Lachlan Macquarie's Chair: History, Continued

History of the Chairs Continued: The University Chair

The University decided that the chair would be best used for ceremonial purposes, in particular by the University Chancellor. In fact, it is now officially referred to as the "Chancellor's Chair" and is a central feature on the dais at every graduation ceremony enacted at the University.

In 1969, restoration work was carried out by craftsmen in Sydney. Some repair work to the chair frame and timber carving was necessary, as well as re-polishing, and the replacement of the upholstery. It was established that the fur upholstery on the inside panels was in fact grey kangaroo, and consequently must have been original to the chair. However, given the age and brittleness of the skin, there was no choice but to replace it.

The photograph of the chair that was taken in Canada in the 1930s (and now held in the Macquarie University Archives) is interesting on two further counts. Firstly, there appears to be a small black shield set in the back of the chair; however there is no further trace or recollection of this. Secondly, the chair is sitting upon metal castors; these have now been removed.

In 1971, the chair was made available to the National Trust of Australia for use during the Official Opening of Old Government House at Parramatta by Her Majesty the Queen (30 April). In 1989, it was lent to the Art Gallery of South Australia for use in their "Great Australian Art Exhibition" (23 May 23 - 16 July 16). At all other times, from 1972 - 1990, the chair was located in the University's Council Room.

A decision was taken in 1990 to relocate the chair to the University Library, where it could be placed on display inside the Lachlan Macquarie Room,the reconstructed parlour room from Macquarie's house on the Isle of Mull. This would not only re-establish the connection between the chair and Gruline House, but also help to regulate the amount of humidity and the levels of light that it was exposed to.

In 1991 restoration work was carried out by Mr. Julian Bickersteth. The following year he published a description of his work and his assessment of the two chairs in the journal Australiana. This journal article is an invaluable entry point into the history of the chairs, and the role of the convict artisans William Temple and John Webster in their construction. However, Mr Bickersteth is incorrect in his assertion that only one chair was taken to Canada (as discussed previously) and that this one was subsequently acquired by the Museum of Appled Arts and Sciences while the second one remained in Scotland. The same assertion was made by Ann Watson, Curator of Furniture and Woodwork at the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney, in the journal Craft Australia in 1984. We now know that both chairs were shipped to Canada at the turn of the twentieth century.

Additional restoration work and some minor repairs were carried out by specialists at International Conservation Services Pty Ltd (Sydney) in September 2000. At this time, as the leather upholstery on the seat of chair was in need of replacement, the decision was made to replace it with kangaroo fur. As a consequence, all sides of the chair now have matching fur surfaces. This decision was based upon the evidence of the original upholstery on the Powerhouse Museum chair, which would appear to have been originally upholstered in kangaroo fur. This means that the University chair now has kangaroo fur on the inner back and outer sides dating from 1969, and fur on the seat and inner sides dating from 2000.

After further restoration work in 2006 a decision was made by the University to discontinue the practice of using the chair as part of every University graduation ceremony held throughout the academic year. This decision will help to ensure that the chair is preserved for future generations to enjoy. It has now been placed on permament public exhibition in the University Library in the display area adjacent to The Lachlan Macquarie Room.

Return to: Macquarie Chair

Sources
Archival & Mss Sources
Macquarie University Archives: RS330 (Box 451 S11/B2)
Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Museum Archives

Published Primary Sources
James Atkinson. An Account of the State of Agriculture and Grazing in New South Wales. Sydney: Sydney University Press, 1975 [facsimile edition]. First published London, J. Cross, 1826.
The Evidence of the Bigge Reports; New South Wales under Governor Macquarie. Selected and edited by John Ritchie. Melbourne: Heinemann, 1971 2 vols.

Secondary Sources
Australian Furniture: Pictorial History and Dictionary 1788-1938. Compiled by Kevin Fahy and Andrew Simpson. Sydney: Casuarina Press, 1999.
Bickersteth, Julian. "The Three Macquarie Chairs." Australiana Vol.14 Pt. 1 February 1992 pp.11-14.
Clifford, Craig, Fahy, Kevin, and Robertson, E. Graeme. Early Colonial Furniture in New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land. Melbourne: Georgian House, 1972.
Crosbie, R.A. "Clandestine Furniture in the Macquarie Era." Australiana Vol.15 No.1 February 1993 pp.14-20.
Fahy, Kevin, Simpson, Christine, and Simpson, Andrew. Nineteenth Century Australian Furniture. Darlinghurst: David Ell Press, 1985.
Hook, Elizabeth. Journey to a New Life: the story of the ships 'Emu' in 1812 and 'Broxbornebury' in 1814, including Crew, Female Convicts and Free Passengers on board. Minto, NSW: Privately Printed, 2000. (See entry: 'Jane Jones (c.1795-1868)' pp. 80-81 for details regarding John Nehemiah Webster.)
Watson, Ann. "Governor Macquarie's Armchair." in Decorative Arts and Design From The Powerhouse Museum (ed.) Elizabeth Bilney. Sydney: Powerhouse Publishing, 1991 p.54.
Watson, Ann. "The Macquarie Chair - a Well-Travelled Piece of History", Craft Australia Spring 1984, Issue 3, pp. 69 - 71.

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