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9627532
  • Title
    Best and Stuart families papers, 1834-2016
  • Call number
    MLMSS 10450
  • Level of description
    fonds
  • Date

    1834-2016
  • Type of material
  • Reference code
    9627532
  • Physical Description
    0.16 metres of textual material (1 box)
  • ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

    John Stuart (d. 1885) arrived from Britain in 1834. In 1882 he brought out Jessie, an elephant from India, for the zoo at Moore Park. In 1916 Jessie was moved to Taronga Zoo where she gave rides for the next 23 years. John Stuart’s daughter married Gervase Best, a builder in Woolloomooloo, who arrived in Sydney in 1849 and after whom Best Street is named.
    James Peter Best (1833-1884) was a teacher at the Parramatta Orphan School (1855), Mayor of Willoughby (1874-75 and 1883-84), and involved in the introduction of English fish into Australian streams.
    Reference: Library Correspondence file
  • Collection history
    By decent from Ngareta Rossell, granddaughter of Frank Best
  • Scope and Content
    Letters, genealogies, and legal documents relating the history of the Best and Stuart families from the arrival of John Stuart in 1834 to the early years of the 20th century. Various members came to own large land holdings in Woolloomooloo, Five Dock and Willoughby and achieved success in business and public service. Includes references to importing Jessie the elephant to Taronga Zoo in 1883, and introduction of English fish species into New South Wales rivers.
    Also includes:
    Letter from John Stuart recounting his voyage to Australia and conditions in Hobart, 7 March 1834.
    Letters relating to the Orphan School at Parramatta, ca. 1855
    Leases of orchard and markets gardens at Five Dock from J.P. Best to Ah Lee, 1879, 1889, with additional notations in Chinese.
    Letters from Sir Alfred Stephen, Rev. George Fairfowl Macarthur and others recommending James Peter Best, 1854, 1862
    Letter to J.P. best from Edward Stuart in London concerning a shipment of plate glass to Sydney, 9 April 1855
    Documents relating to J. P. Best as Mayor of Willoughby
  • Copying Conditions
    Copyright status:: Items in this collection where the author(s) died more than 70 years ago are out of copyright. Other items are in copyright for the life of the author(s) plus 70 years
    Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
  • Description source

    Contents list adapted from inventory supplied by donor.
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