Robert Towns & Co records, 1829-1940, with papers of Sir Alexander Stuart, 1845-1888, and William Edward Wilson, 18--1940

MLMSS 1279

fonds

1829-1940

422227

Microfilm : Robert Towns letters, 1844-1860).
Microfilm : Robert Towns letters, 1862-1873).
Microfilm : Sir A. Stewart letters, 1852-1886, including letters to Robert Towns).
Microfilm : Letters to Towns & Co., 1842-1859).
Microfilm : Letters to Towns & Co., 1860-1865).
Microfilm : Letters to Towns & Co., 1867-1885).
Microfilm : Papers, 1829-1887, including incidental correspondence).
Microfilm : Log of barque Antagonist, Feb.- May 1863).
Microfilm : Misc. correspondence, 1832-1885).
Microfilm : Papers, 1875-1882, of Sir A. Stuart, R. Harnett & AMP Society, re land on Sydney's North Shore).
Microfilm : Sir A. Stewart family correspondence, 1846-1869).
Microfilm : Sir A. Stewart family correspondence, 1846-1885).
Microfilm : Sir A. Stuart's private correspondence & papers, 1848-1890).

22 vols., 2 boxes

Robert Towns (1794-1873), merchant and parliamentarian, was born at Northumberland England, son of Edward and Ann Towns. He arrived at Sydney in 1827 in command of a merchant ship and subsequently visited frequently with cargo until settling in 1843. He established a mercantile and shipping business. His firm had wide and varied commercial interests including cotton growing, whaling, meat packing and importing. Towns was appointed to the NSW Legislative Council (1856-1861, 1863-1873).
Sir Alexander Stuart (1824-1866), merchant and parliamentarian, was born at Edinburgh, Scotland, and having worked for a merchant in Scotland arrived in Sydney in 1851. In 1852 Stuart joined the Bank of New South Wales. By 1855 he joined R. Towns & Co. and became prominent in commercial circles. Stuart was elected a member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for the seats of East Sydney (1874-1879) and Illawarra (1880-1885). He was a member of the NSW Legislative Council (1885-1886). Stuart was appointed Colonial Treasurer (1876-1877) and Premier and Colonial Secretary (1883-1885).
William Edward Wilson, nephew of Alexander Stuart, joined the R. Towns & Co. in 1870 and became a partner 1884. He retired in 1913.

Guide to the collection with family tree compiled in the Mitchell Library (9ff) (Call No.: MLMSS 1279/1)
I. Papers of Robert Towns and R. Towns & Co., 1829-1887
1842-1886; Correspondence, including letters by Robert Towns, 1844-1860; letters by Alexander Sturat, 1852-1886; and letters received by the firm concerning their pastoral and financial ventures chiefly in NSW and QLD (Call No.: CY 2648 [MLMSS 1279/2-3]; CY 2997 [MLMSS 1279/4]; CY 2998 [MLMSS 1279/5]; CY 2999 [MLMSS 1279/6]; CY 3000 [MLMSS 1279/7])
1829-1887; Papers, including relating to Captain Ranulph Dacre and New Zealand trading, 1829-1873, with an agreement re sale of land on the Hokianga River by Chief Moetarra to H.R. Oakes, 1836; papers re transport of troops to Calcutta, 1844; correspondence with A.S. Hallidie, 1885-1887, re purchase of Government railways in Sydney; log book of the barque Antagonist, 1863. Miscellaneous correspondence includes reports on copper mining in QLD, 1872; tin mining in Malaya, 1885; tin mining in QLD, 1876-1877; agreements concerning the employment of Chinese labourers, 1851-1853; papers of Alexander Stuart, R. Hartnett and the A.M.P. Society re land on Sydney's North Shore, 1875-1882 (Call No.: CY 3000 [MLMSS 1279/8]; CY 2970 [MLMSS 1279/9-10]; CY 4364 [MLMSS 1279/11])
1839-1903; Legal documents, 1839-1903, with miscellaneous financial papers, 1866-1881 (Call No.: MLMSS 1279/12)
II. Papers of Sir Alexander Stuart, 1845-1888
1845-1888; Family correspondence, being mainly letters to Stuart from his parents and members of the Stuart family (Call No.: CY 4189 [MLMSS 1279/13]; CY 4190 [MLMSS 1279/14]; MLMSS 1279/15)
1848-1890; Personal correspondence, being mainly concerning political matters. Correspondents include Sir S.R. Lowry-Corry, Sir Charles Cowper, Rev. W.M. Cowper, W.B. Dalley, H.B. Loch, Lord Loftus, Sir G. Macleay, Sir Henry Parkes, Sir H. Robinson, Sir P.H. Scratchley and R.W.B. Vaughan (Call No.: CY 3018 [MLMSS 1279/16-17])
1881-1886; Papers, being mainly cuttings (Call No.: CY 3018 [MLMSS 1279/16-17])
III. Papers of William Edward Wilson, 18?-1940
18?-1928; Family correspondence (Call No.: MLMSS 1279/18)
18?-1934; Private correspondence, being mainly letters concerning his Mosman property (Call No.: MLMSS 1279/19-21)
1870-1933; Papers including papers re K.R. Stuart and the estates of Sir Alexander and Lady Stuart (Call No.: MLMSS 1279/22)
1883-ca.1940; Miscellaneous papers mainly concerning his Mosman property (Call No.: MLMSS 1279/23-24)
Date unknown; Papers concerning Wilson's researches into the history of R. Towns & Co. (Call No.: MLMSS 1279/24)

This collection was listed as part of the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in NSW 1856-2006 Project.

This collection includes maps located at M Ser.4 000/1 MLMSS 1279 maps 1-19 and pictorial material at Pic.Acc.1050

This Working Life - State Library of New South Wales (1 February - 13 June, 2004)