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ISSN 1039-3498 | no. 45 | June 2000


George Raper Collection
Library acquires First Fleet treasure

The National Library of Australia has added to its highly valued First Fleet material with another significant acquisition—the George Raper Collection

'The Melancholy Loss of HMS Sirius off Nrfolk Island ... '

George Raper (1769–1797)
The Melancholy Loss of H.M.S. Sirius off Norfolk Island March 19th 1790
watercolour on paper; 18 x 22.8 cm
From the Pictorial Collection

The Minister for the Arts and the Centenary of Federation, the Hon. Peter McGauran, announced the new acquisition at a function at the Library on 5 June. Simultaneously with the announcement, the collection of Raper’s nine elegantly drawn maps, five coastal drawings and a manuscript of his naval observations was launched on the Library’s web site.

Treasured by the Raper family for more than 200 years in England, the papers illustrate the journey by George Raper, who in 1787 at the age of 17, sailed from England to Australia on HMS Sirius, the flagship of the First Fleet. Raper recorded the ports and coasts, from the Canary Islands to Port Jackson on a voyage that changed Australian history.

One of the special treasures of the collection is the drawing The Melancholy Loss of HMS Sirius. After the shipwreck off Norfolk Island, the fledgling colony in New South Wales was left with only one small boat and faced the risk of complete isolation.

'Plan of Botany Bay, NSW ... ' During his time with the First Fleet, George Raper circumnavigated the globe. He narrowly escaped shipwreck twice before the HMS Sirius foundered on the reef off Norfolk Island. The entire crew, including Raper, faced court martial for the loss of His Majesty’s ship. The National Library’s Director-General, Jan Fullerton said that since the arrival of the collection, there had been a lot of excitement at the Library. ‘Today is a very special day for the Library. We work very hard to build a first class collection of material in many formats that allow researchers to create a rounded picture of Australia’s past and present history. It was therefore very rewarding when the Library was approached by the owners as the most appropriate home for this significant collection.’

Much work had been done behind the scenes to ensure that as many Australians as possible had access to the collection and to preserve the material for future generations.

George Raper (1769–1797)
Plan of Botany Bay, New South Wales
coloured ms. map; 20.1 x 15.8 cm
From the Map Collection

D-G Jan Fullerton with Raper Collection

‘By placing the collection on the Library’s web site, it will be on permanent display 365 days of the year. People will be able to examine the fine details of the works by using the latest digital technology from anywhere in Australia,’ she said

Minister McGauran said the Raper collection was one of the last remaining collections of First Fleet material in private hands and thanked the Raper family for its generous gesture. He said libraries performed a vital role in ensuring all Australians had access to their heritage for generations to come.

Director-General Jan Fullerton poses with the George Raper Collection,
which has captured wide media interest. Photograph: Loui Seslja

Linda Groom ‘As custodians of our heritage, the National Library not only takes special care of these personal histories, it works hard to open up the past for all Australians to see. George Raper’s maps, paintings and manuscript notebook will be instantly available at the click of a button.’

Readers can view the George Raper collection at: www.nla.gov.au/exhibitions/georgeraper. The exhibition of nine maps, five coastal drawings and the manuscript will be open to the public in the Ferguson Room daily until 30 June from 10 am to 4 pm.

Pictorial Librarian Linda Groom, curatorial researcher for the Raper
acquisition, is interviewed by an ABC Radio journalist

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