Archer Family collections

By Marg Powell, Specialist Library Technician, Metadata | 10 November 2024

Charles Archer completed this watercolour at Durandur (or Durundur) Station in July 1843, beginning on the day after his arrival. 4624, Archer Family watercolours, State Library of Queensland.

Original material collections - The Archer Family

Eight sons of Scottish timber merchant, William Archer and his wife Julia Walker successively came to Australia and became pastoralists in the Moreton and Burnett Districts, and on the Fitzroy River near present-day Rockhampton.

This significant collection includes much correspondence, principally written by the brothers to their family residing in Norway, details their keen sense of adventure and abilities to adapt their skills to the foreign landscape.

Almost all of the brothers returned to Norway, with the exception of John 'Jack' who was lost at sea between Australia and New Zealand in 1857, and Alexander 'Sandy' who drowned with his wife, in the ‘Quetta’ disaster of 1890, off Thursday Island.

Archer Family correspondence

David Archer was the first of the brothers to arrive in Australia in 1834. He was joined by William and Thomas in 1838.

The three decided to look for land in Queensland but after arriving on the Darling Downs in 1841, they believed the best land had been taken up and continued north to take up Durundur (or Durandur) in the Moreton Bay District near present-day Woodford. They were joined by their brother John that same year.

William remained at his uncle's property Wallerawang, until he was able to join his brothers, as they ventured further north.

Charles (a sailor) who arrived in 1843, and William Archer were the first Europeans to explore and name the Fitzroy River.

Illustrated letter by Alexander 'Sandy' Archer, 1865 OM79-17/3, Alexander Archer papers

Photograph album page 6. API-1, Archer Family photograph album, 1865-1874

Artworks and Photographs

Included in the State Library's collections are a number of photographs and art works that relate to the Archer Family. Typically they record places of interest to the family such as gardens and homesteads, but they also include images of First Nations people, who they would have encountered as they settled on their traditional lands.

Some items are highly decorated, and include observations, sketches and poems.

Collections:

Diaries / Maps / Memoirs

Archer Family collections include several diaries which are significant to the history of the Queensland pastoral industry.

Of particular interest is the Durundur Station diary. Situated near present-day Woodford, the station was first occupied by the Archers in 1843. After declaring it unsuitable for sheep, they then established sheep stations at Emu Creek and Cooyar.

David and Thomas Archer took up land on the Burnett River, those runs were named Coonambula and Eidsvold. Thomas Archer wrote extensively about his life, many of his published works and manuscripts are held at SLQ.

Colin Archer wrote a biographical memoir of his life in Australia, in Norway and of his career as a sailor and shipbuilder. He returned to Larvik in 1861, and studied shipbuilding, working as a naval architect until he retired age 78.