MS 3736
Papers of Austin Byrne (1902-1993)
- Papers
- 1932-1993
- 1.96 m (80 folders) + 17 folio items and 1 elephant folio
- Available for reference
The first instalment of the Byrne Papers was presented to the
Library by Austin Byrne in 1971. Further instalments were received
in 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1981 1983 and 1987. The remainder of
the Byrne Papers were bequeathed to the Library pursuant to Mr
Byrne's will and were collected after his death in 1993.
Most of the Byrne Papers relate to Byrne's Southern Cross Memorial
which he commenced in 1932 and his endeavours to have it accepted
by the Australian Government and appropriately housed. The Memorial
was accepted as a gift by the Government in 1970 and is presently
held by the National Museum of Australia. Byrne donated a a number
of papers to the National Museum including original photographs
and newspaper clippings relating to the aviation exploits of Charles
Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm.
The material included in the collection includes: correspondence;
diaries, photographs, newspaper clippings, printers blocks and
outline/drafts of items which he created as part of the Southern
Cross Memorial; scrap books; record disks; audio tapes and some
display items.
The material obtained upon Byrne's death was for the most part
in disarray. Byrne had reused and labelled manilla folders several
times and their contents generally bore little connection to the
folder headings. However, where some nexus could be discerned
between the folder headings and contents and the contents had
a degree of coherence, these have been left intact. Those which
have been left intact are noted in the series descriptions. However,
for the most part the arrangement of the collection is one devised
by the staff of the Manuscripts Section.
Austin Byrne was born on 25 February 1902 at Wickham in New
South Wales and grew up in the small town of Illabo. He was one
of seven children. His father an engine driver died when he was
quite young. In 1910 Austin was sent, along with another of the
children, to St Michaels orphanage at Baulkham Hills as his mother
was unable to properly care for all the children. He returned
to the family some time later. He left school at the age of 12
and commenced his first job at Cohen and Co store at Harden. In
1917 he started work with the New South Wales Railways workshops
where he worked for the next 23 years.
He became very interested in the pioneering long distance flights
and was so enthusiastic about the proposed Pacific flight of Charles
Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm that he imported a radio set with
low wave attachment and learnt morse code so that he could pick
up the wireless of the Southern Cross. Byrne maintained a belief
throughout his life that this flight was the greatest of all pioneering
flights.
In 1932 he met Charles Kingsford Smith and asked him for the blue
prints of the Southern Cross to enable him to construct a model
of the aircraft. He started constructing his model out of wood
but soon decided that metal would be a better medium. Before Smith
went to England he saw the model and claimed it as his own. Byrne
decided to make a marble pedestal for the model after visiting
the technological museum. This took some 10 to 12 months. Upon
its completion he was inspired to make a globe which would show
all the pioneering flights of the Southern Cross and decided to
use aluminium for its construction. The globe took him some 3
years to complete. His next step was to write a history of the
flights of the Southern Cross and to build a shrine to contain
it. In order to get enough money with which to purchase the marble
for the shrine he designed a reading lamp showing the Pacific
and Atlantic flights of the Southern Cross of which he sold twelve.
Having obtained a letter of introduction from Sir Hubert Wilkins
he wrote to all the important aviators asking them to write a
tribute to Kingsford Smith and Ulm and these he included in a
book which he made of metal.
In 1938 he exhibited his work at the Royal Easter show and again
in 1939 in addition to the Bathurst and Wollongong Shows. He was
approached at this time by a representative of the New Zealand
Government who proposed that he take his work to New Zealand.
Disappointed by a lack of responsiveness to his work in Australia
he accepted the offer and travelled to New Zealand in 1941 where
his work was displayed in the Houses of Parliament in Wellington.
It was exhibited for three weeks and raised some £10000 for
a spitfire fund. The New Zealand Government purchased a return
ticket for Byrne to travel to the United States. Byrne remained
in the United States until 1946.
Upon his arrival he was charged a considerable sum in excess duty
for his memorial. Unable to pay this amount he worked as a kitchen
hand in order to earn enough money to pay of the debt. His plight
aroused some interest amongst the American media. When finally
his memorial was released by customs after the excess was reduced
to $200 American and finally paid he took it to numerous schools
where he gave lectures to the children about the Southern Cross
and the aviation exploits of Kingsford Smith and Ulm and encouraged
them to buy War stamps and bonds to help the War effort. He claimed
to have raised 4 million dollars for the American War effort by
this means.
In 1946 Byrne returned to Australia. Byrne offered his Memorial
to the Australian Government for £3500 but after some consideration
his offer was rejected. Between 1949 and 1956 he added to his
memorial creating three further globes and inspired by the news
of the Olympic Games to be held in Melbourne, an Olympic Torch.
Byrne believed that the Australian Government had not done enough
to express Australia's gratitude to those in the United States
and the Netherlands who had assisted and contributed to the success
of the flight of the Southern Cross across the Pacific.
In 1958 he travelled to Amsterdam where his work was exhibited
at the Schiphol Airport. Proceeds of the exhibition went to the
Princess Beatrix Polio fund.
In 1964 he exhibited his work in Bathurst and in 1968 to commemorate
the 40th Anniversary of the Pacific flight his work was displayed
in Grace Brothers and David Jones. In the latter half of 1968
Byrne once again offered his collection to the Australian Government,
this time as a gift.
In 1967 he retired.
In 1970 after much lobbying Byrne's memorial was accepted by the
Commonwealth Government. It was displayed in Parliament House
for a short period but then much to Byrne's disappointment placed
in storage.
In 1974 Byrne travelled to Canberra to add to the collection mosaics,
a completed tribute to the people of the Netherlands and further
completed sections of the Southern Cross Memorial. Byrne intended
to travel to Amsterdam in 1975 the 700th Anniversary of the City
of Amsterdam with plaques he intended to present to the National
Archives, the city of Amsterdam and the Aviation Museum. However
he became ill and requested a friend to attend in his stead.
In 1979 Byrne travelled to Amsterdam with the intent of paying
homage to Michelangelo whom he considered to be his greatest inspiration
throughout his life. In August 1979 he sought permission from
the Government to complete his Pacific and Atlantic Logs.
In 1980 after the announcement that the Southern Cross Museum
Trust intended to commission the building of a flying replica
of the Southern Cross Byrne decided that he would exhibit his
work in order to raise money to assist the Museum Trust. With
this in mind he sought the release of his memorial from storage
in Canberra. Byrne's enthusiasm was particularly aroused by the
Trust's declaration that it anticipated that the Southern Cross
replica would be the beginning of a larger project being the establishment
of a National Aviation Museum. His memorial was subsequently displayed
in the hangar at Parafield.
In 1981 Byrne expressed his wish to establish a Great National
Project whereby school children would attend lectures about Kingsford
Smith and Ulm and be encouraged to purchase badges for 50 cents
each , the proceeds to assist the completion of the Southern Cross
replica. He also displayed additional work that he had completed
after 1970 at the Myer Emporium in Penrith Plaza to raise funds.
He later exhibited at the Blaxland Galleries.
Byrne died in June 1993. He was 93 years of age.
- Correspondence 1932-93
- Diaries 1951-87
- Photographs, Slides and Negatives
- Newspaper Clippings 1956-92
- Receipts
- Memos
- Record Disks and Audio Tape
- Publications
- Working Models, Plans, Drafts
- Notes Detailing Work and Display Items
- Material relating to Charles Kingsford Smith and
Charles Ulm
- Life in United States 1941-1946
- Trip to Amsterdam 1958 Schiphol Airport Exhibit
- Exhibition at David Jones and Myers 1968
- Negotiation with Commonwealth Government
- Overseas Trip to Amsterdam 1979
- Southern Cross Museum Trust - Full Size Replica
Southern Cross
- Myer Exhibit, School Project, St Mary's Reunion 1982
Blaxland Gallery Exhibit 1993
- Books of The Second Phase of Mankind's Journeys to the
Stars. The Southern Cross Memorial 1930-1989
- Life Story
- Will and Legal Documentation
- Miscellaneous
Series 1 Correspondence 1941-93
Correspondence has been divided into General and Personal and
that relating to specific persons. Some correspondence will be
found elsewhere in the Byrne Papers.
Subseries 1.1 General correspondence 1941-93
The correspondence relates mainly to the period from 1970 onwards
after Byrne's material was accepted by the Commonwealth Government.
It relates to his endeavours to obtain some monetary assistance
from the Government in order to assist him to complete his life's
work and secondly to have the Government consider the erection
of a suitable building in which to house his memorial and to obtain
greater recognition of his work. A considerable amount of the
correspondence relates to the period after the announcement in
1979 by the Museum Trust that it intended to commission the building
of a flying replica of the Southern Cross. Byrne sought to assist
by exhibiting his work in the hangar at Parafield in Adelaide
and sought release of his collection by the Government so that
he might assist. Byrne became convinced that his life story was
of significance and should be recorded and much of the correspondence
reflects his endeavours to obtain publicity with a view to interesting
a suitable person or publishers to this end. A significant amount
of correspondence relates to Byrne's negotiations with the National
Museum and National Library with regard to the Memorial and his
personal papers.
Subseries 1.2 Personal Correspondence 1979-87
This mainly comprises correspondence with his sister and brother-in
-law Ted Ryan and other family and friends Jean and Ron Lucchesi
of Auckland, Vi Mc Donald, Arthur and Eileen Robertson. There
are also Christmas and birthday cards.
Subseries 1.3 Correspondence John P Errington 1967-90
John Errington took on a role as Byrne's publicity officer. Errington
was a fellow aviation enthusiast and amassed some material of
his own.
Subseries 1.4 Correspondence with Ward McNally 1977-78
McNally wrote several books about Kingsford Smith and an article
about Byrne in the 1930s. In the late 1970s Byrne sought to contact
McNally to engage his assistance in getting greater recognition
of his work to commemorate "Smithy". Byrne was at this
time considering giving his work to the New Zealand Government.
NcNally expressed his support of Byrne and mentioned an interest
in writing about his life.
Series 2 Diaries 1951-87
Byrne wrote spasmodic diary entries throughout his life and kept
diaries of his overseas trips which are to be found in series
twelve. This series comprises one diary/address book covering
the period 1951 to 1968. Byrne added some later entries comprising
only four entries for the period 1983 to 1987. Byrne's diary notes
of his trip overseas to Amsterdam in 1971 recorded in a notepaper
and a note book is included in this series. Other diary entries
are found on loose foolscap pages covering the period June to
July of 1968, in a foolscap student lecture pad wherein he recorded
a trip to Canberra in May to June of 1970, and a shorthand notebook
wherein, amongst other notes, Byrne recorded his trip to Canberra
in August of 1970 when his work was exhibited in Kings Hall and
was finally accepted by the Government. Very brief entries are
contained in a pocket dairy for 1967, an Engagement Book for 1981
and pocket sized diary for 1983. There are some entries for 1967
included amongst draft letters and notes for December 1967 and
two entries for November 1979 on foolscap writing paper.
Series 3 Photographs, Slides and Negatives
This series comprises a significant proportion of this relatively
small collection. It comprises ten folders. Most of the photographs
were loose and remain in their envelopes. Photographs that were
kept in sticky photo albums have been removed and included in
a ring binder. The photographs are of Southern Cross Memorial
Display items, Boronia Court functions, houses, schools, family
and friends, of the Southern Cross flying replica and hangar display,
old black and white photographs of family members and some slides.
Refer to the Appendix for details of photographs held in the Pictorial
Section of the Library.
Series 4 Newspaper Clippings
The clippings relate to historical stories regarding Kingsford
Smith and Ulm and predominantly to Byrne's exhibitions and his
life's work.
Series 5 Receipts
This series includes assorted invoices and receipts of materials
purchased by Byrne
Series 6 Memos
This series comprises one folder and includes a notebook of phone
messages kept for him during 1982 to 1983 and assorted loose phone
messages, most undated. The notebook also includes some letters,
photocopies of newspaper cuttings and invoices and receipts.
Series 7 Record Disks and Audio Tape
This series comprise two 45" record disks, one entitled "The
Immortal Smithy" by Chas McKinnon and a second entitled a
"Tribute To the Great Fokker FV11 B3M 'Southern Cross' And
All Who Flew In Her" by Jonnie Russell recorded in 1982 on
side two of which is a song entitled "The Immortal Aussie"
and an audio tape of the same.
Series 8 Publications
This series includes three books : Story of Southern Cross
Trans-Pacific Flight 1928 by C. E. Kingsford - Smith &
C. T. P. Ulm (containing two handwritten note), The Agony and
the Ecstasy by Irving Stone and Solo Woman Gaby Kennard's
World Flight by Gaby Kennard . The latter have notations on
the initial pages. There are also four copies of the Atlantic
Magazine.
Series 9 Working Models, Plans, Drafts
This series includes material used by Byrne in preparation of
his Memorial objects: two printers blocks of voyages across the
Atlantic and Pacific; outline of contents of the Story of the
Southern Cross; outline of History of Flights of Southern Cross;
outline of Book of Remembrance, bundle of handwritten tributes;
plan of Shrine and architectural drawings of Southern Cross Memorial
Building.
Series 10 Notes Detailing Work and Display Items
This series includes one folder of miscellaneous handwritten and
typed notes outlining the specifications and details of sections
of Byrne's Southern Cross Memorial, two Dossiers of Southern Cross
Memorial 1930-1980 which contain unsorted material mainly photocopies
of newspaper articles and letters, a video cassette which contains
a description of objects of the collection and ten audio tapes
which contain the Story of the Southern Cross as told by Warren
Try of Rotary and fifteen scrolls which he describes as containing
the "Story of the Pioneering of the Air by the Fokker Monoplane
the "Southern Cross".
Series 11 Material relating to Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles
Ulm
This includes a copy of the Australian National Airways Prospectus,
flight folder of Australian National Airways, typed copy of My
Yesterdays, Todays and Tomorrows by Charles Ulm, box of negatives
indicated as coming from Mrs Ulm's album, a box of negatives of
Kingsford Smith and Ulm (the photographs of which are in an album
which along with the album of Mrs Ulm is held by the National
Museum), a further box of negatives of photographs taken of Kingsford
Smith and Ulm possibly obtained from E. A. Crome and further negatives
obtained from Avidome.
Series 12 Life in United States 1939-1946
This series comprises correspondence covering the period 1939
to 1972 which relate to Byrne's time in the United States, considerable
newspaper clippings, two diaries and a 1943 yearbook from Pepperdine
College where he lectured and many letters of reference written
by the principals of schools where he attended to speak. Byrne
believed that the United States contribution to Kingsford Smith's
Pacific flight had not been properly acknowledged by the Australian
Government. As early as 1939 he was somewhat disillusioned by
the lack of interest in Australia regarding his efforts to commemorate
the pioneering endeavours of Kingsford Smith and Ulm. He accepted
an offer by a New Zealand Government representative to go to New
Zealand and exhibit his work there and after raising considerable
funds for purchase of spitfires he was purchased a return ticket
to The United States. Byrne took his work to many schools in California
and Texas where he gave lectures to the children regarding the
Pacific flight of Kingsford Smith and Ulm.
Series 13 Trip to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Exhibit 1958
This is a very small series comprising a press release dated May
1958 recording Byrne's arrival in Amsterdam, a copy of the Dutch
magazine Weekblad de Uitkijk, two cards and enlarged photograph
of Byrne surrounded by a group of people.
Series 14 Exhibition at David Jones and Myers 1968
This series of one folder left in original order comprises correspondence,
invitations, guest lists, and newspaper clippings. The correspondence
includes a letter from Anthony Hordern and Sons Limited. It would
appear Byrne approached Anthony Hordern and Sons Limited in 1939
to exhibit his work but was rejected. All other correspondence
relates to the confirmation of the booking date for the exhibition
and arrangement in preparation made through the Myer publicity-promotions
officer during the period November 1967 to April 1968.
Series 15 Negotiation with Commonwealth Government
This is a small series comprising two folders. It includes some
letters covering the period 1938 to 1970 when the Memorial was
finally accepted by the Government, a copy of 'The Story of "The
Southern Cross" Memorial' and the Parliamentary debates of
the Senate and House of Representatives of 1969 and 1970 recording
the debate regarding acceptance of the Memorial.
Series 16 Overseas Trip to Amsterdam 1979
This series comprises two folders in original order and includes
letters, postcards, diary notes, invoices, receipts and brochures
and a Amsterdam Airport Schiphol magazine and souvenir book. It
also includes diary notes and postcards relating to Byrne's 1971
trip to Holland and Italy. Byrne visited Amsterdam and spent a
week in London. In Amsterdam Byrne had an interview with the Donemus
Foundation, the Historical Association of Dutch composers and
began to formulate his idea of a symphony to commemorate the great
aviation pioneers and sought to approach a publishing f irm in
London to gain advice regarding his life story. He also intended
to contact both a radio station and the BBC with a view to radio
and television interviews.
Series 17 Southern Cross Museum Trust - Full Size Replica Southern
Cross
This series consists of one folder which comprises a press release,
pamphlets and a photograph relating to the construction of the
full size Southern Cross replica.
Series 18 Myer Exhibit, School Project, St Mary's Reunion 1982, Blaxland
Gallery Exhibit 1993
This series consists of one folder. The folder contains material
that Byrne had compiled in a manilla folder marked '1982'. It
was left intact as it appeared that the contents related to particular
events of significance to Byrne which took place in that year.
The material comprises predominantly newspaper clippings concerning
Byrne's exhibition at the Blaxland gallery, his plans for a nationwide
school project involving lectures to school children, funds from
sales of badges to go towards the building of the flying replica
of the Southern Cross and the his old school reunion. There is
some correspondence intermingled with the newspaper clippings.
Series 19 Books of The Second Phase of Mankind's Journeys to the
Stars. The Southern Cross Memorial 1930-1989
Byrne perceived his work as being divided into definite phases
and refers in some of his writings to a second and third phase.
This second phase began upon his return to Australia from the
United States in 1946 when he determined to finalise all sections
of the existing Southern Cross Memorial and to design and erect
a building in which to house it. He also referred to a third stage
commencing after the Government accepted his gift of the "Southern
Cross" Memorial in 1970 which entailed his creating a "record
of thanks" to the United States and Holland, the countries
he perceived as having contributed so much to the pioneering flights
of the Southern Cross. This series includes four large ring binders
and loose material, perhaps intended to be incorporated into further
binders. These contain photocopies of newspaper articles concerning
Kingsford Smith and Ulm. They also contain photocopies of newspaper
clippings and letters concerning Byrne's work and his endeavours
to have the government accept his gift and to see it properly
housed and his further efforts to increase awareness, understanding
and appreciation within Australia, particularly amongst children,
of the significance of the achievements of early aviation pioneers
particularly Kingsford Smith and Ulm.
Series 20 Life Story
This series comprises five folders. Byrne attempted at various
times to record his life story. Amongst this series are photographs,
some letters and examination booklets with headings relating to
different events and periods of Byrne's life. Whilst in Hospital
in Woy Woy in 1985 Byrne recorded his recollections of his early
life. These have been typed. Byrne made many speeches throughout
his life at his many exhibitions of his work. What appear to be
notes prepared in preparation for these speeches are included
in this series as they record many events significant to Byrne.
Series 21 Will, Legal Documentation and Passport
This includes copies of old Wills, notes regarding Byrne's Will,
instructions and some correspondence with solicitors, a legal
document and a Byrne's Passport. Byrne approached a publishing
firm, after displaying his work in Penrith and at the Blaxland
gallery, in an attempt to sell his life story and get some funds
for his work. The company proposed that he transfer his works
created after 1970 into a trust set up and administered by the
company.
Series 22 Miscellaneous
This series comprises three folders of assorted handwritten notes,
brochures, booklets, cards, badges and some newspaper clippings.
Series |
Folders |
Box |
1 |
1-7 |
1 |
|
8-11 |
2 |
2 |
1-4 |
2 |
|
5 |
3 |
3 |
1-4 |
3 |
|
5-10 |
4 |
4 |
1-6 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
6 |
7 |
1 |
6 |
8 |
1-4 |
6 |
9 |
1-4 |
7 |
10 |
1-7 |
8 |
|
8-9 |
9 |
11 |
1-6 |
10 |
12 |
1-5 |
11 |
13 |
1 |
11 |
14 |
1 |
12 |
15 |
1-2 |
12 |
16 |
1-2 |
12 |
17 |
1 |
12 |
18 |
1 |
12 |
19 |
Folios 1-17 |
Folio Run |
20 |
1-5 |
13 |
21 |
1 |
14 |
22 |
1-3 |
14 |
Item |
Description |
Framed photograph |
Mr Byrne in front of Michelangelo's Tomb |
Framed photograph |
Three gold plaques |
Framed photograph |
Orange and black reading lamp |
| Framed photograph |
Framed item entitled "Technical Description of The Fokker (FV11B- 3m)" |
| Framed photograph |
Framed item with description "Southern Cross Pioneer Trans Pacific Flight 1928." |
| Framed photograph |
Metal book entitled "The Southern Cross" |
| Framed photograph |
Mosaic of Charles Kingsford Smith |
| Colour photograph |
Austin Byrne with children |
| Colour photograph |
Austin Byrne near model of "Southern Cross" |
| Two colour photographs |
Silver cup |
| Colour photograph |
Open shrine |
| Colour photograph |
Reading lamp showing Pacific flight route |
| Colour photograph |
Olympic Torch |
| Colour photograph |
Metal book entitled "Southern Cross Memorial" |
| Colour photograph |
Stereo cabinet |
| Colour photograph |
Key to globe |
| Colour photograph |
Closed shrine |
| Colour photograph |
Book and other newspaper display items |
| Colour photograph |
Metal book and three small globes |
| Colour photograph |
Cabinet with violin shaped hinges |
| Colour photograph |
Key to globe on stand |
| Colour photograph |
Plaques |
| Three black and white photographs |
Austin Byrne with Miss Ellen Rogers |
| Black and white photograph |
Three children looking at model of "Southern Cross" |
Guide prepared 1994. Last revised 12 July 1996.
|