Dearden family papers

Photograph album containing 225 black and white photographs of Alexandria Station and Avon Downs Station on the Northern Territory side of the Queensland border near Camooweal.  The photographs depict life for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians, children, women, itinerant workers and travellers through the region. There are many portrait photographs, and most are captioned. The photographs were taken by station accountant James Broadbridge, who lived and worked at Alexandria Station from 1913 until about 1930. 

The album belonged to Richard Holt (1859-1831), who was an uncle of Daphne Dearden (nee Grant).  Richard Holt and his brothers left Queensland around 1900 in an attempt to get lucky in the Kimberley goldfields. They were unsuccessful. On the way back Richard got a job at Alexandria Station. He became manager and was in that position up until 1924. 

A collection of loose photographs (many taken by Edgar Dearden), rehoused into a grey library album. Images include:

• Family photographs
• Aerial photographs of Goondiwindi in flood
• Hotels in Goondiwindi
• Early tank-sinking plant associated with Dearden's earthmoving business, and some images of harvesting, land-clearing and farming.
• Edgar Dearden in his role as chairman of Emerald Shire Council
• Daphne Grant as a baby with her family outside their home in Forest Hill, and as a child with her classmates at school
• George 'Frank' Dearden and Arthur Alexander Dearden, younger brothers of Edgar who served overseas during the Second World War and were prisoners-of- war
• 'Jones' Hole', the excavation in front of Brisbane City Hall to construct the carpark under King George Square
• Victoria Bridge construction
• Construction of an oil pipe line near Moonie
• Fitzroy River Barrage construction (1966-1970), described as 'Rex Pilbeam's baby'
• An exhibition by the Queensland Grain Growers Association
• 'The last of the trams' - a series of photos of trams traveling though Brisbane and Clayfield
• Open cut mining operations at Moura
• Construction of the Moorabin Dam
• Mount Coo-tha lookout
• TAA airplanes and a fire at the Brisbane airport
• A 'Blessing of the the Plough' ceremony at the Ekka
• A group dinner at Lennons Hotel in Brisbane in the 1950s, including Arthur Alexander and his wife Clarice Dearden.

Photograph album with inscription inside cover 'E.B. Dearden, Goondiwindi, Xmas 1929' including photographs of family, locations around Goondiwindi and his earth moving business. There are some photographs of road building around Goondiwindi, Thallon and St. George, earthmoving machinery, workers, cars, camps and emu hunting. There are two images of an elephant chained to a tree, and some of men laying irrigation pipes.

A large window mount containing 3 photographs, presented to Councillor Edgar Bramwell Dearden at the opening of new Emerald Shire Council chambers in 1957. There is a photograph of Edgar Dearden, an image of the Council buildings , and another of the plaque outside the building.

The citation reads: 'Presented to Councillor E.B. Dearden, Chairman of the Emerald Shire Council, by the councillors on 13th September 1957 in recognition of his untiring efforts in providing the shire with a modern centre of administration'.

An envelope of photographs and certificates relating mostly to Daphne Grant's nursing training and early career. Included in the envelope are:

• Extract of the birth certificate of William MacRae Grant, father of Daphne, born in 1859 in Tong in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland;
• Receipt for school expenses at the Presbyterian Girls' College in Warwick, 1925 for her sister Anne Grant;
• League of the Empire comrades card;
• Certificates presented to her mother, Mrs W. Grant, in recognition of her work at the Red Cross during the First World War, and to Daphne Grant upon passing the exam for Invalid Cookery - Theory and Practical in 1929;
• Nurses Registration Board papers and a General Nurses qualification certificate in a bound album,1930;
• A copy of 'A Nurse's Prayer' printed on card; and
• Approximately 40 photographs of Daphne Grant and others during her time in nursing training at Brisbane Hospital (now Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital), including images of the Lady Lamington Nurses' Home, and two group portraits of the nursing students taken by Poulsen Studios, one of which has the surnames of all the students listed on the back.

(This album predates the marriage of Daphne Margaret Grant to Edgar Bramwell Dearden on 14 June 1930.)

Small album with an image of a woman embossed on a grey cover. There is an inscription on the inside cover which reads 'Daphne Grant'.

The album includes photographs of people and agricultural activities at Gleneve Station, wool teams at Thallon and family photographs in Sydney. 

(This album predates the marriage of Daphne Margaret Grant to Edgar Bramwell Dearden on 14 June 1930.)

Small album with a grey cover with 'Kodak' embossed on the front. The album has an inscription on the inside cover which reads 'Daphne Grant, B.G. Hospital, 1926', and includes personal and social photographs and some James Broadbridge images from Alexandria Station. Some photographs are captioned.

There is a photograph of three Aboriginal Australian men with ceremonial painting, standing near painted ceremonial poles planted in the ground.

(This album predates the marriage of Daphne Margaret Grant to Edgar Bramwell Dearden on 14 June 1930.)

A notebook with handwritten notes compiled by Frank Dearden.

In 1908, Frank studied optometry by correspondence, and this notebook contains his course notes. The notebook also contains notes about him 'taking charge' of the Neglected Girls Home at Riverview in 1897 (he and his wife were Salvation Army officers), on how to make French Polish and a cement floor, and notes related to jewellery making.

Frank Dearden was the father of Edgar Bramwell Dearden.

A large ledger book kept by Frank Dearden as a record of his jewellery business in Goondiwindi. Each customer has a page itemising details of their transactions. The ledger also contains loose pages pertaining to wool sales, ewe and cattle sales from Arden Downs Station, war census wealth and income cards, tax information and forms.

Frank Dearden was the father of Edgar Bramwell Dearden.

Autograph book filled with entries by friends and classmates of Daphne Grant while she was a student at Brisbane Girls Grammar School.

Notebook with inscribed title 'A Year's Doings', containing diary entries in 1932-1933, recording her daily life on the station.

Part of notebook containing an account of flooding, family gatherings and other events under the heading '1952'. Most likely written by Daphne Dearden.

Typed manuscript (10 pages, double-sided) titled 'Arthur Dearden's Memories of War', as told to his niece Penny Mayson, the daughter of George Frank Dearden.

Arthur Alexander Dearden (1908-1977) 2/10th Field Regiment QX17578, recalls enlisting in the army during the Second World War, training, travelling to Singapore and Malacca, suffering from malaria, working on the Thai railway, and meeting up with his brother Frank also of the 2/10th in overseas army camps. He tells of his experiences as a prisoner-of-war in Tarakan, where Frank died. Some photocopied family photographs are included.

Typed manuscript (44 pages, double-sided) called 'The Memoirs of Arden Dearden'.

It contains the memories of Herbert 'Arden' Dearden (1908-2007) about his life and various family members. It is illustrated with photocopied family photographs. Topics covered are the family at Arden Downs, life in Goondiwindi and Dalby, his working life and dam sinking business, his marriage to Dorothy and life at Burradoo station and Tandawanna.

There are also sections dedicated to Frank Dearden (senior), Mary Ann Bruggy (known as 'Polly' Dearden), Edgar Bramwell Dearden, Ellen Scales Dearden (known as Queenie), Ena Dearden, George Frank Dearden, Arthur Alexander Dearden and Albert Clifford Dearden.

Twin brother to Arthur, Arden served in Australia during the Second World War, service no. Q141005 with the Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC).

A typed document titled "A Force", giving an account of an expedition of forces from Changi to Singapore during World World Two. It includes testimony from some of the men who experienced the expedition.

George and his brother Arthur were both held in Changi Prison, before being detached to 'A Force' in May 1943 - made up of approx. 3000 Australian POW's - and left Singapore by ship for Victoria Point, Mergui and Tavoy in Burma. They were then transported by train to Kendow (4 Kilo Camp) just south of Thanbyuzayat, to work on the Burma end of the Burma-Thailand Railway.

The bundle also has photocopied material from the Department of Veterans Affairs files of George Frank Dearden and Arthur Alexander Dearden.

A copy of the book "Village sermons, or, Short and plain discourses for the use of families, schools, and religious societies" by George Burder, published around 1838 by the Religious Tract Society in London.

The book has a handwritten inscription: "Presented to Isabella Macdonald as a mark of respect for her exemplary conduct during the voyage from London to Port Philip, by Benjamin King Johnston, Surgeon Superintendent of the emigrant ship Medway, August 1849". 

Isabella MacDonald (1820-1894) was the sister of Margaret Elizabeth McDonald (1838-1927), who married Daphne Dearden's great uncle Richard Holt (1837-1889).

A folder containing:

• One loose typed foolscap page explaining the family history of Margaret McDonald (1838-1927) and Richard Holt (1835-1889), grandparents of Daphne Dearden (nee Grant). The notes were probably typed by Daphne to explain the family tree to a niece;
• Handwritten genealogical notes about the family tree of Daphne's Dearden's father William MacRae Grant, glued into the cover of an exercise book; and
• A small memo book with the given title 'A brief family chronicle' which has handwritten details of marriages, births, deaths of family members, probably written by Daphne Dearden, beginning from 1935.

A folder of official papers related to the business and family affairs of E.B. Dearden. Papers include:

• Indenture papers for Murchison Tanksinking Company, 1938;
• Profit and loss accounts for Murchison Tank Sinking Company 1942-1944;
• Appointment of E.B. Dearden as attorney for his brother George Frank Dearden upon his enlistment for World War Two, and papers relating to G.F. Dearden's estate after his death in 1944;
• Profit and loss accounts for Aurifer Downs Station, 1947;
• Profit and loss accounts for Glenorina Station, 1947;
• A map showing Glenorina Station, 1947 (in OMCabinet);
• Title deed for a property in Toombul, 1932 (in Box 19541 O/S);
• Valuations of properties in 1971;
• Sale documents for Glenorina Station, 1976; and
• Correspondence relating to the estate of E.B Dearden after his death in 1977.

A folder of papers and correspondence related E.B. Dearden's activities with the United Graziers Association of Queensland, and the Graziers Association of Central & Northern Queensland.

Topics include wages and conditions for a range of agricultural workers including shearers, and circulars, newsletters and material related to the Australian Workers Union and industrial awards. 

Two folders of papers and correspondence, mostly between E.B Dearden and representatives of Winchcombe Carson Limited - wool brokers, stock and station agents, who also sold agricultural machinery.

Dearden wrote to his broker regularly to update him on the state of his crops, stock, rainfall and family happenings, and there are many letters from his broker regarding cattle, sheep and wool prices, sales, financial arrangements and machinery.

There are account statements over many years, showing the dealings of Aurifer Downs Station at Bungunya and Glenorina at Emerald. The folders also include papers relate to the financial dealings of the stations, including from Statham, Cheesman and Company accountants, and the Queensland National Bank.

Two folders of papers compiled by E.B. Dearden while he was a councillor and chair of the Emerald Shire Council.

Included are meeting minutes, newspaper clippings, travel itineraries, financial records, correspondence, invitations and the text of a pledge of loyalty to Her Majesty the Queen on her coronation day. There is material on the water supply for Emerald, road repairs, installation of road grids, local government association conferences, valuations and rates, and political ephemera. There is a small bundle of material related to adjacent council areas - Waggamba and Bauhinia Shire Councils.

A folder of papers and correspondence related to E.B. Dearden's activities with the Rural Fires Board, including annual reports, news bulletins, fire season planning, political ephemera related to fire management, and promotional material for firefighting equipment.

There is a certificate of registration for the Glenora Bush Fire Brigade, and a letter confirming the appointment of E.B. Dearden as Fire Warden of the district of Glenora.

Two folders of papers and correspondence compiled by E.B. Dearden relating to his involvement in the Central Highlands District Council of the Queensland Grain Growers Association.

There are annual reports, research reports, conference papers, financial records, newspaper clippings and minutes. Issues covered include quotas, transport and export facilities and insurance.

A folder of papers and correspondence related to E.B. Dearden's wheat growing activities and interactions with the State Wheat Board, including prices, transportation, weevil control and crop insurance.

Some correspondence is related to his time as President of the Central Highlands Grain Growers Association based in Emerald, and there are papers from the Wheat Delivery Quota Appeals Tribunal.

A folder of papers and correspondence related to E.B. Dearden's activities relating to sorghum growing.

There are advisory notes, news clippings, correspondence and reports from the Central Queensland Grain Sorghum Marketing Board.

There is a list of sorghum growers associated with the Grain Sorghum Marketing Board, correspondence with the Grain Sorghum Marketing Board, and with grain brokers in Sydney offering to trade the grain outside of the Board. Issues raised in the papers include transport logistics and costs, election of office bearers, payments, crop figures and administrative matters.

A folder of papers and correspondence, chiefly from Pacific Safflower (Australia), regarding contracts and arrangements for growing a commercial safflower crop.

A folder of papers and correspondence compiled by E.B. Dearden relating to his involvement in:

• Emerald Cooperative Society;
• Emerald Hospitals Board where he was a member of the Board;
• the Australian Country Party, where he was campaign director for the Barcoo Electorate Council in 1960; and
• the Central Highlands Locust Committee.  

A folder of correspondence related to Edgar and Daphne Dearden including:

• A letter from Frank Dearden to his son Edgar in 1906;
• A letter from 'Mack' to his wife, telling her about life at Aurifer Downs;
• A letter addressed to Richard Holt from H.M. Chaille of Eskdale Station, and a newspaper clipping reporting on the death of Richard Holt;
• A postcard to Daphne Grant from Robert;
• Several letters from Arthur Dearden and Frank Dearden to their family whilst they were serving overseas during the Second World War, some whilst they were prisoners-or-war. One letter from Alexander details how he was able to spend 6 days with Frank as he was dying of dysentery in the camp, with a description of his funeral; 
• Clothing coupons, ration cards, and identity cards for members of the Dearden family 1947-1948;
• Some material related to the death of Margaret Dearden, the daughter of Edgar and Daphne, who accidently drowned aged 7, in 1946;
• An aerogram to Edgar Dearden from 'Bill' in 1969 (possibly Edgar William, the eldest son of Edgar and Daphne); and
• A bundle of funeral notices for members of the Dearden family, including Edgar Dearden in 1977.                  

A folder of correspondence collected by Edgar Dearden, mostly related to his business interests. There are regular reports from the foreman of his tank-sinking business in the field, and reports from the manager of Glenorina Station. There is also some family letters, and some invitations to civic events in Goondiwindi.

A folder of correspondence collected by Edgar Dearden, mostly related to his business and station interests.

Included is a letterbook of copies of his handwritten letters dated between 1943-1964, and a bundle of loose correspondence. Topics in the letters include the wool price, water supplies, financial matters, farm machinery issues and reports from the manager of Glenorina Station. Some refer to the tank sinking business, crops, milking, rainfall, stock numbers and farm business conditions. There is a series of letters between Duncan  'Dun' Middleton with A.W. Eames and G.H Eames, and some letters of condolence to Mrs Middleton after the death of Duncan Middleton.

There are also family letters, and correspondence related to wills and land transfers.

A folder of correspondence collected by Edgar Dearden, mostly related to his business and station interests, and his letters to the editor of regional newspapers and local politicians.

Included is correspondence regarding rabbit control, operational matters at his stations such as crops and machinery, water supplies, a eulogy for Thomas William Mountain, station finances, the construction of a student hostel in Emerald, land valuations, and the building of an access road and cattle grid at Glenorina Station.

There are also papers relating to the Alexandria Masonic Lodge, and letters from solicitors regarding wills, estate matters and the transfer of land amongst members of the Dearden family.

A folder of legal correspondence collected by Edgar Dearden.

Much of the material relates to interactions between Edgar Dearden and his solicitors G.A. Anderssen and Company in Emerald. There is also letters from W.E. Vorpagel tax agents in Goondiwindi, and Evans and Hearn accountants in Rockhampton. The correspondence deals with issues such as the transfer of land between family members, taxation, disputes over accounts, inheritances and estate planning.

A folder of correspondence collected by Edgar Dearden, mostly related to mail and phone services.

The letters are concerned with the installation of a telephone line to stations owned by the Dearden family - Glenorina near Springsure, and Aurifer Downs near Goondiwindi. There are letters detailing the negotiated agreements for access and payments between neighbours and authorities, and technical specifications.

There is also a bundle of correspondence about the frequency and reliability of the Bungunya-Eaglebar mail service.

A folder of material mostly containing Edgar Dearden's correspondence with state and federal politicians.

Correspondents include Gordon Chalk, Frank Nicklin, A. R. Fletcher, John Gorton, N.E. Hewitt, Otto Madsen, Tom Foley, W.A. Rae and Henry McKechnie.

Topics include road building and alignments, land ballots, government buildings in Emerald, agricultural matters, Gindie state school, elections, land valuations, and shire council boundaries.