National Library of Australia - Gateways>

ISSN 1039-3498 | no. 51| June 2001


William Farrer’s Field Notebook

Mrs Althea de Salis  

In 1973 the Canberra and District Historical Society deposited one of its treasures in the National Library on long-term loan. Recently the Library was delighted to accept formal ownership of the Farrer field notebook. A small ‘handing over’ ceremony was held on 26 April 2001, attended by members of the Society, the de Salis family and Library staff. The Society decided to donate the book to the Library to commemorate the Centenary of Federation and to ensure its long-term preservation. Interestingly, one of Farrer’s wheat strains was named ‘Federation’.

William Farrer (1845–1906) conducted many of his experiments on wheat improvement at Lambrigg, just south of Canberra. In 1882 he married Nina Fane de Salis, whose father owned nearby Cuppacumbalong station. Farrer worked for 20 years on creating hundreds of wheat strains by crossbreeding in an attempt to produce improved wheats. He kept careful records of his work, including the field notebook, compiled during 1901–2, which is now preserved in the Library’s Manuscript Collection.

The notebook came into the custody of the Society through the de Salis Family. Mrs Althea de Salis was among the guests invited to the presentation. During the time that the fragile manuscript has been in the Library, it has been cleaned, fumigated and de-acidified. A special leather box was made for it by the Library’s bookbinder, Brian Hawke. An enhanced photographic copy has made it more accessible to researchers and reduces the handling of the original. To make the notebook even more accessible in the future, a digital copy will be created.
Valerie Helson

Mrs Althea de Salis with the Farrer field notebook
and its leather box

Jan Fullerton  with members of the Canberra & District Historical Society

The Director-General Jan Fullerton (far right) with members of the Canberra and District Historical Society,
the de Salis family and Library staff at the ceremony

| Contents list for this issue of Gateways |

Please address any comments and enquiries to The Editor, Gateways: dthomas@nla.gov.au

Gateways logo