Sydney Rare Book Week (25 to 29 October)
Repatriation
On 2nd January 2014 State Records NSW received 22 Presentation albums from the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom.
The 13 albums contain illuminated addresses that were presented to Charles Robert Carington* (1843-1928) during his tenure as Governor of New South Wales from 12th December 1885 to 3rd November 1890.
The Carrington Volumes were officially handed over to the NSW Government by a representative of the Carington Family, Janet Holmes à Court.
Governor of New South Wales
The appointment of Lord Carrington* as Governor of NSW was described by the Sydney Morning Herald on 11th June 1885 as ‘most auspicious’ and the article highlighted
the fact that Lord Carrington is a nobleman, a friend of the Prince of Wales, a cousin of Lord Rosebery, and a personage at Court’. [1]
This ‘most auspicious’ appointment attracted much ceremony in NSW and as a consequence saw the creation of highly decorative illuminated addresses and photograph albums to be officially presented to the Governor.
During his time as Governor of NSW it was said Lord Carrington, aided by his wife, re-established the opulence of Government House and the grandeur of the office of Governor. [2]
Upon conclusion of his time as Governor, Sydney gave Lord and Lady Carrington an unprecedented farewell, with thousands lining the streets and showering their carriage with flowers. In a parting speech, Carrington declared they were
guests who found their welcome at once an adoption, and whose farewell leaves half their hearts behind’. [3]
Highlights from Volume 4
All the albums feature tooled leather binding, gilt edged pages, and cloth hinged leaves.
Highlights from Volume 14
NRS 20455 - The volumes were held in the United Kingdom by the Carington family for many years before being given into the care of High Wycombe Library. Around 10 years ago the volumes were transferred to the county archives at the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies in Aylesbury. Given the significance of the volumes to the state of NSW, the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies last year suggested that the volumes be repatriated to Australia and transferred to State Records NSW. [4]
Official handover of The Carringtons
State Receives Gift from 1800s Governor
January 2014
Minister for Finance and Services, Dominic Perrottet, today joined Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency The Honourable Marie Bashir, at Government House to receive a gift of historic volumes from the family of Charles 3rd Lord Carrington, former Governor of New South Wales from 1885 to 1890.
“I am thrilled to have been able to join Governor Bashir in receiving such a historic gift from the Carington Family on behalf of State Records Authority of NSW,’ Mr Perrottet said.
“Dating back 122 years, this collection of 22 exquisite volumes provides a unique insight into the life and conditions within colonial NSW.
“They contain original photographs, illustrations and well-wishes from residents, towns and various associations across the state, and offer a rare snapshot from a bygone era — a period before federation.”
The Carrington Volumes accompanied Lord Carrington back to England in 1890, where they remained in Buckinghamshire until now. They have been donated to NSW State Records by the Carington Family and the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies.
The Honourable Rupert Carington, descendant of Charles 3rd Lord Carrington, said the family had retained special ties with Australia.
“The Carington family greatly values its connection with Australia,” he said.
“Apart from Charles 3rd Lord Carrington being Governor of NSW, Rupert 4th Lord Carrington lived in NSW, married an Australian, and raised a regiment in Australia to fight in the Boer War. Rupert 5th Lord Carrington was born in NSW, and my Father Peter 6th Lord Carrington was British High Commissioner in Australia.
“I myself attended school in Canberra. However, despite retaining many mementos of Australia in the family, we decided that the importance and magnificence of these splendid volumes fully justified their return to NSW where they could be properly and publicly appreciated.”
Minister Perrottet said work had commenced to digitise the Carrington Volumes and to make them available on the NSW State Records website, www.records.nsw.gov.au.
“We want to make our state’s records as easy to access as possible, and making these beautiful volumes available online in digital format will mean everyone has a chance to view them,” he said.
The Carrington Volumes were officially handed over to the NSW Government by a representative of the Carington Family, Janet Holmes à Court.
*Please note the Carington family name is spelled with one ‘r’ while the title Lord Carrington is spelt with two ‘r’s.
Acknowledgement
These albums were digitised by the State Library of NSW.
Related
- Century-old albums return to Wagga (The Daily Advertiser)
- CSU Archives – public talk on the Carrington albums (The Daily Advertiser)
- Archives Outside blog post (includes 7 Interesting Facts About Lord Carrington)
- See series information in the catalogue for NRS 20455
Footnotes
[1] 1885 ‘NEWS OF THE DAY.’, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), 2 December, p. 11, viewed 12 May, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13605432
[2] Rollo Gillespie, Viceregal Quarters: An Account of the Various Residences of the Governors of New South Wales from 1788 until the Present Day, Australia, Angus and Robinson Publishers, 1975, p 195
[3] A. W. Martin, ‘Carrington, Charles Robert (1843–1928)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University,http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/carrington-charles-robert-3169/text4745 , accessed 14 January 2014.
[4] 2014 ‘HISTORIC DOCUMENTS IN AYLESBURY BEING REPATRIATED TO AUSTRAILA’, Bucks Herald, 28th August 2014, viewed 12 May, 2014,http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/more-news/historic-documents-in-aylesbury-being-repatriated-to-australia-1-5432345
Exhibition
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