Series 300: Files of the Executive Managers of John Fairfax & Sons and John Fairfax Ltd, 1900-1989

MLMSS 9894/Boxes 338-919

series

1900-1989

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs

9593783

66 metres of textual material (582 boxes)

The first General Manager of John Fairfax & Sons was Hugh George, appointed on 1 January 1878. The General Manager was responsible for the full range of the SMH activities including the journalism, production and advertising.
It seems that the General Manager had an Assistant General Manager (Charles Thomas Harris) by 1922 and that this was replaced by a General Manager's Secretary in or about September 1934. Both a Personal Assistant and Private Secretary was added to his staff by 1940. The General Manager's Secretary was a replaced by a Business Manager in 1949
The office of General Manager continued beyond 27 March 1930 when the first Managing Director was appointed, but to have been succeeded by the Office of Managing Director on 1 January 1965
General Managers included
Hugh George 1878-1887
Samuel Cook 1887-1907
W.G. Conley 1907-1929
C.T. Harris 1929-1933
A.H. Stuart 1933-1938
R.A.G. Henderson 1938-1949
A.H. McLachlan 1949-1965 (From 1965-1970 Managing Director)
R.P. Falkingham 1970-1980 General Manager
G.J. Gardiner 1980-1982 General Manager
G.J. Gardiner 1982-1987 Group General Manager
R. C. Cotton 1988 - 1989 Group Managing Director
Warwick Oswald Fairfax Managing Director 1930-1965

The position Group General Manager was established by March 1982 and continued until 1987. The position was probably succeeded by Managing Director and Chief Executive in 1992

At a meeting of the Directors on 30 June 1930 Warwick Fairfax was appointed Managing Director at a salary of £5000 p.a.. The role of Managing director altered on 1 January 1965 when the office absorbed the role of the General Manager.

W.O. Fairfax 1930-1949
R.A. Henderson 1949- 1964

The office of Managing Director [II] commenced on 1 January 1965 when the office absorbed that of General Manager [I]. The office ceased on 31 January 1969 when the office of General Manager was re-established.

For the duration of Managing Director [II] the incumbent was A.H. McLachlan

This series consists of sub-series of files containing records created, received or kept by the General Managers of John Fairfax & Sons. Between the years 1930-1965 there was both a Managing Director and General Manager and the records for both of these positions can be found in this series.
The General Manager was not only responsible for the management of the company but also held executive positions as director for other related companies and associations.
In many instances these files contain high level correspondence expected of the General Manager's position. The 55 sub-series in this series are;
01 Transcripts of inquiries into applications received for licences for television stations. 1958-1960
02 Files relating to Amalgamated Television Services Pty Limited, Artransa Pty Limited and television broadcasting 1953-1988
03 Correspondence and subject files relating to newspapers and newspaper companies 1935-1987
04 General Manager's office files 1928-1987
05 Correspondence with Prime Ministers and Ministries 1940-1986
06 Political Parties 1944-1969
07 Australian Newspapers Proprietors Association and Australian Newspapers Council 1944-1958
08 Memos between the General Manager, Managing Director and Sir Warwick Oswald Fairfax 1954-1974
09 Memos to and from editorial managers and editorial executives of John Fairfax & Sons newspapers 1964-1987
10 Fairfax family Press clippings and articles 1958-1985
11 Queensland Television Limited, QTQ 1957-1980
12 Associated Newspapers Limited 1935-1968
13 Prices Justification Tribunal 1974-1976
14 Newcastle Newspapers Pty Limited 1955-1985
15 Federal Capital Press of Australia Pty Ltd 1956-1987
16 Censorship 1941-1944
17 Suburban Newspapers Pty Limited and Suburban Community Newspapers Pty Ltd 1962-1987
18 Sungravure Pty Ltd and Magazine Promotions Pty Ltd 1975-1987
19 Macquarie Broadcasting Service Pty Ltd, Macquarie Broadcasting Holdings Ltd and related radio stations 1953-1987
20 Stereo FM radio 1985-1987
21 M7 Records Pty Ltd and Subsidiaries 1970-1981
22 David Syme & Co Ltd 1944-1987
23 Fairfax Syme Weldon 1982-1987
24 Overseas Newspaper Companies 1958-1986
25 Woman's Day and Home Magazines. 1950-1953
26 Memos and correspondence between General Manager and Directors of John Fairfax Ltd 1940-1987
27 Land Newspapers and Rural Press Limited 1966-1987
28 Australian Broadcasting Control Board 1954-1968
29 General Manager's Correspondence 1900-1903; 1935-1989
30 Trade Practices Commission 1967-1986
31 Correspondence with company Treasurer 1967-1975
32 Victorian Government Inquiry into Control and Ownership of Newspapers 1979-1981
33 Australian Press Council 1975-1986
34 Computer Systems - Administration and Advertising 1975-1982
35 Correspondence with State Premiers 1966-1986
36 Australian Associated Press - Reuters 1935-01-01
37 Other Press Associations and Institutes 1951-1987
38 Herald-Sun Chapel 1961-1983
39 Newsagents Dispute 1951-1953
40 Australian Journalists' Association 1972-1986
41 ANCOL - Australian Newsagents' Co-Op Limited 1955-1987
42 Radio and Television Stations - General 1938-1969
43 Printing presses and other equipment 1939-1975
44 Newsprint Companies 1949-1987
45 Australian Newsprint Mills Pty Ltd - Newspaper Supplies Pty Ltd 1935-1987
46 Tasman Pulp and Paper Company 1948-1987
47 Planned Communications Australia Pty Ltd 1973-1987
48 Art In Australia 1920-1934
49 John Fairfax & Sons' London Office 1903-1987
50 John Fairfax & Sons' New York Office 1952-1987
51 Herald Flying Service 1947-1966
52 Audited Circulation reports of the Sydney Morning Herald 1941-1977
53 Traveland Pty Limited 1966-1986
54 Minutes of board meetings, reports, accounts and correspondence relating to the board of John Fairfax Ltd
55: Libel defamation cases and other legal files, 1937-1984

Partly restricted: Applies to files in sub-series 2, 3, 4, 9, 14, 15, 22, 29, 45,49, 50, 54

Copyright status:: In copyright
Research & study copies allowed: .
Rights and Restrictions Information:: No publication without prior written approval of Fairfax Media Ltd
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy Fairfax Media Ltd.

Original Fairfax record group number 200