MS 3662
Papers of Frederick Osborne (1909-1996)
- Papers
- 1948-84
- 7.28 m (52 boxes)
- Available for reference
Frederick Osborne presented the first instalment of his papers to the
Library in 1973, and a second instalment was received from him in 1995.
The collection comprises personal papers documenting Osbornes career
as a parliamentarian, solicitor and businessman. The papers date from
Osbornes election as Liberal Member for Evans in 1949, through to
his retirement from political and business activities in 1984.
The bulk of the papers relate to Osbornes political career from
1950 to 1961, including papers relating to his terms as Minister for
Customs and Excise, Minister for Air, and Minister for Repatriation. The
personal and parliamentary correspondence documents Osbornes
relationships with other parliamentarians and government officials,
business associates and friends. The subject files are diverse, covering
foreign affairs, defence, repatriation, communism, industrial arbitration
and immigration. The collection also reflects Osbornes personal
interests and activities, including his membership of the Round Table
Group and the Union Club.
The range of formats in the collection includes correspondence,
photographs, publications, speeches, press statements, and subject files.
Most of Osbornes letters were typed, and the collection contains
often multiple copies of letters by him, some signed or stamped with his
signature.
The principal correspondents include Sir Robert Menzies, Sir John
Carrick, Lord Casey, Sir Alexander Downer, Sir Allen Fairhall, Sir Philip
McBride, Sir Robert Southey, Staniforth Ricketson, Morgan Giles, Dr Donald
Cameron, Duncan McCallum, James Wolfensohn, Arthur Lowndes, Sir John
Cramer, Athol Townley, Sir Shane Paltridge, Harold Holt, William McMahon,
Sir Denham Henty, Sir William Spooner, Sir Garfield Barwick, Sir Gordon
Freeth, Sir Neil OSullivan, Sir Arthur Fadden, Sir John McEwen, Sir
Robert Cotton and Sir Daniel McVey.
For much of the collection, the Library has retained the way in which
Osborne arranged his papers.
Frederick Meares Osborne was born in Sydney on 20 January 1909. He was
educated at North Sydney High School, Sydney Church of England Grammar
School and St Andrews College, University of Sydney, where he
graduated Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws. In 1934 he was admitted
as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. In 1944 he married
Elizabeth Drake. They had four children, Alick, Michael, Imogen and
Penelope.
In September 1939 Osborne was mobilised as a Sub-Lieutenant, Royal
Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RANVR). He served with the Royal
Australian Navy and Royal Navy 1939-46, commanding HMS Gentian (1941),
Vanquisher (1943), and Peacock (1945). He was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross, 1940, and bar, 1945. Osborne was demobilised
in 1946, appointed Lieutenant-Commander RANVR in 1947, and then Commander
in 1955. After the war Osborne returned to his law practice in Sydney,
with Dibbs, Crowther and Osborne. He later joined the firm Ebsworth and
Ebsworth, before moving to Dudley Westgarth and Co. in 1965.
Osborne began his career in Federal politics in 1949 as the Liberal
Member for Evans, an electorate in Sydney, New South Wales. He held this
seat until his defeat in the general election of 1961. During this period
he was Minister for Customs and Excise 1956, Minister for Air 1956-60, and
Minister for Repatriation 1960-61.
Osborne frequently served as an acting minister for various portfolios,
including Navy, January-February 1958 and August 1958, Supply, April-May
1958, Immigration, May-July 1959, Interior, November 1959, and
Territories, April-June 1960. He also served as the Minister assisting the
Acting Minister for External Affairs, August-November 1957. He was active
in committee work, serving on numerous committees including the Joint
Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs. Osborne was a member of the
Parliamentary delegation to the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953,
and Government representative at the inauguration of Ghana in March 1957.
After his defeat in 1961 Osborne served on the NSW State Executive of
the Liberal Party, becoming State Treasurer in 1964, and then serving as
State President 1967-70.
Osborne was appointed Esquire Bedell of the University of Sydney in
1968. He was a member of the Union Club and the Round Table Group, a
Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, and made a Companion of
the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) in 1969. He served as
President of the Swiss-Australian Society and President of the NSW
Division of the Australia-Britain Society. Osborne was General Counsel in
Australia for Lloyds, 1963-75. Throughout his career he served as a
chairman or director of numerous companies and organisations, including
Sandoz Australia, the British Aircraft Corporation, Macdonald Hamilton &
Co, the English Electric Company, Meares Bros and the Australian Ballet
Foundation. He was also a member of the New South Wales Board of Advice of
the National Bank of Australasia.
Osborne died in Sydney on 23 July 1996.
| 1 |
Personal correspondence, 1956-84 |
| 2 |
Press statements, 1950-61 |
| 3 |
Publications, 1948-55 |
| 4 |
Speeches, 1950-61 |
| 5 |
Photographs, 1957-61 |
| 6 |
Invitations, 1957-61 |
| 7 |
Congratulations and condolences, 1958-61 |
| 8 |
Christmas cards, 1956-60 |
| 9 |
Business papers, 1947-72 |
| 10 |
Medical and financial papers, 1950-61 |
| 11 |
Office administration, 1956-61 |
| 12 |
Subject files, 1945-59 |
| 13 |
Liberal Party, 1948-75 |
| 14 |
Member for Evans, 1949-61 |
| 15 |
Departmental files, 1956-61 |
| 16 |
Minister for Customs and Excise, 1955-56 |
| 17 |
Minister for Air, 1956-61 |
| 18 |
Ghana Inauguration and Operation Westbound, 1957-60 |
| 19 |
Minister for Repatriation, 1960-61 |
Series 1 Personal correspondence, 1956-84
Osborne maintained a fairly extensive series of files of personal
correspondence. This series documents the personal and social contact he
had with other parliamentarians, business associates, family and friends.
Most of Osbornes own letters were typed, and this series contains
often multiple copies of his letters, interfiled with those he received.
The correspondents include Lord Casey, Sir Eric Harrison, Sir Allen
Fairhall, Sir Percy Spender, Sir Alexander Downer, Sir Philip McBride, Sir
Robert Southey, Staniforth Ricketson, Harold Holt, Frederick Deer, Morgan
Giles, Dr Donald Cameron, Duncan McCallum, James Wolfensohn, A. Stewart
Richardson, John McKay Sim, Roger Dean, Mark Johnson, John McMinn, John
Bowen, Arthur Lowndes, Alan Ritchie, George Le Couteur, Dr John Osborne,
and Nancy Osborne.
The correspondence documents Osbornes interests and contemporary
events, including foreign affairs, national and international politics and
events, armed forces, defence, South-East Asian affairs, SEATO, the
economy, industrial legislation, Britain-Australian relationships and
politics, and the Liberal Party organisation. There is also correspondence
relating to numerous associations with which Osborne was affiliated,
including the London House Committee, the Round Table Group, the
Swiss-Australia Society, the Australia-Britain Association, the Australia
American Association, the Australian Institute of Management, the Order of
Saint Michael and Saint George, and the Union Club.
| Folder |
Year |
Folder |
Year |
Folder |
Year |
Folder |
Year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1-2 |
1956 |
22-23 |
1964 |
48 |
1973 |
61 |
1983 |
| 3-6 |
1957 |
24-25 |
1965 |
49-50 |
1974 |
62 |
1984 |
| 7-8 |
1958 |
26-28 |
1966 |
51-53 |
1975 |
|
|
| 9-11 |
1959-60 |
29-32 |
1967 |
54-55 |
1976 |
|
|
| 12-15 |
1961 |
33-37 |
1968 |
56 |
1977 |
|
|
| 16-17 |
1961-62 |
38-39 |
1969 |
57 |
1978 |
|
|
| 18-19 |
1962 |
40-43 |
1970 |
58 |
1979 |
|
|
| 20 |
1963 |
44-45 |
1971 |
59 |
1980 |
|
|
| 21 |
1964-69 |
46-47 |
1972 |
60 |
1981-82 |
|
|
Series 2 Press statements, 1950-61
Osborne issued hundreds of press statements relating to his activities
or those of his department, and giving commentary on contemporary events.
This series contains copies of press statements issued by Osborne during
the period of his term as Member for Evans, as well as press statements by
others regarding various matters. The series also includes material
relating to My column, a newspaper column written by Osborne
as Member for Evans. It was printed in various papers in the Evans
electorate, including The Courier, Aeroplane, The Chronicle and
The Argus. This material includes notes, newspaper
clippings and correspondence regarding publication of the column.
Folder
| 1-2 |
My column, 1950-54 |
| 3-4 |
Press statements and circular letters, 1956-60 |
| 5 |
Press statements and circular letters, 1960-61 |
| 6 |
Press statements by Osborne, 1956-60 |
| 7 |
Press statements by Osborne, 1961 |
| 8-9 |
Press statements by others and related papers |
Series 3 Publications, 1948-55
This series contains a mixed collection of printed material, published
reports, pamphlets, and parliamentary and other official publications. The
bulk of these generally relate to the subject files maintained by Osborne,
in series 12. There is also a folder of published material relating to the
Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, including one or two issues of The
Interpreter and Asian Analyst, as well as departmental
bulletins issued by the Department of External Affairs.
Folder/Piece
| 1 |
Acts and Bills, 1948-55 |
| 2 |
Publications relating to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs,
1955 |
| 3-12 |
Miscellaneous publications |
Series 4 Speeches, 1950-61
Osborne delivered addresses and speeches on a variety of occasions
throughout his career, including during election campaigns, at Liberal
Party and electorate functions, and at conferences and seminars. Osborne
spoke regularly to various organisations and associations, including the
Australian Institute of Management, Legacy and Rotary clubs, the Air Force
Association, the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen, and numerous schools.
This series comprises handwritten and typescript drafts of speeches,
notes and research material, and Hansard extracts relating to many
of the speeches Osborne made during his term as a Member of Parliament.
Arrangement within the series is largely chronological.
Osborne spoke on such topics as his overseas trips, Australias
defence forces, unemployment, South-East Asian affairs, SEATO (South-East
Asian Treaty Organisation), the United Nations, the Australian economy,
staffing and reorganisation of the public service, reorganisation of the
armed services, immigration, repatriation, health, shipping, banking law
reform, industrial arbitration, communism, and compulsory unionism.
Correspondence relating to these topics is also contained in series 12.
Folder
| 1-3 |
1950-56 |
| 4-6 |
1956-58 |
| 7-8 |
1958-61 |
| 9-11 |
1961 |
Series 5 Photographs, 1957-61
The photographs were in no apparent order, except for a grouping of
photographs relating to Osbornes visit to the United States in 1957.
They have been arranged chronologically, with sub-groupings according to
event or subject within each year. The series includes photographs of Air
Force activities and functions, RAAF base visits, Langley Air Force Base
and the Palmdale facilities of the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in the
United States, and Osbornes visit to the Bathurst Island Mission on
23 June 1957. Papers relating to these activities are also contained in
series 17 and 18.
Piece
| 1 |
Photographs, 1957 |
| 2 |
Photographs, Westbound Mission, United States, 1957 |
| 3 |
Photographs, 1958-61 |
| 4-5 |
Miscellaneous photographs |
Series 6 Invitations, 1957-61
This series comprises hundreds of invitations to formal and informal
functions, dinners and other events during Osbornes term as a
federal minister. The invitations and responses are filed together and
arranged chronologically. Invitations received by Osborne are also
contained in series 1.
Folder
| 1 |
1957-58 |
| 2-3 |
1958 |
| 4-7 |
1959 |
| 8-10 |
1960 |
| 11-13 |
1961 |
Series 7 Congratulations and condolences, 1958-61
This small series comprises congratulatory correspondence to and from
friends, political colleagues, Liberal Party members, and constituents.
The incoming correspondence relates primarily to Osbornes 1958
re-election and 1961 defeat. There are also similar letters of
congratulation and best wishes from Osborne to colleagues and friends.
Congratulatory correspondence is also contained in series 1.
Folder
Series 8 Christmas cards, 1956-60
This series contains a small collection of Christmas cards received by
Osborne and his wife during the period when he was Minister for Customs
and Excise and then Minister for Air.
Folder
Series 9 Business papers, 1947-72
This small series of papers comprises correspondence relating to Osbornes
business interests in Papua New Guinea, and his association with Meares
Bros, the British Aircraft Corporation, and Outward Bound. The papers
include meeting papers, reports, annual reports, memoranda, and research
material and other documents.
The correspondents include Sir Paul Hasluck, Graham Kingsford Smith and
Robert Bunting, regarding investment opportunities in Papua New Guinea.
Other correspondence relating to Osbornes business interests and
activities is contained in series 1.
Folder
| 1 |
New Guinea business interests, 1947-54 (small) |
| 2 |
Meares Bros, 1955-61 (small) |
| 3 |
Outward Bound, 1956-61 (small) |
| 4 |
British Aircraft Corporation, 1972 |
Series 10 Medical and financial papers, 1950-61
This small series comprises papers relating to medical, financial, and
investment matters. The papers include bank statements, receipts, related
correspondence, cheque butts, medical benefit statements, and insurance
papers. Correspondence regarding these matters is also contained in series
1.
Folder
| 1 |
Medical benefit statements and related papers, 1950-61 |
| 2-3 |
Receipts, 1960-61 |
| 4 |
Insurance papers, 1957-61 |
| 5-6 |
Papers regarding investments and other financial matters, 1957-61 |
Series 11 Office administration, 1956-61
This series contains correspondence dealing with general office
administration, including security matters and staff appointments. The
papers date from Osbornes terms as a federal minister between 1956
and 1961.
Folder
| 1 |
1956-61 |
| 2-3 |
1956-58 |
| 4 |
1958-60 |
| 5 |
1961 |
Series 12 Subject files, 1945-59
Throughout his term as a federal member, Osborne maintained a series of
subject files on various topics of interest. Many of these relate to
Osbornes membership in numerous parliamentary committees, including
Defence Services Committee, United Nations Charter Revision Convention
Committee, Tactics Against Communism Committee and Joint Committee on
Foreign Affairs.
The diverse range of subjects documented in this series includes
communism, foreign affairs, industrial arbitration, trade unions, the
stevedoring industry, banking legislation, taxation concessions for church
and independent schools, and the 1951 Boyer Television Report. The papers
relating to foreign affairs include correspondence regarding Osbornes
visits to Papua New Guinea and Malaya during 1950-58, and correspondence
regarding South-East Asian Australian relations. There are also
papers relating to Osbornes membership in the Round Table Group,
although these are not comprehensive.
Among the correspondents are Lord Casey, W. C. Wentworth, Harold Holt,
Dudley Fowler, George McLeay, Donald McKay, Sir Alexander Downer, Sir John
Carrick, Sir Frank Packer, Sir Robert Menzies, Arthur Calwell, Sir Arthur
Fadden, Sir Eric Harrison, Sir Allen Fairhall, and Sir Paul Hasluck.
The files include such material as correspondence, minutes of meetings,
committee reports, research reports, newspaper cuttings and press
statements, research material and handwritten notes, including notes for
speeches on these topics. The papers within each folder are generally
arranged in chronological order. Printed material regarding the Foreign
Affairs Committee is contained in series 3.
Folder
| 1 |
1954 Naval Reserve Forces and Training Questionnaire, Defence
Services Committee, 1954-55 |
| 2 |
Communist Party Dissolution Bill, 1950-54 |
| 3 |
United Nations Charter Revision Convention Committee, 1954 |
| 4 |
Transport Policy Committee, 1952 (small) |
| 5 |
Compulsory unionism and industrial arbitration, 1952-54 |
| 6 |
Industrial arbitration, 1956-57 |
| 7 |
Tradesmens Rights Regulation Act, 1948-52 |
| 8-10 |
Shipping and transport, 1948-54 |
| 11 |
Industrial Policy Committee, 1952-55 (small) |
| 12-13 |
Banking legislation and reform, 1945-57 |
| 14 |
Foreign Affairs Committee, 1950-58 |
| 15 |
New England New State Movement, 1949-54 (small) |
| 16 |
Round Table, 1956-59 (small) |
| 17-18 |
Taxation concessions for schools, 1950-56 |
| 19 |
Television, 1951-59 |
| 20 |
Social Services Committee, 1956-58 |
Series 13 Liberal Party, 1948-75
Osborne was elected to Parliament as the Liberal Member for Evans in
1949. The correspondence in this series dates from his early years as a
parliamentarian, through to his defeat in the 1961 election, and his
subsequent period of service on the State Executive of the NSW Liberal
Party. The papers, arranged chronologically, include correspondence,
memoranda, minutes and research bulletins.
The papers dating from Osbornes time as Member for Evans include
general Liberal Party correspondence with the General Secretary Sir John
Carrick, other Liberal Party members, and Evans electorate branches. The
correspondence documents Liberal Party policies and general election
arrangements, and such subjects as industrial relations, television, trade
unions, immigration, defence, and communism.
As a member of the State Executive, Osborne corresponded with other
senior members of the Liberal Party regarding federal and state party
funding, Commonwealth/State relations, coalition with the Australian
Country Party, policy speeches, invitations, candidates, campaign
publicity and costs, electorate divisions, electorate conferences, and the
party leadership. The series includes memoranda exchanged with Carrick on
the restructuring of the Party and reform of the NSW Legislative Council.
During this time Osborne was a member of the Staff Planning Committee,
State Finance Committee and Steering Committee.
The major correspondents include Carrick, Sir Frank Packer, Sir William
Spooner, Sir Robert Cotton, Harold Holt, Lyle Moore, Sir Robert Menzies,
Sir Philip McBride, Sir Daniel McVey, Charles Lloyd Jones, John Pagan,
Charles Locke, Sir Robert Southey, Robin Askin, William McMahon, and James
Wolfensohn.
| Folder |
Year |
Folder |
Year |
Folder |
Year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1-2 |
1948-56 |
8 |
1965 |
17-23 |
1968 |
| 3 |
1956-59 |
9 |
1966 |
24 |
1968-69 |
| 4 |
1960 |
10 |
1965-67 |
25-31 |
1969 |
| 5-6 |
1961 |
11-15 |
1967 |
32 |
1969-70 |
| 7 |
1962-64 |
16 |
1967-68 |
33 |
1971-75 |
Series 14 Member for Evans, 1949-61
This series contains papers relating to Osbornes activities as
Member for Evans, primarily correspondence with Liberal Party branches in
the electorate regarding organisation of election campaigns. There also
letters from constituents regarding local issues and events; however, the
bulk of correspondence with constituents regarding representations made by
Osborne on their behalf is contained in series 15. The papers that Osborne
created or received as Minister are contained in series 16-19.
The correspondence generally relates to Osbornes activities as
Member for Evans, including visits to and correspondence with Liberal
Party branches, visits to industrial facilities and commercial
enterprises, attendance at meetings, social functions and events, and
contact with business people, community groups and local councils. There
is also correspondence regarding Osbornes trip abroad as part of the
Australian delegation to the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
The correspondence with Evans Liberal Party branches refers to
arrangements for the 1951, 1954, 1955, 1958 and 1961 elections. These
papers detail plans for the campaign, membership drives, finance,
publicity, polling day arrangements, and analysis of voting figures and
election results. The correspondents include Sir John Spicer, Lord Casey,
Harold Holt, John Blick and Arthur Lowndes.
Folder
| 1-2 |
General correspondence, 1950-55 |
| 3 |
Electoral divisions in New South Wales, 1949-50 |
| 4 |
Evans Federal Division Conference, lists of branches and office
bearers, 1957 |
| 5-6 |
1958 Election campaign, 1955-58 |
| 7 |
Evans electoral figures, 1959 |
| 8 |
Evans Federal Division Conference and electorate branch affairs,
1959 |
| 9 |
Evans Liberal Party membership drive, 1960 |
| 10 |
Evans Federal Division Conference, lists of branches and office
bearers, 1960 |
| 11 |
1961 Election campaign, 1961 |
| 12 |
Campaign advertising, 1961 |
| 13 |
Campaign fundraising, 1961 |
| 14 |
Helpers for polling day, 1959-61 |
| 15 |
Drummoyne membership drive, 1961 |
| 16 |
Ashfield membership drive, 1961 |
| 17 |
Local campaign organisation, 1949-61 |
| 18 |
Correspondence regarding the Prime Ministers luncheon in
Evans, 15 May 1961 |
| 19 |
Correspondence regarding the Treasurers public meeting in
Evans, 27 July 1961 |
| 20-24 |
General constituency correspondence, 1951-61 |
| 25 |
Correspondence with electorate branches of the Returned Sailors
Soldiers and Airmens League of Australia, 1956-61 |
| 26-27 |
New Australians, 1953-61 |
| 28-29 |
Patronage of Evans clubs and societies, 1956-61 |
Series 15 Departmental files, 1956-61
Osborne maintained a series of departmental correspondence files, most
spanning the period of his terms as a federal minister. The bulk of the
correspondence relates to constituency representations. As a federal
member and minister, Osborne made extensive representations on behalf of
his constituents regarding a variety of matters. These include
representations to the Prime Ministers Department regarding letters
of introduction, and to Social Services, Health, Immigration, Labour and
National Service, Trade, Treasury, War Service Homes, Customs and Excise,
Primary Industry, and the Postmaster-General. Other correspondence
regarding constituency representations is contained in series 14. As well,
there is some overlap on the departmental correspondence files contained
in series 19, files maintained by Osborne as Minister for Repatriation.
These consist of representations made by Osborne before he became Minister
for Repatriation and to him as Minister.
The correspondence and representations relate to a wide range of issues
including the Army and Air Force Cadet Corps, reorganisation of the
services, National Service Training, the Commonwealth Employment Service,
civil appointments of military staff, the Commonwealth Navigation Act,
repatriation pensions and benefits, the Federal Crimes Act, the
Matrimonial Causes Bill, supply of government contracts, recommendations
for honours, the National Capital Development Commission, and Papua New
Guinea. Correspondence relating to these subjects is also contained in
series 12.
The correspondence with External Affairs documents Osbornes
long-term interest in foreign affairs and association with the Department.
These files include correspondence, representations, and departmental
intelligence reports and dispatches. They cover such subjects as the
United Nations, SEATO, Osbornes visits to Papua New Guinea, Malaya,
and Ghana, and contact with foreign dignitaries and politicians. There are
also arrangements for dinners given by Osborne, as Minister assisting the
Minister for External Affairs, to honour visiting dignitaries such as Pote
Sarasin, Lakshami Menon, and General Otto Weyland.
The major correspondents include Sir Shane Paltridge, Harold Holt,
William McMahon, Sir Walter Cooper, Sir Denham Henty, Sir William Spooner,
Sir Garfield Barwick, Sir Gordon Freeth, Sir Allen Fairhall, Harrie Wade,
Sir John Cramer, Lord Casey, Sir Philip McBride, Sir Neil OSullivan,
Sir Arthur Fadden, Sir John McEwen, Athol Townley, Sir Alexander Downer,
Dr Donald Cameron, Hugh Robertson and Sir Charles Davidson.
Folder
| 1-9 |
Prime Ministers Department, 1956-61 |
| 10 |
Attorney-Generals Department, 1957-61 |
| 11 |
Interior, 1956-61 |
| 12 |
Supply, 1956-61 |
| 13 |
Customs and Excise, 1956-60 |
| 14 |
Customs and Excise, 1961 (small) |
| 15 |
Shipping, Transport, and Civil Aviation, 1957-60 |
| 16 |
Army, 1956-61 |
| 17 |
Navy, 1956-61 |
| 18 |
Air, 1961 (small) |
| 19 |
Defence, 1961 (small) |
| 20-21 |
Repatriation, 1956-61 |
| 22 |
Labour and National Service, 1956-61 |
| 23-24 |
External Affairs, 1956-61 |
| 25 |
Primary Industry, 1956-61 |
| 26 |
Territories, 1958-61 (small) |
| 27 |
National Development, 1960-61 |
| 28 |
War Service Homes, 1956-61 |
| 29-30 |
Treasury, 1956-59 |
| 31-32 |
Treasury, 1958-61 |
| 33-34 |
Trade, 1956-58 |
| 35-36 |
Trade, 1957-61 |
| 37-38 |
Immigration, 1956-58 |
| 39-40 |
Immigration, 1959-60 |
| 41-42 |
Immigration, 1959-61 |
| 43 |
Health, 1956-60 |
| 44 |
Health, 1961 |
| 45 |
Social Services, 1956 |
| 46-47 |
Social Services, 1957-58 |
| 48-49 |
Social Services, 1958-59 |
| 50-51 |
Social Services, 1959-61 |
| 52 |
Social Services, 1960-61 |
| 53 |
Postmaster-General, 1956-57 |
| 54-57 |
Postmaster-General, 1957-60 |
| 58 |
Postmaster-General, 1961 |
Series 16 Minister for Customs and Excise, 1955-56
Osbornes first ministerial appointment, in January 1956, was as
Minister for Customs and Excise. His term as Minister extended until
October 1956 when he was appointed Minister for Air.
As Minister for Customs and Excise, Osborne was responsible for excise
and tariffs on imports and exports, provision of customs related services,
and surveillance of and inspection of goods arriving into Australia.
During the brief time he was Minister, Osborne travelled to a large number
of customs facilities throughout Australia. He also implemented Operation
Work Simplification, a program to overhaul departmental methods of
operation.
The series comprises correspondence and other papers regarding such
issues as visits to customs facilities, the removal of Fremantle Customs
House, air traffic, and film and television censorship. The correspondents
include Sir Arthur Fadden, Sir Frank Meere and Kim Beazley. The
correspondence with Meere, the Comptroller-General, documents such topics
as trade negotiations, customs and excise practices and procedures,
customs facilities in Australia, the Board of Trade, and Operation
Work Simplification.
Folder
| 1-2 |
General correspondence, 1955-56 |
| 3 |
Correspondence regarding Osbornes visit to South Australia,
1956 |
| 4 |
Correspondence regarding Osbornes visit to Brisbane, 1956 |
| 5 |
Correspondence regarding television programming standards and film
censorship, 1956 |
Series 17 Minister for Air, 1956-61
Osborne was Minister for Air from October 1956 to December 1960. This
small series comprises correspondence relating to Air Force functions and
activities, and documents arrangements for Osbornes visits to RAAF
bases both in Australia and overseas, representations to the Department,
arrangements for mess dinners, pilot training and commissions, the air
training corps, and acquisition of new aircraft.
Among the papers is a small amount of correspondence with Sir John
Cramer regarding reorganisation of the higher defence machinery, and a
report for Menzies on development of the Department of Air and activities
of the RAAF. The series also includes a small amount of correspondence
regarding Osbornes visit to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and the RAAF base
at Butterworth in Malaya, 1960. Included with these papers are notes for
the Prime Minister regarding meetings with South-East Asian officials to
discuss SEATO and Australian military bases.
Among the correspondents are Sir Philip McBride, Lord Casey, Sir
Frederick Scherger, Sir John Cramer, Harrie Wade and Athol Townley.
Folder
| 1-2 |
General correspondence, 1956-61 |
| 3 |
Butterworth papers, 1960 |
| 4 |
Home Command dinner, 1958 |
| 5 |
First Day Covers |
Series 18 Ghana Inauguration and Operation Westbound,
1957-60
The papers in this small series relate to Osbornes role as
Commonwealth Government representative at the inauguration of Ghana in
March 1957. This mission, Operation Westbound, involved three
RAAF Lockheed Neptune aircraft in a round the world flight, at that time
the largest peacetime operation attempted by the RAAF, and the first time
an Australian air formation had circled the globe. Osborne flew with the
Neptunes as a passenger. The primary purpose of the flight was to
represent the Australian Services and Government at the inauguration of
Ghana, as well as making stops in a number of countries, and touring
various naval air bases across the United States.
The series contains correspondence with Lord Casey, the Department of
External Affairs and the Prime Ministers Department regarding
arrangements for the visit to Ghana. Other papers include invitations to
state dinners and other events in Ghana, programs of events and
activities, handwritten notes on the trip, receipts, newspaper clippings
and press statements, and reference material such as maps and information
brochures.
Photographs of the United States leg of the tour are contained in series
5 and related correspondence in series 17.
Folder
| 1-2 |
General correspondence, 1957 |
| 3 |
Background on itinerary, 1957 |
| 4 |
Ghana invitations and programs, 1957 |
| 5 |
Ghana notes and draft reports on the visit, 1957 |
| 6-7 |
Ghana reference material, 1957 |
| 8-9 |
United States reference material, 1957 |
| 10 |
Financial papers and receipts, 1957-60 |
| 11 |
Westbound newspaper cuttings and press statements |
Series 19 Minister for Repatriation, 1960-61
This small series contains papers relating to Osbornes brief term
as Minister for Repatriation, from December 1960 to December 1961. Osbornes
responsibilities as Minister for Repatriation included development and
implementation of programs to resettle returned services personnel, and
provision of social and medical assistance including pensions, benefits,
hospitals and clinics.
The papers document matters relating to repatriation, the Returned
Sailors Soldiers and Airmens League of Australia (RSSAILA),
Osbornes attendance at the 1961 RSSAILA annual conference in Papua
New Guinea, and Liberal Party policy regarding returned servicemen. There
are also representations to Osborne as Minister for Repatriation from
constituents and others, primarily regarding war pensions, medical
benefits, and other claims. The related papers include notes on the
organisation and functions of the Department, and the Repatriation
Commission Annual Report 1960-61.
Folder
| 1 |
General correspondence, 1961 |
| 2 |
General correspondence and related papers, 1960-61 |
|
Box |
Series |
Folder/Piece |
|
1 |
1 |
1-6 |
|
2 |
1 |
7-11 |
|
3 |
1 |
12-17 |
|
4 |
1 |
18-23 |
|
5 |
1 |
24-30 |
|
6 |
1 |
31-36 |
|
7 |
1 |
37-40 |
|
8 |
1 |
41-45 |
|
9 |
1 |
46-50 |
|
10 |
1 |
51-56 |
|
11 |
1 |
57-62 |
|
12 |
2 |
1-5 |
|
13 |
2 |
6-9 |
|
14 |
3 |
1-12 |
|
15 |
4 |
1-5 |
|
16 |
4 |
6-10 |
|
17 |
4 |
11 |
|
5 |
1-5 |
|
18 |
6 |
1-4 |
|
19 |
6 |
5-8 |
|
20 |
6 |
9-12 |
|
21 |
6 |
13 |
|
7 |
1-3 |
|
8 |
1-2 |
|
22 |
9 |
1-4 |
|
23 |
10 |
1-6 |
|
24 |
11 |
1-5 |
|
25 |
12 |
1-7 |
|
26 |
12 |
8-13 |
|
27 |
12 |
14-20 |
|
28 |
13 |
1-4 |
|
29 |
13 |
5-10 |
|
30 |
13 |
11-15 |
|
31 |
13 |
16-21 |
|
32 |
13 |
22-28 |
|
33 |
13 |
29-33 |
|
34 |
14 |
1-6 |
|
35 |
14 |
7-13 |
|
36 |
14 |
14-19 |
|
37 |
14 |
20-24 |
|
38 |
14 |
25-29 |
|
39 |
15 |
1-6 |
|
40 |
15 |
7-12 |
|
41 |
15 |
13-19 |
|
42 |
15 |
20-24 |
|
43 |
15 |
25-30 |
|
44 |
15 |
31-35 |
|
45 |
15 |
36-40 |
|
46 |
15 |
41-47 |
|
47 |
15 |
48-52 |
|
48 |
15 |
53-58 |
|
49 |
16 |
1-5 |
|
17 |
1-2 |
|
50 |
17 |
3-5 |
|
18 |
1-2 |
|
51 |
18 |
3-8 |
|
52 |
18 |
9-11 |
|
19 |
1-2 |
Guide prepared November 1998
|