Sir William McMillan further papers, 1881-1926

MLMSS 11244/Box 1X-2X
MLMSS 11244/Box 3

fonds

1881-1926

Textual Records, Clippings, Graphic Materials, Photographs, Ephemera

9663665

1.28 metres of textual material (1 box and 2 outsize boxes) includes photographs - typescript, manuscript

Sir William McMillan (1850-1926) was born in Londonderry, Ireland. He worked as a merchant in the family business, W. and A. McArthur Ltd, and was sent to Sydney to join A.H.C. Macafee. McMillan was eventually elected as president of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce in 1886. He was a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1887-1898; Member for East Sydney, 1887-1894; 1895-1898; Member for Burwood, 1894-1895; and elected as the Colonial Treasurer, 1889-1891.

McMillan continued his career in business having roles as the Sydney director of the National Bank of Australasia, chairman of Associated South Coast Collieries and the Metropolitan Coal Trust Co. of Sydney Ltd, and director of Westinghouse Brake, Phoenix Assurance and E. Rich. He was an active member of the British Empire League in Australia and served for twenty years on the Council of Women’s College, University of Sydney. McMillan died in Woollahra, on 21 December 1926.

References:
Martin, A.W. 2006. "McMillan, Sir William (1850-1926)". Accessed 10 March 2022. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mcmillan-sir-william-1105
Parliament of New South Wales. "Sir William McMillan (1850-1926)". Accessed 10 March 2022. https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/formermembers/Pages/former-member-details.aspx?pk=936

By descent from Sir William McMillan to great granddaughter Kerrilyn O'Donnell

BOX 1X
William McMillan awards, certificates and letters of appointment, 1890-1911
1. Appointment to New South Wales Executive Council, signed by Baron Carrington, Governor of New South Wales, 8 March 1889
2. Letter from [Richard Cornelius] Critchett Walker, Principal under Secretary of the Colonial Secretary's Office, transmitting commission of Colonial Treasurer appointment, 8 March 1889
3. Commission as Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales, signed by Baron Carrington, Governor of New South Wales, 8 March 1889
4. Appointment to informal Melbourne conference regarding Federation, signed by Alfred Stephen, Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales and Sir Henry Parkes, 4 February 1890
5. Commission as Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales, signed by Earl of Jersey, 15 January 1891
6. Appointment to New South Wales Executive Council signed by Earl of Jersey, 15 January 1891
7. Appointment to National Australasian Convention, Sydney, signed by Earl of Jersey, Governor of New South Wales, 26 February 1891
8. Illuminated address presented by New South Wales Chamber of Commerce for services as Colonial Treasurer, September 1891
9. Appointment as President of New South Wales Commissioners for Mission to World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago, signed by Earl of Jersey, Governor of New South Wales, 28 September 1891
10. Order of Saint Michael & George envelope addressed to McMillan, 21 February 1901, and The statutes of the most distinguished Order of Saint Michael & George booklet, 1891
11. Appointment to Australasian Federal Convention, signed by Viscount Hampden, Governor of New South Wales, 18 March 1897
12. Letter from Joseph Chamberlain, Colonial Secretary informing McMillan of the Knight Commander, Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) award, 31 December 1900
13. Letter from the Robert W. Herbert, Chancellor, informing McMillan of the KCMG award, 31 December 1900
14. Warrant of appointment as Knight Commander, Order of St Michael and St George, signed by Queen Victoria, 1 January 1901
15. Letter from Secretary, Order of St Michael and St George, transmitting warrant, 21 February 1901
16. Letter from Private Secretary to Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales, conferring warrant, 28 March 1901
17. Photograph of Sir William McMillan in KCMG regalia by Johnstone O’Shannessy, June 1901
18. Tribute from Commercial Travelers Association of New South Wales on McMillan’s Knighthood, [probably 1901]
19. Certificate as Delegate of British Empire League to Victoria League Conference, London, June 1911

BOX 2X
William McMillan papers relating to the Federation of Australia, 1890-1901
1. Folder given to members of informal Melbourne conference regarding Federation, 1890
2. Folder for the National Australasian Convention, Sydney; embossed ‘The Honourable W. McMillan, MLA’, 1891
3. General Secretary's Office memorandum regarding Commonwealth Celebrations, 25 March 1901
4. Invitation to President, NSW Club to Federation celebrations in Melbourne, May 1901
5. Invitation to Opening of First Federal Parliament, Melbourne, 9 May 1901. On verso: Message from Elizabeth Davidson to her niece and granddaughter of McMillan, Eleanor Owen, regarding her grandfather's political beliefs, position and the significance of this item, Christmas 1941; printed copies of poems "The Young Queen" and "The Five Nations"
6. Opening of the First Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, 9 May 1901
7. Key to Tom Roberts' historical painting Opening of First Parliament of the Commonwealth, 9th May 1901
8. Two New South Wales Club Dinner Menu cards, 6 June 1901, includes one addressed to 'Sir William McMillan, K.C.M.G., M.P., President'
9. Principles for Constitution with annotations in ink by McMillan, n.d.

BOX 3
FOLDER 1
William McMillan papers as Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and Member for East Sydney, 1887-1896
1. The First Legislative Assembly of New South Wales. The Introduction of Parliamentary Government in New South Wales. Dinner of the Surviving Members of the First Legislative Assembly at Parliament House, May 23, 1887
2. Tribute presented to McMillan on leaving Sydney for a trip to England from employees of A McArthur & Co, 99 York Street Sydney, February 1889
3. Speech of William McMillan on the Fiscal Policy of the Government, 8 December 1891
4. Speech of William McMillan on the second reading of the Customs Duties Bill, 19th January 1892
5. Speech on the Referendum by William McMillan, 29th October 1896

FOLDER 2
William McMillan papers as Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales, 1889-1891
1. Letter to Sir Henry Parkes, 21 February 1889
2. Ways and Means. Financial Statement of the Honourable W. McMillan Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales, 10 April 1889
3. Henry Parkes telegram to William McMillan, 29 Jan 1891
4. Henry Parkes letter to William McMillan, 25 July 1891
5. Draft Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia. The Draft Bill to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia, as adopted by the convention of 1891 / Edited by G. B. Barton, 1891
6. Deputation (copy): Introduction of Proposed Express Train Service between Sydney and Brisbane, 20 July 1891
7. Dismissal of Mr. Hoyle from railway service, 1891

FOLDER 3
Newspaper clippings, printed materials and other items relating to William McMillan, 1881-1926
1. The Australian Economist, 24 July 1893, no. 6, vol. III
2. Australian Public Men Sketched by HW Cotton. Sydney : NSW Bookstall Co., [possibly 1906]
3. Official Guide to the National Park of New South Wales. Sydney : New South Wales National Parks Trust, 1902
4. The British Empire: An address delivered by The Honourable Sir WM. McMillan, K.C.M.G., President, British Empire League in Australia, at the Royal Society's House, Sydney, 19 February 1913
5. Photograph of Sir William McMillan, [possibly 1920s]
6. Newspaper and cartoon clippings from papers including The Argus, The Times, Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph and others, 1881-1926

Out of copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales