window 201 kb]
Reels A2.43 [PART] to A2.53 - Yet to be indexed
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Last updated: 4th January 2012
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