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The State Library of New South Wales
The State Library of New South Wales (Mitchell Library) possesses the most extensive collection of materials relating to Lachlan Macquarie (1761 -1824) held anywhere in the world. These various papers, pictures, relics, and books of Lachlan Macquarie and his family have come to the Mitchell Library from various sources throughout the twentieth century. The three main sources include:
Macquarie letterbooks (1793 - 1822) and most of his journals (1807 - 1824) - acquired from Margaret, Viscountess Strathallan (widow of James David Drummond 10th Viscount Strathallan ) in January 1914;

All Lachlan Macquarie's Indian journals (1787 - 1807), [except one] and Elizabeth Macquarie's journal (1809) - acquired from Colonel Campbell of Jura, Argyllshire [descendant of Isabella Campbell, wife of Lachlan Macquarie Jnr.] in June 1914;

Macquarie manuscripts, relics, pictures and printed books - acquired from Charles Graham Campbell of Jura, Argyllshire [great nephew of Isabella Campbell, wife of Lachlan Macquarie Jnr.] between 1962 - 1976.

The Macquarie papers in the Mitchell Library are an invaluable record of aspects of the early history of Australia, as well as the broad sweep of British imperial ambitions in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. As personal memoirs these manuscripts also provide unique insights into the personalities and aspirations of Lachlan and Elizabeth Macquarie.

Macquarie University
The importance of the connections between Macquarie University and its namesake Lachlan Macquarie are reflected in a number of important ways:

  • Teaching Program of the University.

The staff of the School of History, Philosophy and Politics have been conducting undergraduate and postgraduate courses in early Australian history since the commencement of teaching at Macquarie University in 1967. Recent units of study have included:

HIST 109 The Making of Australia (Dr G. Parsons)

HIST 216 Aboriginal Australian History (P. Cavanagh)

HIST 217 Australia, Britain and the Empire, 1770 - 1870 (Prof. F. Clarke)

HIST 391 Gender and Criminality in Early Colonial Australia (Prof. P. Robinson)

MHPG 818 Documents in Early Australian History

MHPG 831 Topics in 18th and 19th Century British History: British Penal Theory and Practice

MHPG 839 The Making of Capitalism: New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, 1788 - 1850.

MHPG 840 Australian Religious History 1788 -1950

  • Academic and Postgraduate Research programs, including the publication of specialist works examining Australia's colonial origins and the period of Macquarie's governorship (1810 - 1821).
  • Educational and Cultural Heritage Role of The Lachlan Macquarie Room (located in the University Library).

The Lachlan Macquarie Room is a complete historical reconstruction of the parlour room from Lachlan Macquarie's house on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. It contains the original timber panelling, doors, windows, shutters and fireplace installed in the house by Elizabeth Macquarie c.1824.

They were given to the University in 1965 by the owner of Gruline House, Mr E. J. Mather to help commemorate the links between Scotland and the newly established Macquarie University. The Bank of NSW (now Westpac) provided financial assistance for the conservation and transport of the parlour room to Australia and it was eventually installed in the University Library in 1978.

There is an adjoining display area explaining the history of the house and estate, and providing biographical details of the Macquarie family, as well as a display of selected objects that were owned by, or related, to Lachlan Macquarie. These include:

  • the University Chancellor's Chair (made by convict artisans for Macquarie)
  • a book from Macquarie's personal library
  • a porcelain serving platter from the Macquarie's dinner service
  • a 17th century map of Mull
  • a replica of the regimental colours of the 73rd Regiment of Foot (Black Watch)

Robin Walsh, the curator of the Lachlan Macquarie Room, travelled to Scotland in 1996 and 2005 to research the history of the house and estate. The resulting findings have been progressively added to The Lachlan Macquarie Room website.

They were also made available in a public exhibition entitled: If These Walls Could Speak which was held in the University Library (12 August - 7 September 1997).


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