Sir Joh and Lady Florence Bjelke-Petersen collection

This personal diary kept by Florence Bjelke-Peterson was for the bicentennial year of 1988. Lady Flo has kept detailed entries covering her busy life - at home, duties in Parliament, radio interviews, the opening of Expo 88, attending church services and many social gatherings. These entries show the energy and enthusiasm she brought to her family and public life at age 68.

Included with the diary is the pen she supposedly used; a Christmas card sent to Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen in 1990 from Alex Waryk; a handwritten itinerary for a holiday in 1989; and a photocopied brochure printed by Bentours, Melbourne, titled "The coastal voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes and back, 2500 miles in eleven days".

Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen's official visitors book, with signatures which date from 1968-1978. Only 15 pages of the volume have been annotated, the majority by international visitors and distinguished guests, Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Consul Generals and several 'Miss Australia's'.

Patent specification documents and an agreement with the manufacturer H.V. McKay Masey Harris P/L known as 'Sunshine' for a peanut planter or 'apparatus for sowing plants in the shell' devised by Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, signed and executed in June 1939.

Handwritten recipe for 'Little Cakes' noted on the back of a Liberal ballot card. The recipe was originally devised by Betty Florence Hooper (nee Ball) who married Keith Hooper in 1947. The how-to-vote ballot card was for Keith Hooper, the then candidate for Greenslopes, a seat he held from 1966 until his resignation and death in 1977.

Keith Hooper was a member of the 2/10th Field Regiment during the Second World War, he was captured by the Japanese and taken to Changi prison in 1942. The following year he was transferred to Japan and held at Kobe House and Nomachi prison camps until the end of the war.

Silver aluminium square cake tin 230 x 230 x 70 mm high, used and dented.

Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen's brown leather briefcase [empty] still with baggage tags attached for a flight on Ansett Australia Airlines, Brisbane to Melbourne [no date].

Coasters commemorating the Holland Park Jubilee 1985. Two gold, embossed, square coasters, felt backed, 95 x 95 mm, featuring the emblem for the Uniting Church, an open book and the numbers 50.

Boxed coaster set commemorating the Grand opening of the Sheraton-Brisbane Hotel and Towers, Turbot Street, Brisbane. Manufactured by Photoprint Products Company, Redbank Plains.

Earthenware plate issued to commemorate the Kingaroy Shire Council, State Cabinet visit, decorated with a stylised image of the Kingaroy peanut silos.

Oil on board by William Boissevain, title 'Cape York' dated 1986, showing an aerial view of the tip of Cape York Peninsula. The mounted and framed artwork was presented to Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen on the occasion of the official opening of the Cape York Wilderness Lodge, 12 May 1986. The framed work which measures 920 wide 540 high was framed by Raintrees Galleries, Cairns and includes a silver coloured plaque attached to the frame, lower centre.

Boissevain was born in New York in 1927, the son of a Dutch diplomat, the family were evacuated to England as diplomatic prisoners during the Second World War. He studied at l'Academie des Beaux Arts, Paris and at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, London. Boissevain has resided in Western Australia since 1947 and in 1978 was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to the advancement of art.

Oil painting on board by Val Mulcahy, titled 'Bethany' which depicts the Bjelke-Petersen property 'Bethany' located near Kingaroy. The mounted and framed artwork was presented to Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen by the Kingaroy Shire Council, Barambah Electorate Council of the Australian Country Party and citizens of the Barambah electorate, on the occasion of his appointment as Premier of Queensland, 8 August 1968.

Panoramic colour aerial poster of Raby Bay waterfront and Moreton Bay. 

Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen's 1983 campaign poster, copies of which were later sold to raise funds for the 'Help Joh Campaign' in 1991. Printed with the words 'Joh and Queensland', it reflects the patriotic colours of Australia, green and gold.