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P OW E R HOUS E M US EU M A R CH I V E S
GU I DE T O T H E A R CH I V E S OF
LAWRENCE HARGRAVE
H E L E N YOX A L L
1994
CONTENTS Biographical Note 3 Provenance Note 6 Series List 7 Series Descriptions and Item Lists 8
COLLECTED ARCHIVES BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
94/23/1
Hargrave, Lawrence
Registration Number:
Creator:
Lawrence Hargrave (1850-1915) was born at Greenwich, England on 29 January 1850, the second son of
John Fletcher Hargrave, a barrister, and his wife Ann. In 1856 J.F.Hargrave, his brother Edward and
his eldest son Ralph emigrated to Australia. Mrs Hargrave moved with the three younger children,
Lawrence, Alice and Gilbert to Keston, Kent. Lawrence attended Queen Elizabeth's School at Kirkby
Lonsdale, Westmoreland.
In 1865 Hargrave sailed for Australia and joined his father (now a judge in the NSW Supreme Court) at
Rushcutters Bay House. A tutor was employed to prepare Lawrence for university entrance and a
career in law. In 1866 he made a six month voyage with Abraham Hamilton Thomson in the clipper
barque Ellesmere to the Albert River, Gulf of Carpentaria, circumnavigating Australia before returning
home.
Failing his matriculation, Hargrave was apprenticed in 1867 to the drawing office and engineering
workshops of the Australasian Steam Navigation Company where he spent five years. Here he learnt to
design and became familiar with working with wood and metals.
In 1871 Hargrave became one of the Committee of Management of J.D. Lang's New Guinea Prospecting
Association and in 1872 joined the Association's gold prospecting expedition in the brig Maria.
Hargrave was amongst the survivors when the ship struck Bramble Reef near Hinchinbrook Island and
sank with many lives lost. He returned to work for the Australasian Steam Navigation Company and
later worked for engineers P.N. Russell & Co.
From 1874 to 1876 Hargrave made several voyages to the Torres Strait and New Guinea. First he
sailed to the Torres Strait in the barque Burton Strather in 1874 to gather information for a further
expedition to New Guinea. In May 1875 he joined naturalist (Sir) William Macleay's Chevert expedition
to New Guinea as marine engineer. He left the Chevert after 5 months to accompany the geologist
Octavius C. Stone in the Ellengowan on his expedition which spent three months exploring around Port
Moresby, often in the company of the Reverend William George Lawes, whose family were the first
permanent European residents of Papua.
Hargrave returned to Sydney in February 1876 but soon took up the position of ship's engineer with the
expedition to the Fly River led by the Italian naturalist Luigi D'Albertis in the steam launch Neva.
Hargrave's diaries and accounts of this voyage reveal his poor opinion of his leader's navigational skills
and his uneasiness concerning the methods D'Albertis used to collect artifacts from the local peoples.
Hargrave took a great interest in New Guinea exploration for many years. He sought to alert the
scientific world to the inaccuracies of D'Albertis's chart of the Fly River. (Hargrave's own chart is in his
papers at 94/23/1 - 5.) He was a member of the Geographical Society of Australasia's exploratory
committee and prepared draft instructions for the Society's New Guinea Exploration Expedition under
Captain H.C. Everill in 1885.
Returning to Sydney, Hargrave worked for a time in the foundries of Chapman & Co.
On 7 September 1878 Hargrave married Margaret Preston Johnston. The couple had seven children -
Helen Anne Gray (1879-1966), Hilda Waller (1883-), Margaret Hudson (1889-), Brenda (1890-1891),
Geoffrey (1892-1915) and [Brenda] Olive Blackman (1893-1967).
From January 1879 he worked as extra observer (astronomical) at Sydney Observatory under the
Government Astronomer H.C. Russell. He observed the transit of Mercury in 1881, made observations
of the Krakatoa eruption in 1883, assisted Russell to measure double stars and designed and built
adding machines to help in their calculations. On leaving the Observatory in 1883 he remained friends
94/23/1
Hargrave, Lawrence
Registration Number:
Creator:
with Russell and often corresponded with him about his aeronautical experiments.
Hargrave's income from land at Coalcliff enabled him to give up paid employment in 1883 and devote
his time to experiments. These he conducted at the house he built at 40 Roslyn Gardens, Rushcutters
Bay and, from 1893 to 1899 at "Hillcrest", Stanwell Park, the house he had inherited from his brother
Ralph.
Hargrave became a member of the Royal Society of New South Wales in 1877 and between 1884 and
1909 presented 24 papers to the Society. Reprints of his papers were sent to fellow experimenters
throughout the world and they were largely responsible for the dissemination of Hargrave's ideas.
In his first paper to the Royal Society, "The trochoided plane", 6 August 1884, he expounded his
trochoided theory of serpentine propulsion based on his observations on waves and the movements of
snakes, fish and birds.
Hargrave's early experiments were with the means of propulsion. His early models, built between 1884
and 1892, were monoplanes constructed of a framework of light wood and tissue paper and powered
initially by clockwork, then by rubber bands, compressed air and steam, with their thrust being
obtained from flapping wings.
In June 1887 he constructed a full-size machine on wheels designed to ascertain the weight of a
machine strong enough to support a man. Propulsion was to be obtained by means of flapping wings
operated by a handle. The experiment was not successful.
From 1888 Hargrave constructed engines powered by petrol and compressed air. His first steam engine
was built in 1888, though this was not a success. His most successful engine was constructed the
following year - the three cylinder radial rotary engine. This engine type was later used in early
aeroplane engines constructed in Europe, notably the French "Gnome".
From 1893 Hargrave began to investigate the behaviour of curved surfaces in a wind. This work was to
be Hargrave's great contribution to the advancement of flight. It led to the invention of the box or
cellular kite, which gave greater lift and stability and less drag than monoplanes. His famous
weight-lift experiment occurred on 12 November 1894 when he lifted himself from the beach at Stanwell
Park by means of four kites attached to one rope. Hargrave's box kites were used as the supporting
surfaces for the first generation of European built aircraft.
Hargrave continued to design and build engines to power full size flying machines, but was hampered
by the lack of engineering skill in Sydney, by shortage of money and his isolation from other workers in
the field. He built at least 35 engines and designed a further twenty.
Two principles that guided his work were that the results should be published immediately in order to
help other experimenters and advance the field of aeronautics. Patent laws were an anathema to him.
The other was that flying machines were a way of bringing humanity together and he spoke out for the
peaceful use of aircraft.
Hargrave took his family to England in February 1899 intending to settle, but the living expenses and
lack of interest in his work forced him back to Australia in six months. The family now occupied 44
Roslyn Gardens and from 1902 a house at end of Wunulla Road, Point Piper, from where he conducted
flight trials on water.
From 1901 Hargrave attempted to find a home for his experimental models in Australia, England and
America. (The Technological Museum - now Powerhouse Museum - had acquired some earlier models
from Hargrave in 1891.) He finally gave them to the Deutsches Museum, Munich in 1909. As a token
of gratitude, he was awarded the Cross of Honour of the Royal Order of Merit of Saint Michael by
Luitpolt Prince Regent of Bavaria, but Hargrave could not obtain permission from King George V to
wear this decoration.
94/23/1
Hargrave, Lawrence
Registration Number:
Creator:
Hargrave was interested in many issues beyond aeronautics and wrote frequent letters to the editor on
patent laws, free competition, Darwinism, pensions, a bridge for Sydney harbour, strikes, conscription,
etc.
In his later years Hargrave researched the early exploration of Australia and was convinced that two
Spanish ships, the Santa Ysabel and Santa Barbara under the command of Lope de Vega found their
way to Sydney in 1595 and stayed until 1600. The manuscript of his book Lope de Vega is now in the
National Library of Australia (a copy is held by the Museum at P2903-4/3).
Hargrave's only son, Geoffrey, was killed at Gallipoli in May 1915. Hargrave died on 14 July 1915
following an operation for appendicitis and was buried in Waverley Cemetery (Grave 1117, Section
Ordinary, Denomination General). He was survived by his wife and four daughters. Margaret Hargrave
took her youngest daughter and her husband's papers to England where she settled.
References:
Inglis, Amirah (1983). "Lawrence Hargrave", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Melbourne University
Press, volume 9, pp.196-198
Roughley, T.C. (1933). The Aeronautical Work of Lawrence Hargrave. Sydney, Government Printer.
(Technological Museum, Sydney Bulletin No. 19)
Shaw, W. Hudson (1963). "Lawrence Hargrave: an appreciation", J. Proc. Roy. Soc. NSW., volume 96,
pp.17-30
Shaw, W. Hudson & Ruhen, Olaf (1978). Lawrence Hargrave: explorer, inventor & aviation
experimenter. Cassell, Sydney
COLLECTED ARCHIVES PROVENANCE NOTE These papers were donated to the Museum by Hargrave's eldest daughter Mrs Helen "Nellie" Gray (1879-1966) on 6 November 1962 with William Hudson Shaw acting as intermediary. Shaw, aviation historian, Qantas airlines executive and Honorary Associate of the Museum from 1977, had met Mrs Gray during his research for his biography of Lawrence Hargrave. The papers previously had the following registration numbers: P2756-3A Now 94/23/1-1/5 P2756-4A Now 94/23/1-1/4 P2756-5A Now 94/23/1-1/2 P2756-6A Now 94/23/1-6/2 P2756-7A Now 94/23/1-1/6 P2756-8A Now 94/23/1-4 P2756-9A Now 94/23/1-6/6 P2756-10A Now 94/23/1-1/1 P2756-11A Now 94/23/1-6/3/1 P2756-12A Now 94/23/1-6/4 P2756-13A (& P3321-196) Now 94/23/1-5 P2756-14A Now 94/23/1-3 P2756-14B Now 94/23/1-1/3 P2756-15A Now 94/23/1-6/5 P2756-16A Now 94/23/1-6/7 P2756-17A Now 94/23/1-2 P2756-18A Now 94/23/1-6/1 P2756-25A Now 94/23/1-8 It is assumed that the Charles Bayliss photographs at 94/23/1-7/1:24 were donated by Mrs Gray. Letters from Museum Director, Jack Willis, on file 74/M56/6033 mention Mrs Gray's donation of "some previously unknown photographs" and "further photographs of some of his experiments" but as these photographs were not registered nor listed on receipt it cannot be said with certainty.
COLLECTED ARCHIVES SERIES LIST
Hargrave, Lawrence
Reg. Number Series Title Date
Creator:
94/23/1-1 Torres Strait and Papua New Guinea diaries 1872-1877
94/23/1-2 Narrative of the Voyage of the Steam Launch Neva 1876
94/23/1-3 Notes on the Fly River Expedition 1876
94/23/1-4 Fly River Expedition from May 18th to Sept 30th 1876 1876
94/23/1-5 Map of Fly River 1876
94/23/1-6 Publications re New Guinea 1877-1900
94/23/1-7 Photographs of models 1884-1900
94/23/1-8 Drawings of sailing boats 1897
COLLECTED ARCHIVES SERIES DESCRIPTION
Registration Number: 94/23/1-1
Creators: Hargrave, Lawrence
Series Title: Torres Strait and Papua New Guinea diaries
Date Range: 1872-1877
Physical Characteristics: Six volumes; handwritten entries in ink and pencil.
Description: Diaries (6), re voyages to Torres Strait and Papua New Guinea,
Lawrence Hargrave, Australia/Papua New Guinea, 1872-77
Hargrave's diaries cover the period 1872-77 when he made numerous
voyages to the islands of Torres Strait and to Papua New Guinea
and land expeditions into the interior of Papua. There are six
diaries, some of which includes entries for several expeditions.
Arrangement: Chronological
Dimensions: Shelf Length m 0.060
Box Number: 1
COLLECTED ARCHIVES
Series Title: Torres Strait and Papua New Guinea diaries
ITEM LIST
Item Number BoxItem Title
194/23/1-1/1 Diary, Lawrence Hargrave, Australia/Papua New Guinea, 25
January 1872 - 2 February 1876 (Microfiche copy available)
Volume, half-bound in red leatherette, with blue and brown
marbled covers, 235mm x 197mm. The volume was formerly
sealed at the fore-edge by a red wax and fabric tape seal; the
tape has been cut. Manuscript entries in pencil and pen. In
his Journal, volume 1 p.50 (P3321-198/21), Hargrave refers to
this as his "red-backed diary".
This diary contains the following elements:
a. Brief account of the Maria expedition to New Guinea,
covering the period 25 January to 6 March 1872. The Maria,
Thomas Stratman master, sailed from Sydney on 20 January
1872, carrying a party of 75 men who were subscribers to the
New Guinea Prospecting Expedition to Redscar Bay and the
south-east coast of New Guinea. Hargrave was on board as
one of the expedition's Committee of Management. On 26
February the Maria struck Bramble Reef near Hinchinbrook
Island and sank. Hargrave escaped and landed at Cardwell
on 3 March. Only 28 men survived the wreck and the
subsequent attacks by Aborigines. (In back of volume)
b. Rough log of the voyage in the barque Burton Stather, 24
August - 15 November 1874 from Sydney to Somerset (Cape
York). In his Journal, volume 1 p.50 (P3321 - 198/21),
Hargrave says of this voyage: "Next expedition was to Torres
Strait in search of information for a new expedition to New
Guinea." The log gives date and position only and the mention
of an earthquake on the 14 November. Hargrave left Somerset
for Sydney on 15 November in the S.S. Gothenberg. (pp.B-1)
c. Diary of voyage on board the Chevert, Captain Charles
Edwards, 19 May - 17 September 1875, from Sydney to Torres
Strait and Papua New Guinea. Hargrave was employed as
engineer. On board were the ship's owner, William Macleay,
natural history collector and Captain Arthur A.W. Onslow,
hydrographer. Places visited during the voyage included
Somerset, Kattow (Katau) River, Warrior Island (now Tudu),
Long Island, Bet Island, Cocoanut Island, Darnley Island and
Yule Island (where the Italian naturalist Luigi D'Albertis
asked Hargrave to join him). The diary mentions encounters
with the native peoples (vocabularies are sometimes given);
collection of specimens including human skulls, alligators,
snakes, and birds and their eggs; and Hargrave's plans to join
Octavius Stone's expedition across the south-east peninsula of
New Guinea. The diary is illustrated with pencil sketches of
native people, their houses and a coastal profile of Yule Island.
Hargrave was discharged from the Chevert on 17 September.
Item Number BoxItem Title
(pp.1-38)
d. Diary of voyage from Somerset to Port Moresby on the S.S.
Ellengowan, Captain Runcie, and explorations from Port
Moresby, 18 September 1875 - 2 February 1876. Hargrave had
been invited on this expedition by geologist Octavius C. Stone.
Among the party were Tasmanian naturalist W. F. Petterd and
collector Kendal Broadbent. The party was based at the
mission at Annaparta, Port Moresby run by the Reverend
William George Lawes, whose family were the first permanent
European residents of Papua. The diary records Hargrave's
going on patrol with native police at Somerset; his calling on
Luigi D'Albertis on Yule Island; the party's excursions from
Annaparta to the Laroka River, the Astrolabe Ranges and to
the Owen Stanley Ranges; descriptions of the people of
Annaparta and Elevara; and Annaparta, Koi-ar-re, La-har-rer
and Hoo-lar vocabularies. The expedition sailed from Port
Moresby on 26 January, arriving back at Somerset on 2
February. The diary is illustrated with pencil sketches of pig
traps, clubs and a man with shield. A rough version of part of
this diary (22 November - 15 December) is to be found in
94/23/1-1/2. (pp.38-87)
e. Drawings of a double acting hand drill, spring saw, elevator.
The drawings are numbered 57, 58, 59, 60, 77.
In the volume is a book mark printed with the name of Luigi
M. D'Albertis and a letter from the London Missionary Society
to Hargrave, 14 March 1912, re the ownership of Port Moresby
land.
The annotations in the front and back of the volume in blue
biro were made by W. Hudson Shaw, 1960s
Earlier dates start at the back of the diary, front of diary starts
from August 24 1874.
194/23/1-1/1/1 Diary, Lawrence Hargrave, 25 January 1872 - 2 February 1876
194/23/1-1/1/2 Letter, from London Missionary Society to Lawrence Hargrave,
14 March 1912, re ownership of Port Moresby land
194/23/1-1/1/3 Sheet of note paper
194/23/1-1/1/4 Bookmark, white cardboard, on which is printed the name of
'Luigi M. D'Albertis'
194/23/1-1/2 Diary, Lawrence Hargrave, Australia/Papua New Guinea, 22
November 1875 - 28 September 1876 (microfiche copy
available)
Notebook bound in brown leather (non-contemporary binding),
88mm x 140mm. Side pocket contains a bone-handled and
metal tipped drawing instrument. Manuscript entries in pencil
and pen. Two pages have been torn from the centre of the
notebook. The annotations in the front of the notebook and the
Item Number BoxItem Title
page numbers in blue biro were made by W. Hudson Shaw,
1960s. The notebook may be that referred to in Hargrave's
Journal, volume 1 page 52 (P3321-198/22) as the "brass bound
diary".
This diary contains the following elements:
a. Rough diary, 22 November - 15 December 1875, of
Hargrave's exploration near Port Moresby in the company of
geologist Octavius C. Stone, Tasmanian naturalist W. F.
Petterd, missionary the Reverend William George Lawes and
collector Kendal Broadbent. The expedition was from the site
of Lawes' mission at Annaparta, near Port Moresby to
Co-lo-he-me-ne ford, 5 miles east north east of the Laroker
River. The diary includes brief comments on the local people,
plantations, the shooting of Birds of Paradise, etc. (Shaw's
pp.1-17)
b. Rough log, 18 May - 28 September 1876, of Fly River
expedition with Italian naturalist Luigi M. D'Albertis on board
the steam launch Neva. This is a navigation log giving day,
course, miles travelled and brief comments. The log ends at
Kattow Creek. (Shaw's pp. 18-42)
c. Diary, 20-28 September 1876, covering Hargrave's journey
from Somerset to Kattow on the cutter Ida with mail and
stores for Luigi D'Albertis and his discharge by D'Albertis.
d. List of 57 of the 75 men on board the brig Maria which sank
off Bramble Reef, near Hinchinbrook Island on 26 February
1872. Hargrave was among the 28 survivors. (See also
94/23/1-1/1.)
e. Vocabularies of native languages, giving English and native
equivalents. (In middle of notebook)
f. Inventory of engineering gear left in the Neva.
g. Illustrations including rough sketches of a native dwelling
on stilts, a multi-storey building, and Mount Owen Stanley
and Double Hill near the Laroker River and a rough map of the
area around Mount Owen Stanley, Mount Astrolabe and
Elevara.
h. Logarithmic calculations.
194/23/1-1/2/1 Diary, Lawrence Hargrave, 22 November 1875 - 28 September
1876
194/23/1-1/2/2 Bone-handled and metal tipped drawing instrument
194/23/1-1/3 Diary, Lawrence Hargrave, Australia/ Papua New Guinea, 20
April - 10 September 1876 (microfiche copy available)
Notebook, bound in light brown leather, 120mm x 75mm.
Manuscript entries in pencil; some have been overwritten in
Item Number BoxItem Title
pen.
This is Hargrave's diary of the Fly River expedition of Luigi
D'Albertis in the steam launch Neva. Hargrave was the
expedition engineer. The Neva sailed from Somerset on 18
May, entered the Fly on 23 May and sailed upstream for 45
days. Low water forced the party to return and they reached
the mouth of the river on 19 July.
The diary records the course and distances travelled; the
collecting of natural history specimens including human skulls,
weapons, ferns, Birds of Paradise; the plundering of native
villages ("we completely gutted the houses"); and D'Albertis'
firing of rockets to frighten the native people. (Hargrave says
"I don't like this bullying of the natives, I think it will make it
very dangerous for any white people who may come here
afterwards.") The later part of the diary shows the increasing
ill-will between Hargrave and D'Albertis.
The diary is illustrated with pencil sketches of a native
dwelling with floor plan, a pig trap and sketch maps of the
river.
194/23/1-1/4 Diary, Lawrence Hargrave, Papua New Guinea, 20 April - 29
September 1876 (microfiche copy available)
Notebook, bound in maroon leatherette, 137mm x 90mm. Side
pocket contains a bone pencil; a pocket in the back cover
contains two items. Manuscript entries in ink.
This is Hargrave's diary of the Fly River expedition of Luigi
D'Albertis in the steam lauch Neva, presumably written up
from the rough diaries 94/23/1-1/2 and 94/23/1-1/3. The entries
of late September include copies of letters re his discharge
from the service of D'Albertis which do not appear in the rough
diaries.
The pocket in the back of the volume contains a printed
booklet, Goodall's Porte-Monnaie Calendar 1876 and some
manuscript notes by Hargrave on navigation. Blue biro
annotations on the notes are those of W. Hudson Shaw, 1960s.
194/23/1-1/4/1 Diary, Lawrence Hargrave, 20 April - 29 September 1876
194/23/1-1/4/2 Insert for diary, titled `BRIEF NOTES FOR GUIDANCE
WITH NAVIGATION...FOR FIELD USE'
194/23/1-1/4/3 Miniature calendar inserted into diary pocket.
194/23/1-1/4/4 Bone and [graphite] pencil.
194/23/1-1/5 Diary, Lawrence Hargrave, Australia,/ New Guinea, 6 October
- 19 December 1877 (microfiche copy available)
Notebook, bound in black leatherette, 132mm x 90mm, with
empty side pocket for pencil. Handwritten entries in pencil.
Item Number BoxItem Title
The annotations in the front and back of the volume in blue
biro were made by W. Hudson Shaw, 1960s.
This diary contains the following elements:
a. Diary, 6 October - 19 December 1877, re Hargrave's
inspection of the Parbury Lamb Pearl Shell Station on the
island of Wei Wea (Weiwere) in the Prince of Wales Group,
Torres Strait. Hargrave was commissioned for this task by
Walter Lamb and Thomas Forster Knox. Hargrave dismissed
the then superintendent, Captain A. R. Hovell for
drunkenness, and the agent George King also left because he
was unable to account for stores and had encouraged Hovell's
drinking. Hargrave appointed H. Dubbins as temporary
manager and made a complete inventory of all the company's
assets. (At end of diary near pocket)
b. Technical drawings. Two pencil drawings
c. List of expenses
d. Notes of a conversation with Bob, a Fijian member of Luigi
D'Albertis' second expedition up the Fly River in the launch
Neva. The notes largely concern the ill-treatment of party
members by D'Albertis on this aborted trip. Hargrave ends:
"D'Albertis is at Neboo with his engineer and cook mad with
the pox that he has had since leaving Sydney. He is rotten."
194/23/1-1/6 Diary, Lawrence Hargrave, Australia/Papua New Guinea, 9
October - 21 December 1877 (microfiche copy available)
Volume, bound in dark brown leatherette, 155mm x 104mm.
Manuscript entries in ink and pencil. The annotations in the
front of the volume in blue biro were made by W. Hudson
Shaw, 1960s.
This diary contains the following elements:
a. Copies of letters, 9 October - 21 December 1877. The letters
are to Messrs Charles Parbury, Walter Lamb and Thomas
Forster Knox re their pearl shell station at Weiwere island in
the Torres Strait; to Captain A.R. Hovell re his dismissal as
superintendent of the station; to H. Dubbins re his
management of the station; to Beardmore and Co, traders of
Cooktown, re supply of bêche de mer; and to the Town and
Country Journal re his chart of the Fly River (94/23/1-5).
(pp.35-84, 120-128)
b. Mr. Lawes' Vocabulary/ Motu Language. The Motu words
are listed alphabetically with their English equivalent. (Back
of volume pp.163-129, 119-99)
Two pages of this diary bear a red wax seal with initials `LH'.
COLLECTED ARCHIVES SERIES DESCRIPTION
Registration Number: 94/23/1-2
Creators: Hargrave, Lawrence
Series Title: Narrative of the Voyage of the Steam Launch Neva
Date Range: 1876
Physical Characteristics: Bundle of ruled foolscap pages, 338mm x 210mm, tied at upper left
corner with red cotton tape. Handwritten in ink.
Description: Document, `Narrative of the Voyage of the Steam Launch Neva',
Australia/ Papua New Guinea, Lawrence Hargrave, 1876
(microfiche copy available)
This is Hargrave's 55 page account of the voyage of the steam launch
Neva up the Fly River, Papua under the command of Italian
naturalist Luigi Maria D'Albertis. Hargrave was the ship's engineer.
The Neva sailed from Somerset, Cape York, on 18 May, entered the
Fly on 23 May and sailed upstream for 45 days. Low water forced
the party to return and they arrived back at Somerset on 21
November. The Narrative draws from Hargrave's diaries
(94/23/1-1/2,3,4).
The Narrative records the course and distances travelled; the
collecting of natural history specimens including human skeletons,
weapons, ferns, Birds of Paradise; the plundering of native villages
("we landed & robbed them of all they possessed", "we completely
gutted the houses"); and D'Albertis' firing of rockets to frighten the
native people. Hargrave says: "I don't like this bullying of the
natives, I think it will make it very dangerous for any white people
who may come here afterwards." The later part of the Narrative
shows the increasing ill-will between Hargrave and D'Albertis.
The Narrative is illustrated with pencil sketches of a native
dwelling with floor plan, a mask, a club and sketch maps of the
river. The Narrative ends with copies of letters re his discharge
from the expedition by D'Albertis.
Throughout the text of the Narrative there are editing marks in red
pencil - underlinings, strikings out and marginal notes ("Qs" and
"Omit"). The passages marked are usually ones critical of
D'Albertis's behaviour. The last page bears the red pencilled
heading "Summary of Engineering Obsns [Observations?]", but the
page is otherwise blank.
Hargrave is presumably referring to this account and to `Notes re
Fly River expedition, 1876 (94/23/1-3) and `Fly River expedition from
May 18th to Sept 30th 1876' (94/23/1-4) when he says in his Journal,
volume 1 p.52 (P3321-198/22): "See brass-bound diary [94/23/1-1/2] &
several copies with explanatory additions that were rendered
necessary when it became evident that I was to be totally ignored by
D'Albertis & his committee after having done more work than the lot
put together."
Arrangement: Chronological
Dimensions: Shelf Length mm 0.010
Box Number: 1
COLLECTED ARCHIVES SERIES DESCRIPTION
Registration Number: 94/23/1-3
Creators: Hargrave, Lawrence
Series Title: Notes on the Fly River Expedition
Date Range: 1876
Physical Characteristics: Bundle of ruled foolscap pages, 338mm x 210mm, tied at upper left
corner with red cotton tape. Handwritten in ink.
Description: Document, notes re Fly River expedition, Lawrence Hargrave,
Australia/ Papua New Guinea, 1876 (microfiche copy available)
This is Hargrave's 55 page account of the voyage of the steam launch
Neva up the Fly River, Papua under the command of Italian
naturalist Luigi Maria D'Albertis. Hargrave was the ship's engineer.
The Neva sailed from Somerset, Cape York, on 18 May, entered the
Fly on 23 May and sailed upstream for 45 days. Low water forced
the party to return and they arrived back at Somerset on 21
November. The Narrative draws from Hargrave's diaries
(94/23/1-1/2,3,4).
The Narrative records the course and distances travelled; the
collecting of natural history specimens including human skeletons,
weapons, ferns, Birds of Paradise; the plundering of native villages
("we landed & robbed them of all they possessed", "we completely
gutted the houses"); and D'Albertis' firing of rockets to frighten the
native people. Hargrave says: "I don't like this bullying of the
natives, I think it will make it very dangerous for any white people
who may come here afterwards." The later part of the Narrative
shows the increasing ill-will between Hargrave and D'Albertis.
The Narrative is illustrated with pencil sketches of a native
dwelling with floor plan, a mask, a club and sketch maps of the
river. The Narrative ends with copies of letters re his discharge
from the expedition by D'Albertis.
Throughout the text of the Narrative there are editing marks in red
pencil - underlinings, strikings out and marginal notes ("Qs" and
"Omit"). The passages marked are usually ones critical of
D'Albertis's behaviour. The last page bears the red pencilled
heading "Summary of Engineering Obsns [Observations?]", but the
page is otherwise blank.
Hargrave is presumably referring to this account and to `Notes re
Fly River expedition, 1876 (94/23/1-3) and `Fly River expedition from
May 18th to Sept 30th 1876' (94/23/1-4) when he says in his Journal,
volume 1 p.52 (P3321-198/22): "See brass-bound diary [94/23/1-1/2] &
several copies with explanatory additions that were rendered
necessary when it became evident that I was to be totally ignored by
D'Albertis & his committee after having done more work than the lot
put together."
Arrangement:
Dimensions: Shelf Length m 0.010
General mm
Box Number: 1
COLLECTED ARCHIVES SERIES DESCRIPTION
Registration Number: 94/23/1-4
Creators: Hargrave, Lawrence
Series Title: Fly River Expedition from May 18th to Sept 30th 1876
Date Range: 1876
Physical Characteristics: Bundle of loose sheets, 420mm x 340mm, tied in upper left corner
with red tape to which is attached a red wax seal bearing the initials
'LH'.
Description: Document, `Fly River Expedition from May 18th to Sept 30th 1876',
Lawrence Hargrave, Australia/ Papua New Guinea, 1876
This is Hargrave's 22 page account of the voyage of the steam launch
Neva up the Fly River, Papua under the command of Italian
naturalist Luigi Maria D'Albertis. Hargrave was the ship's engineer.
The Neva sailed from Somerset, Cape York, on 18 May, entered the
Fly on 23 May and sailed upstream for 45 days. Low water forced
the party to return and they arrived back at Somerset on 21
November. The account draws from Hargrave's diaries
(94/23/1-1/2,3,4). Some days' entries are fuller in some regards than
those in the Narrative (94/23/1-2) but the account is lacking some of
the elements of the Narrative eg. the list of engineering gear (8
September) and the copies of letters re his discharge by D'Albertis.
This account is addressed on the last page "To the Committee for the
Exploration of New Guinea favoured by the Reverend J.P.
Sunderland". Hargrave is presumably referring to this account when
he says in his Journal, volume 1 p.52 (P3321-198/22): "See
brass-bound diary (94/23/1-1/2) & several copies with explanatory
additions that were rendered necessary when it became evident that
I was to be totally ignored by D'Albertis & his committee after
having done more work than the lot put together."
Throughout the text of this account there are manuscript corrections
and many passages are marked "Omit" in red ink. The passages
marked are usually ones critical of D'Albertis's behaviour.
Arrangement:
Dimensions: Shelf Length m 0.010
Box Number: 2
COLLECTED ARCHIVES SERIES DESCRIPTION
Registration Number: 94/23/1-5
Creators: Hargrave, Lawrence
Series Title: Map of Fly River
Date Range: 1876
Physical Characteristics: Ink and watercolour on paper.
Description: Map of Fly River, ink and watercolour on paper, Lawrence
Hargrave, Australia, 1876
Hargrave's map of the Fly River, Papua, prepared on his return from
his voyage with the Italian naturalist Luigi D'Albertis in the Neva as
ship's engineer. The map shows the route taken from Nebo Island
on 24 May 1876 454 miles up the Fly River and return on 18 July
1876. The map is annotated with dates, distances, villages, remarks
on vegetation, and references to attacks by natives. On the reverse
is a pencil sketch of a sailing ship.
Signed and dated by Hargrave `FLY RIVER/ native name/
GO-OWER/ Law. Hargrave/ Sept. 1876'.
Arrangement:
Dimensions:
Box Number: Plan cabinet
COLLECTED ARCHIVES SERIES DESCRIPTION
Registration Number: 94/23/1-6
Creators: Hargrave, Lawrence
Series Title: Publications re New Guinea
Date Range: 1877-1900
Physical Characteristics: Printed booklets or volumes
Description: Publications re New Guinea, collected by Lawrence Hargrave,
Sydney, New South Wales, 1877-1900
Eleven printed booklets or volumes relating to Hargrave's interest in
New Guinea and to exploration in general. Four of the booklets
94/23/1-6/3/1:4 are bound together by two pieces of wire.
Arrangement: Chronological
Dimensions: Shelf Length m 0.030
Box Number: 1
COLLECTED ARCHIVES
Series Title: Publications re New Guinea
ITEM LIST
Item Number BoxItem Title
194/23/1-6/1 Booklet, `New Guinea Exploration', Luigi D'Albertis author,
Charles Potter Acting Government Printer, Sydney, New
South Wales, Australia, 1877
Luigi Maria D'Albertis. New Guinea Exploration (extract from
the log-book of the steam-launch "Neva."). Ordered to be
printed by the Legislative Assembly, 30 January 1877. (From
the Papers of the NSW Legislative Assembly, 1876-7)
Lawrence Hargrave was ship's engineer on this voyage and is
often referred to in the log.
194/23/1-6/2 Booklet, `Buka kunana: Levaleva tuahia adipaia: first school
book, in language of Port Moresby, New Guinea', Reading and
Foster printers, Sydney, New South Wales, 1877
The volume bears manuscript translations and corrections in
pencil and ink.
194/23/1-6/3 Booklets (4), bound together by wire
194/23/1-6/3/1 Booklet, 'Instructions issued by the Geographical Society of
Australasia for the guidance of the New Guinea Exploration
Expedition', F. Cunninghame & Co.printers, Sydney, New
South Wales, 1885
Lawrence Hargrave was a member of the Society's exploratory
committee and prepared draft instructions for the expedition.
See his Journal volume 1, pp.86-89 (P3321-198/37:39).
194/23/1-6/3/2 Booklet, 'Special record of the proceedings of the Geographical
Society of Australasia in fitting out and starting the
Exploratory Expedition to New Guinea', Edward Pulsford,
compiler / F. Cunninghame & Co. printers, Sydney, New South
Wales, 1885
Throughout the text there are underlinings and lines in the
margins in pencil.
194/23/1-6/3/3 Booklet, `Official Report of Capt. H.C. Everill, Leader of the
New Guinea Exploring Expedition', Thomas Richards,
Government Printer, Sydney, New South Wales,1886
Throughout the text are marginalia and underlinings by
Lawrence Hargrave in blue pencil.
Item Number BoxItem Title
194/23/1-6/3/4 Booklet, `The Voyage of the Bonito: an account of the Fly River
Expedition to New Guinea, delivered as a lecture under the
auspices of the Agricultural Society of Shoalhaven; and printed
at their request', William Bäuerlen author/ Gibbs, Shallard &
Co, printers, Sydney, New South Wales, 1886
William Bäuerlen was botanical collector on Captain H.C.
Everill's expedition. Lawrence Hargrave has twice written
"no" in pencil in the margins of this booklet.
194/23/1-6/4 Booklet, `Annual address to the Geographical Society of
Australasia New South Wales Branch 1885-86', Sir Edward
Strickland author/ John Woods & Co Limited, printers,
Sydney, New South Wales, 1885-1886
Throughout the text are underlinings and marginalia by
Lawrence Hargrave in blue pencil.
194/23/1-6/5 Book, 'British New Guinea. Issued by Burns, Philp & Co.,
Limited, contractors with the High Commissioner for the
opening of trading stations on the New Guinea coast, and for
the establishment of regular steam communication therewith',
Burns, Philp & Co, publishers / John Woods & Co Limited,
printers, Sydney, New South Wales, 1886
Pages 22-23 refer to the ill-fated Maria expedition, 1872, to
L.M. D'Albertis's Fly River expedition in the Neva, 1876 and to
Sir William Macleay's voyage on the Chevert, 1875, in all three
of which Lawrence Hargrave took part.
194/23/1-6/6 Booklet, `New constitution of the New South Wales Branch of
the Geographical Society of Australasia', W.E. Smith printer,
Sydney, New South Wales, 1886
194/23/1-6/7 Report, `Annual Report of British New Guinea from 1st
July,1889, to 30th June, 1890: with appendices', Charles
Potter, Government Printer, Sydney, New South Wales, 1890
Published in the New South Wales Parliamentary Papers,
1890. One of the appendices in the report is "Reverend W.G.
Lawes Comparative View of Seven Native Dialects and
Grammar of Motu Language". Lawrence Hargrave was a
member of an exploring party based at Lawes' mission at Port
Moresby in late 1875 and his diary 94/23/1-1/6 contains a list of
'Mr Lawes' Vocabulary/ Motu Language'. See also Hargrave's
Journal, volume 1, p.163 (P3321-198/68) for a draft letter to Sir
William Macgregor re Appendix G No. 1 of the annual report.
Item Number BoxItem Title
194/23/1-6/8 Booklet, `New Guinea Exploration', Luigi D'Albertis author,
Charles Potter Acting Government Printer, Sydney, New
South Wales, Australia, 1877
Luigi Maria D'Albertis. New Guinea Exploration (extract from
the log-book of the steam-launch "Neva."). Ordered to be
printed by the New South Wales Legislative Council, 31
January 1877. (From Votes and Proceedings of the NSW
Legislative Council, 1876-7)
Lawrence Hargrave was ship's engineer on this voyage and is
often referred to in the log.
This particular publication was added to the archive on 12
October 2009. Its text is the same as the NSW Leglislative
Assembly publication with the same title 94/23/1-6/1.
COLLECTED ARCHIVES SERIES DESCRIPTION
Registration Number: 94/23/1-7
Creators: Hargrave, Lawrence
Series Title: Photographs of models
Date Range: 1884-1900
Physical Characteristics: Albumen paper prints mounted on board
Description: Photographic prints (24), of Lawrence Hargrave's models, Charles
Bayliss, New South Wales, 1884-1889
24 photographs (albumen paper prints mounted on board) taken by
Sydney photographer Charles Bayliss of Lawrence Hargrave's flying
machines and trochoided models. Hargrave's journals
(P3321-198:201) make many references to Bayliss coming to
photograph the models and to Hargrave's sending copies to
institutions and fellow experimenters. The photographs are
numbered on the reverse in an unknown hand and some have
annotations.
Also included is a photographic view of Stanwell Park showing
Hillcrest and Stanwell House, which, according to annotations on
the reverse, was taken by Bayliss on the day of the kite lift, 1894.
Arrangement: By photograph number on reverse
Dimensions: Shelf Length m 0.050
Box Number: 3
COLLECTED ARCHIVES
Series Title: Photographs of Lawrence Hargrave's models
ITEM LIST
Item Number BoxItem Title
394/23/1-7/1 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave trochoided plane model consisting of two floats and a
clockwork mechanism, Charles Bayliss, New South Wales,
c1884
394/23/1-7/2 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave trochoided plane model consisting of two floats,
Charles Bayliss, New South Wales, [1884]
Sketch of this model appears as Figure II in "The trochoided
plane", paper read before the Royal Society of NSW, 6 August
1884.
394/23/1-7/3 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave model with clockwork mechanism, Charles Bayliss,
New South Wales, c 1884
394/23/1-7/4 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave trochoided plane model resembling fish, Charles
Bayliss, New South Wales, [1884]
Sketch of this model appears as Figure IV in "The trochoided
plane", paper read before the Royal Society of NSW, 6 August
1884. Another copy of this print is at P3544-22.
394/23/1-7/5 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave trochoided plane model resembling snake, Charles,
Bayliss, New South Wales, c1884
394/23/1-7/6 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave model, Charles Bayliss, New South Wales, c1884
394/23/1-7/7 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on baord, Lawrence
Hargrave model showing form of serpentine progression,
Charles Bayliss, New South Wales, [1886]
Sketch of this model appears in "Notes on a model shewing one
form of serpentine progression", paper read before the Royal
Society of NSW, 2 June 1886.
394/23/1-7/8 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, eight
Lawrence Hargrave flying machines models, Charles Bayliss,
New South Wales, [1885]
394/23/1-7/9 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave trochoided plane model, Charles Bayliss, New South
Wales, [1884]
Sketch of this model appears as Figure III of "The Trochoided
Plane", paper read before the Royal Society of NSW, 6 August
1884.
Item Number BoxItem Title
394/23/1-7/10 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave flapping wing flying machine model, Charles Bayliss,
New South Wales, c1884
Photo and mount are broken in two.
394/23/1-7/11 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave flapping wing flying machine model, Charles Bayliss,
New South Wales, c1884
394/23/1-7/12 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave flapping wing flying machine model, Charles Bayliss,
New South wales, c1884
394/23/1-7/13 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave flapping wing flying machine model, Charles Bayliss,
New South wales, [1885]
This photo is reproduced in T.C. Roughley's The aeronautical
work of Lawrence Hargrave. Sydney, Government Printer,
1933 p.7 with the caption: "Figure 2. An early flapping-wing
model (probably 1885) with wings in two sections, a vertical
fin, and fixed tail-planes. The motive power was rubber-bands
in tension."
394/23/1-7/14 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave flapping wing flying machine model, Charles Bayliss,
New South Wales, c1884
394/23/1-7/15 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave flapping wing flying machine model, Charles Bayliss,
New South Wales, [1887]
In Hargrave's paper read before Royal Society of NSW,
"Autographic instruments used in the development of flying
machines", 7 December 1887, is a sketch of what appears to be
this model. It is plate 28 part III `Experimental model of a
flying machine' which bears the caption `This model has flown
270 feet'.
394/23/1-7/16 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave models, Charles Bayliss, New South Wales, c1884
394/23/1-7/17 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave's large flying machine on wheels, Charles Bayliss,
New South Wales, [1887]
Sketches of this model appear on Plates 1 to 3 of "Recent work
on flying machines", paper read before the Royal Society of
NSW, 1 June 1887.
394/23/1-7/18 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave's flapping wing flying machine model, Charles
Bayliss, New South Wales, c1887
Item Number BoxItem Title
394/23/1-7/19 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave's machine model, Charles Bayliss, New South Wales,
c1887
394/23/1-7/20 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, two Lawrence
Hargrave flapping wing flying machine models, Charles
Bayliss, New South Wales, c1887
394/23/1-7/21 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave flapping wing flying machine model, Charles Bayliss,
New South Wales, c1887
394/23/1-7/22 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargarve model, Charles Bayliss, New South Wales, c1887
394/23/1-7/23 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave's model to demonstrate figure of eight movement,
Charles Bayliss, New South Wales, [1889]
Label affixed to model reads: `Section of a flying machine strut
that has stood a crushing strain of 360 pounds. The strut was
originally 6 feet 2 inches long and had 5 bulkheads 18 inches
apart'.
Sketch of this model appears as Figure II `Figure-of-8
movement' of "Flying machine memoranda", paper read before
the Royal Society of NSW, 7 August 1889.
394/23/1-7/24 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, Lawrence
Hargrave's `3 cylinder revolving type of compressed air engine',
Charles Bayliss, New South Wales, 1889
`3 cylinder revolving type of compressed air engine invented by
Hargrave in 1889, the forerunner of the modern Gnome.
Weight 3/4 of a pound, 285 revolutions per minute with 100lb
pressure of air'.
394/23/1-7/25 Photographic print, albumen, mounted on board, view of
Stanwell Park showing Lawrence Hargrave's house Hillcrest
on the right and Stanwell House on the left, Charles Bayliss,
Stanwell Park, New South Wales, 1894?
COLLECTED ARCHIVES SERIES DESCRIPTION
Registration Number: 94/23/1-8
Creators: Hargrave, Lawrence
Series Title: Drawings of sailing boats
Date Range: 1897
Physical Characteristics: Twelve drawings (5 pen & ink, 6 pencil and 1 watercolour)
Description: Drawings (12), of sailing boats, Lawrence Hargrave, Australia/
Papua New Guinea, 1897
Twelve drawings (5 pen & ink, 6 pencil and 1 watercolour) by
Hargrave of sailing boats. Three are dated 1897, the rest are
undated.
The boats depicted include the schooner Ellesmere on which
Hargrave circumnavigated Australia in 1866; the yacht Shark which
Hargrave built in 1869; the brig Maria, which sunk off the
Queensland coast in 1872, Hargrave being one of the survivors; and
Annaparter Lackertoey, a Port Moresby sago ship, presumably seen
in 1875 when Hargrave was based at Annaparta mission, Port
Moresby.
Arrangement: None apparent
Dimensions: Shelf Length m 0.003
Box Number: 1
COLLECTED ARCHIVES
Series Title: Drawings of sailing boats
ITEM LIST
Item Number BoxItem Title
194/23/1-8/1 Drawing, pen, `Ellesmere Sydney', Lawrence Hargrave, c1866
Hargrave circumnavigated Australia on the schooner
Ellesmere in 1866.
194/23/1-8/2 Drawing, pen, `The Shark', Lawrence Hargrave, c1897?
'The Shark' was built by Lawrence Hargrave. "In 1869 he built
the Shark, a twenty-five-foot outrigger with clinker hulls. It
carried a lugsail on a long yard on a mast stepped amidships."
W. Hudson Shaw & Olaf Ruhen. Lawrence Hargrave:
explorer, inventor and aviation experimenter. Stanmore, NSW,
Cassell, 1977, p.10.
194/23/1-8/3 Drawing, pencil, `Shark 28.5.97', Lawrence Hargrave, 1897
'The Shark' was built by Lawrence Hargrave. "In 1869 he built
the Shark, a twenty-five-foot outrigger with clinker hulls. It
carried a lugsail on a long yard on a mast stepped amidships."
W. Hudson Shaw & Olaf Ruhen. Lawrence Hargrave:
explorer, inventor and aviation experimenter. Stanmore, NSW,
Cassell, 1977, p.10.
194/23/1-8/4 Drawing, pencil, `Shark No.2', Lawrence Hargrave, n.d.
'The Shark' was built by Lawrence Hargrave. "In 1869 he built
the Shark, a twenty-five-foot outrigger with clinker hulls. It
carried a lugsail on a long yard on a mast stepped amidships."
W. Hudson Shaw & Olaf Ruhen. Lawrence Hargrave:
explorer, inventor and aviation experimenter. Stanmore, NSW,
Cassell, 1977, p.10.
194/23/1-8/5 Drawing, pen, `Maria', Lawrence Hargrave, n.d.
In 1871 Hargrave became one of the Committee of
Management of J.D. Lang's New Guinea Prospecting
Association and in 1872 joined the Association's gold
prospecting expedition in the brig Maria. Hargrave was
amongst the survivors when the ship struck Bramble Reef
near Hinchinbrook Island and sank with many lives lost.
194/23/1-8/6 Drawing, pen, `Annaparter Lackertoey. Port Moresby Sago
Ship', Lawrence Hargrave, 1875?
The Annaparter Lackertoey was presumably seen in 1875
when Hargrave was based at Annaparta mission, Port
Moresby.
194/23/1-8/7 Drawing, pen, unidentified sailing boat, `Light airs on a lee
shore', Lawrence Hargrave, n.d.
Item Number BoxItem Title
194/23/1-8/8 Drawing, pencil, unidentified sailing boat, `for Nell 28.5.97',
Lawrence Hargrave, 1897
Nell was Hargrave's first daughter - Helen Ann, born 22 June
1879.
194/23/1-8/9 Drawing, pencil, unidentified sailing boat, `18.11.97', Lawrence
Hargrave, 1897
194/23/1-8/10 Drawing, pencil, unidentified sailing boat, Lawrence Hargrave,
n.d.
194/23/1-8/11 Drawing, pencil, unidentified sailing boat, Lawrence Hargrave,
n.d.
194/23/1-8/12 Drawing, watercolour, unidentified sailing boat, Lawrence
Hargrave, n.d.
The Powerhouse Museum
Archives has a dual purpose.
First, to manage and preserve
the institutional records of the
Museum from its establishment
in 1880 to the present. Secondly,
to manage and preserve
collected archives which are
the papers of individuals and
the records of organisations
and businesses acquired by the
Museum for its collection in the
fields of science, technology,
design, industry, decorative arts,
music, transport and history.
COVER: Photographic prints,
COVER DESIGN: Colin Rowan