MS 3736
Papers of Austin Byrne (1902-1993)



Scope and Content Note

  • 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.

Provenance and Arrangement Note

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.

Biographical Note

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.

Series List

  1. Correspondence 1932-93
  2. Diaries 1951-87
  3. Photographs, Slides and Negatives
  4. Newspaper Clippings 1956-92
  5. Receipts
  6. Memos
  7. Record Disks and Audio Tape
  8. Publications
  9. Working Models, Plans, Drafts
  10. Notes Detailing Work and Display Items
  11. Material relating to Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm
  12. Life in United States 1941-1946
  13. Trip to Amsterdam 1958 Schiphol Airport Exhibit
  14. Exhibition at David Jones and Myers 1968
  15. Negotiation with Commonwealth Government
  16. Overseas Trip to Amsterdam 1979
  17. Southern Cross Museum Trust - Full Size Replica Southern Cross
  18. Myer Exhibit, School Project, St Mary's Reunion 1982 Blaxland Gallery Exhibit 1993
  19. Books of The Second Phase of Mankind's Journeys to the Stars. The Southern Cross Memorial 1930-1989
  20. Life Story
  21. Will and Legal Documentation
  22. Miscellaneous

Series Description

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.

Box List

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
 

Appendix - Photographs Austin Byrne Collection (Pictorial Section)

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.