Busby family papers, 1826-1864

MAV/FM4/2116
Status: unavailable

fonds

1826-1864

936671

1 microfilm reel of textual material - negative

John Busby, civil engineer and mineral surveyor, was employed by the Mineral Surveyor's Department to supervise coal mining at Newcastle and devise a water supply for Sydney. The tunnel scheme from Hyde Park, started in 1827 and completed in 1837, became known as Busby's Bore. His sons, Alexander and William assisted him. William acted as over-seer for the work, 1833-1837. The sons, however, were mainly engaged in pastoral pursuits. Thomas Woore, naval officer and engineer, was the father-in-law of William Busby. Interested in railway development, in 1845-1848 he made a general survey to ascertain the practicability of railway communication between Sydney and inland districts. In 1839, he had settled on a pastoral property, Pomeroy, near Goulburn, N.S.W.

Series 01: Correspondence of the Busby brothers, William, John, George and Alexander, 1826-1855
Letters from William and John, regarding family matters, especially their connection with Busby's Bore and their pastoral pursuits

Series 02: Letterbook of John Busby, the elder, 17 September 1827-28 December 1836
Manuscript copies of letters to the Colonial Secretary, written in his official capacity as senior officer of the Mineral Surveyor's Department, concerning, among other things, his surveys of the mineral deposits of the colony, the project known as Busby's Bore and problems of employing convict labor

Series 03: Daybook of William Busby, 1834-1837, acting as overseer for Busby's Bore; with quarterly return, January-March 1933, signed by John Busby

Series 04: Diaries of Thomas Woore, 1846-1864
A. 5 June 1846 to 31 December 1850; period during which he made his railway survey
B. 1 October 1855 to 7 June 1861 and 7 January 1863 to 18 November 1864

Series 05: Sketchbooks of watercolour and pencil drawings including views of Pomeroy, the residence of Thomas Woore, various Sydney residences and the Woore and Mort families at Darling Point, 1865-1871 / Thomas Woore

Originals in private ownership

Information transferred from Manuscripts Leaf Catalogue No. 1 (5-173B) as part of the eRecords Project, 2011-2012

Photographed by the Public Library of New South Wales, February 1964