MS 4742
Papers of Robert Archdale Parkhill



Scope and Content

  • Papers
  • 1904 - 1947
  • 28 cm (1 box plus four folios)
The papers of Robert Parkhill were acquired from the Parkhill family in 1973.

The collection contains correspondence, photographs, Parkhill published speeches and four albums of newspaper cuttings.

Biographical Note

In 1904 Parkhill began his long career on the organisational side of non-labor politics when he was appointed Secretary of the Liberal and Reform Association of New South Wales. He directed 19 Federal and State election and referendum campaigns in New South Wales from 1904 to 1928. In 1927 he entered the Federal Parliament as the Member for Waringah. He held a number of portfolios in the government of J.A. Lyons, including Minister of Defence (1934-1937). He was defeated at the 1937 election and did not return to public life.

Folder 1        Correspondence, 1904 - 1935                                     
                The correspondents include Alfred Deakin, Joseph                
                Carruthers and John Lawson                                      
Folder 2        One photograph of the Lyons Ministry, c.1932 - 1934             
Folder 3        Four photographs, including a photograph of Parkhill            
                as a young man and group photographs of the Lyons               
                Ministry, c.1932 - 1934                                         
Folder 4        Photographs of Parkhill (one black and white and one            
                which was transmitted by picturegram on 31 January              
                1933)                                                           
Folder 5        Certificate appointing Parkhill to be a Knight                  
                Commander of Saint Michael and Saint George,                    
                22 June 1936                                                    
Folder 6        Newspaper cuttings containing apologies to Parkhill             
                from the Bathurst National Advocate, 10 November 1920           
Folder 7        Speeches by Parkhill on the Australian and Empire               
                Defence, 1935 - 1937 (2 vols.)                                  
Folio 1         Newspaper cuttings, 1914 - 1928                                 
Folio 2         Newspaper cuttings, 1929 - 1933                                 
Folio 3         Newspaper cuttings, 1933 - 1936                                 
Folio 4         Newspaper cuttings, 1936 - 1947