Letterbooks and papers of H. L. White of Belltrees, 1886-1927, with White family papers, 1850-1986 [microform]

MAV/FM4/10946

fonds

1850-1986

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs, Clippings

825971

41 microfilm reels - vesicular positive - 35 mm

Henry Luke White (1860-1927) was a pastoralist and philanthropist. The first generation of his family came out from England to develop the merino sheep industry in Australia. Belltrees station in the Upper Hunter Valley has been owned by the White family since 1831. The H. L. White branch of the family purchased Belltrees station in 1853 and established a pastoral dynasty. In 1884, White became the manager of Belltrees. His three younger brothers, William, Arthur and Victor, were also part-owners of the property. Up until 1920, 100 people worked in the shearing shed where 180,000 sheep were shorn.

In 1887, White married Louisa Maude Ebsworth. In 1907, he built a 54 room homestead, designed by J. W. Pender. By 1912 the Belltrees estate covered 65,000 hectares with over 3,000 kilometres of fencing and 64 houses scattered across it. Belltrees station was a self-contained community with a population of some 250 people. From 1912 White photographed station life, while his main hobbies became stamp collecting and ornithology. In 1917 he donated his comprehensive collection of New South Wales postage and fiscal stamps to the Mitchell Library, augmented in 1921 by those of Queensland and Western Australia.

References:
Library correspondence file
Australian Dictionary of Biography Online. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A120524b.htm (accesssed April 24, 2007)

The 41 microfilm copies of letterbooks and papers, 1876-1927, relating to H. L. White and Belltrees, provide an outstanding documentary record of a foremost NSW and Australian pastoral estate and family.

This extensive collection comprises 35 microfilms of letterbooks, 1886-1927 (53 vols.: Reels 1-35), including general and station business, 1886-1927 (Reels 1-31); letters to Arthur Charles Ebsworth, 1915-1917, 1922-1926 (Reel 22); private letterbooks, 1913-1926 (Reels 25-35); and philatelic and ornithological interests, 1910-1912 (Reel 23). The collection also includes 6 microfilms of White family papers, 1850-1986 (Reels 36-41). These papers include diaries, farm notes, stock returns, ledgers, rainfall registers and horse stud books.

Restricted: - - These microfilms are made available for individual private study only. Information obtained from the microfilms may not be used in any manner as may offend, or cause pain and embarrassment to any person.

Approval for reproduction required: Written permission must first be obtained from the White family, Belltrees, via Scone, NSW 2337

Index to the Letterbooks of H.L. White of Belltress, 1886 to 1926 [i.e. 1927] / handwritten by Judy White, with additional listing of microfilm contents and statement of conditions of use, located at Micro. Ref. Bks. 7.1.35 -

Original letterhttp://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/staff/images/icon/right_3.gifbooks and papers held by the White family, Belltrees, via Scone, NSW 2337

A selection of letters from 1910 in volume 21: 'Oological and Philatelic' (MAV/FM4/10946 Reel 23) was published in The art of collecting national heritage : the letters of Henry Luke White 1910-1913 / compiled by Judy White. Scone, N.S.W. : Seven Press, 2007.

In 1987, the Auchmuty Library of the University of Newcastle was permitted to obtain microfilm copies of an extensive collection of H. L. White letterbooks and White family papers held at the pastoral property Belltrees, near Scone, NSW. In 2007, the State Library of NSW sought permission from Judy White, the current owner of Belltrees, to obtain a set of the microfilm reels from the University of Newcastle Library. Henry Luke White was the grandfather of Judy White’s late husband, Michael Francis White (1928-1999).