J S Battye Library of West Australian History Private Archives – Collection Listing MN 34 Acc. 89A, 90A, 91A, 92A, 93A, 94A, 102A, 103A, 104A, 140A, 278A, 308A, 316A, 390A, 408A, 529A, 530A, 531A, 532A, 577A, 730A, 766A, 767A, 768A, 814A, 816A, 839A, 877A, 918A, 927A, 1004A, 1286A, 1752A, 1765A, 1912A, 1953A, 2644A, 2753A, 4340A, 5868A, 6002A, 6630A FORREST, John (Baron) 1845-1918 John Forrest was the third son born to William and Margaret Forrest, nee Hill, on 22 August 1847 in Bunbury. He and his brother Alexander were educated on their parents’ farm and at Bishop Hale’s School, Perth. He married Margaret Elvire Hamersley in 1876 Forrest entered the Survey Departmen of Western Australia in 1865 and whilst still a young man in the Survey Department, he conducted several detailed surveying expeditions into the interior of Western Australia, developing the style of methodical work and decisive leadership that he transferred to politics. In 1878, as acting Surveyor-General, he was the first W.A. born member of the Executive Council and in the same year he married Margaret Hamersley, daughter of Edward and Anne Hamersley. From 1883-1890 he was Surveyor-General and Commissioner of Crown Lands. His reputation for straightforward administrative competence and his enthusiasm for a vigorous public works programme gained him the necessary support to make him the first Premier and Treasurer under responsible government in 1890. Forrest’s government, dominated by his personality, paternalistic style and sheer physical bulk, made for a stable transition from representative to responsible government; it undertook large-scale public works projects, with loans floated in London, fostered small farm settlement and introduced well-timed progressive reforms like votes for women. After Federation in 1901, Forrest entered the Federal parliament as M.H.R. for Swan and was a member of Cabinet in successive non-Labor governments with several terms as Minister for External Affairs – the high point of his career. He died in 1918 on board ship for England after being created Lord Forrest, Baron of Bunbury, the first Australian-born peer. (From: A walk through the history of Western Australia 1829-1979; published by the Way ’79 Commerce Committee et al.) NB: A detailed account of Forrest in the political arena is to be found in the unpublished work of Emeritus Professor Frank Crowley entitled “Forrest the Politician, 1891-1918”. This can be found in MN 1379 (Acc 4309A) The Papers Acc. 89A-94A Transferred from WA Museum from the Forrest Bequest Collection 1923 in May 1947 Acc. 102A-103A Deposited by MR A H Clarke in August 1947 Acc. 104A Deposited by MR J W Peterkin, in August 1947 Acc. 140A Deposited by K C Cammilleri in October 1949 Acc. 278A Deposited by Mrs A Sanderson in July 1949 Acc. 308A Indefinite loan from Parliament House in July 1947 Acc. 316A Deposited by Lady Forrest in 1929 MN 34 1 Copyright SLWA 2005 J S Battye Library of West Australian History Private Archives – Collection Listing Acc. 390A Donor unknown (pre 1945) Acc. 408A Deposited by Mr H L Richardson in August 1947 Acc. 529A-532A Deposited by WA Newspapers Ltd having been purchased in April 1953 at the sale following the death of Lady Forrest Acc. 577A, Bequest from late N W Harper’s estate in August 1954 Acc. 730A Lent for copying by South Australian Public Library in December 1958 Acc. 766A, 768A Deposited by West Australian Newspapers Ltd in September 1957 Acc. 767A Received from Paul Hasluck in 1957 Acc. 814A Lent for copying by Mr R Mervyn Forrest in January 1960 Acc. 816A Lent for copying by Dr F Crowley, UWA, in January 1960 Acc. 839A Photocopies transferred from National Library, Canberra, in March 1960 Acc. 877A Microfilm obtained from South Australian Archives through Dr F Crowley in Apr 1960 Acc. 918A Deposited by Mr R H Bedingfeld in October 1960 Acc. 927A Deposited by Mr R H Bedingfeld in January 1961 Acc. 1004A Deposited by Mrs K Joel in October 1961 Acc. 1241A Deposited by Mr A Forrest, Mrs N Hampshire, Mrs J Clarkson, Mrs J Forrest, in 1964 Acc. 1286A Deposited by Mr H Hamersley in January 1965 Acc. 1752A Lent for copying by Mr S O’Brien in October 1969 Acc. 1765A Lent for copying by Mr Bennett in November 1969 Acc. 1912A Deposited by Mrs M Ohlsson in 1970 Acc. 1953A Deposited by Mr J H Cox in June 1971 Acc. 2644A Transferred from Karrakatta Cemetery Board in September 1977 Acc. 2753A Transferred from Ephemera Collection on 14 September 1978 Acc. 4340A From R Butler, 8 Sep 1993 Acc. 5868A Transferred from Ephemera Collection on date unknown Acc. 6002A Transferred from the John Oxley Library, QLD, on 28 April 2003 Acc. 6630A Deposited by Mrs L Crowe in January 2006. Holdings = 7.03m Access The J S Battye Library provides access to original material. In some situations, this may not be possible and alternative formats such as microfilm, microfiche, typescripts or photocopies are supplied for researchers’ use. Where alternative formats are available, these must be used. Copyright Restrictions The Commonwealth Copyright Act 1968 regulates copying of unpublished material. It is the user’s legal obligation to determine and satisfy copyright. Special note regarding the description of the collection This collection is known as the Sir John Forrest collection, although some material of other members of Sir John Forrest’s family (e.g. Alexander Forrest) is included. In the descriptions MN 34 2 Copyright SLWA 2005 J S Battye Library of West Australian History Private Archives – Collection Listing given below, if no individual is nominated, the material is assumed to be of Sir John Forrest, however this may not always be correct. Summary of Classes ADDRESS BOOKS GENEALOGICAL RECORDS PAPERS BOOK PLATES HERALDIC DEVICES PASSES (RAILWAY) CARDS ILLUMINATED ADDRESSES PLANS CERTIFICATES INVITATIONS PRINTED REFERENCES CORRESPONDENCE LETTERS PROGRAMMES CUTTINGS MANUSCRIPTS PUBLICATIONS DIARIES MEMORANDA BOOKS RESEARCH NOTES ENGAGEMENT BOOKS MENUS SCRAPBOOKS FAMILY HISTORY NOTES TELEGRAMS FILES TICKETS FINANCIAL RECORDS ADDRESS BOOKS 529A/3 1906 Of John Forrest 529A/4 1910 Liberal Party contacts in Swan electorate BOOK PLATES 532A/1 Book plates of The Right Honourable Sir John Forrest G.C.M.G. With Forrest crest. (70). Book plates for “Forrest” with the Forrest crest and moto. 93A Book plate of Sir John Forrest. CARDS 532A/2 Acceptance card from Sir James and Lady Mackay accepting invitation from Sir John and Lady Forrest to dinner. Admission cards: Calling cards: Sir John Forrest, Atenaeum Club, Pall Mall. Lady Forrest, Miss Muriel North, Miss Wilhelmina North, The Bungalow, Perth, WA. Christmas card: From Lieut.-Governor of Papua 1915-1916. Invitations to Sir John and/or Lady Forrest issued during their 1911 visit to Britain. Invitations to the Misses North, 1911. Menu cards for functions for Sir John. Regulations for carriages at Their Majesties’ Afternoon Party, Buckingham Palace, 27 June 1911. CERTIFICATES 89A 1910 Authority for Sir John Forrest to practise as a licensed surveyor 90A 1912 Sir John Forrest as Honorary Colonel in the Australian Military Forcres, issued by the Governor-General MN 34 3 Copyright SLWA 2005 J S Battye Library of West Australian History Private Archives – Collection Listing CORRESPONDENCE 408A 1896 – 1898 Of Sir John Forrest – with A R Richardson, mainly relating to the Homesteads Act 577A 1897 – 1942 Letters to N W Harper (1897-1900) and telegram (1898) relating to the Goldfields Water Scheme; also stat. dec. by C T Faulkiner (1942) 839A 1898 – 1899 Letters written by Sir John Forrest from the Premier’s office, Perth to Sir Edmund Barton 278A 1899 – 1918 Of Sir John Forrest - Letters to J & A Sanderson, referring to personal and political interests; correspondence (Feb – Mar 1914) with T H Wilding and A J Monger relating to the Farmers and Settlers’ Asociation and the beginning of the Country Party 877A M/FILM 1902 – 1915 Letters from Sir Samuel Way to Sir John Forrest; also one letter from Sir John to Miss Farrt 730A M/FILM 1903 Between C.C. Kingston and Sir John Forrest on railways and federation Membership of the Order of St Michael and St George 532A/3 1908 Extract from regulations of the Order 532A/4 5 March 1909 Letter from Sir William Baillie Hamilton K.C.M.G. C.B. Officer at Arms and acting as Treasurer and General Organiser to Sir John Forrest. Acknowledgement of donation to Chapel Maintenance Fund 532A/5 28 January 1910 Baillie Hamilton to Forrest (on letterhead of Carlton Club). Informal advice that stall in Chapel of the Order now available to Forrest. Discusses cost of Banner, etc. Letter incomplete. 532A/6 1910 Report of the Chapel and the of the Chapel Maintenance Fund for the year 1909. 532A/7 20 October 1910 Baillie Hamilton to Forrest. Advises that Forrest’s Banner is now ready for hanging 532A/8 11 May 1911 Baillie Hamilton to Forrest. Advises protocol on wearing decorations and/or Star of the Order at various types of functions 532A/9 14 May 1911 Baillie Hamilton to Forrest. Advising Forrest not to buy a Chapeau as part of the Order’s ceremonial garb. 532A/10 17 May 1911 Cutting from “Daily Graphic” with illustration of Forrest’s Banner in the Order 532A/11 18 May 1911 Printed Order of Service for the affixing of the Banner of the Right Hon. Sir John Forrest, G.C.M.G. 532A/12 June 1911 Printed directions from the Earl Marshal concerning arrangements for Coronation Service of King George V and Queen Mary on 22 June 1911. Directions relate to “Dress” and use of carriage and admission cards. MN 34 4 Copyright SLWA 2005 J S Battye Library of West Australian History Private Archives – Collection Listing 532A/13 11 July 1911 Lord Richard Neville to Forrest – wearing of decorations 532A/14 20 July 1911 Chancery of Order to Forrest concerning wearing of Chapeau prescribed for Knights Grand Cross of the Order 532A/15 20 July 1911 Baillie Hamilton to Forrest.