Richard Raxworthy interviews, 1982-1989, with Sydney Harbour Bridge builders, relating experiences 1923-1932

MLOH 1

fonds

1982-1989

Nonmusical Sound Recordings, Oral Histories

79230

Digitised

29 audiocassettes (30 hr.) - 10 × 7 cm, 4 mm tape

Richard Raxworthy (1932-2003) was a professional interviewer whose expertise in interviewing is particularly directed to politicians, trade unionists, trades and working people.

Work on the Sydney Harbour Bridge commenced in 1923 and the bridge was officially opened in 1932. It was designed by J. J. C. Bradfield, chief engineer of the project, on behalf of the New South Wales government, and spans Sydney Harbour between Dawes Point on the south and Milsons Point on the northern side. Dorman, Long & Co. Ltd England won the tender. Erection was under Lawrence Ennis, Director of Construction. The project was a major employer through the Depression years in New South Wales.

Note regarding cassettes: In some cases in the original recording Richard Raxworthy used disparate parts of the tapes to continue the recording of an interviewee. In an attempt to bring all the individual interviews together he made copies of the originals. These first copies have typewritten labels. Some of these tapes have suffered some deterioration so that fresh copies have been made from the originals without editing them in any way. Both sets are available to researchers. However, the online listing is that of the copies made from the original recordings. The newer copies have an asterisk on their CY MLOH label to differentiate them from the older copies. The tape logs follow the full interview as on the older set of copies (with the typed labels). It is recommended that both sets of copies be issued.

Some of the tapes in this collection are slow and occasionally muffled. In the collection with the asterisk listed below please note the following: Tape 9, slow and largely inaudible; Tapes 12 and 13 are slow, but clear; Tapes 19 and 22 slow, but clear; Tape 25, muffled copy of Tape 24.

The digital files were transferred from the original masters.

Among the tradesmen interviewed were drillers, riveters, concrete packers, boilermakers, riggers, ironworkers, plasterers, stonemasons, an official photographer, comptometer operators, sleepercutters, engineers, draughtsmen - born in Australia and overseas. The interviewer's intention was to present a working-class view of history.

Item 01: J. R. Lloyd interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 02: Vin G. Moloney interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 03: Bob Colefax interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 04: Walter Ellis interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 05: George Scott interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 06: Bob Ross interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 07: Hugh Dunn interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 08: Jack McCrae interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 09: Ian Ferrier interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 10: Jack Rue interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 11: Jack Edwards interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 12: Tom Evans interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 13: Archie Meek interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 14: Ivan Stenson interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 15: Norman Schofield interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 16: Harold Rootsy interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 17: George Evernden interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 18: William Brindle interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 19: Charles Brown interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 20: Doug May interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 21: Vera Holliday interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 22: Harry Vasiere interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 23: Alf Shields interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 24: Bill O'Brien interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 25: Pat Crawley interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 26: Reg Saunders interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 27: Lynn Irvine interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 28: Dave Irvine interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 29: Harry Tomrop interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 30: Frank Villagrand interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 31: Peter Meichen interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 32: Tom Ivory interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 33: Cliff Anning interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 34: Bert Payne interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 35: Mrs McCrae interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 36: Stan London interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 37: H. A. (Harold Allan) Peach interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 38: S. C. (Cliff) Robertson interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 39: Norm McAlpine interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 40: John Andrews interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection
Item 46: W. E. (Bill) Tarlington interview by Richard Raxworthy in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders collection

In copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder

A log and a transcription of the tapes is available.
Copies on CD at CY MLOH 1/1-46