Guide 3 to NSW State Archives relating to Responsible Government - OCR - Flipbook - Page 153
A Guide to New South Wales State Archives relating to Responsible Government
hand over Garden Island to the Commonwealth in exchange for
the Victoria Barracks site, 1913 and 1935; and transfer to the
Government of the Commonwealth of Australia of the interests of
the State of New South Wales in Garden Island, Admiralty House
and other properties (commencing 1913).
Most of the file, however, relates to a running dispute between the
State and the Commonwealth about the ownership of, as well as
payment for, two ex-Imperial properties — Garden Island and
Admiralty House. The New South Wales Cabinet decided in 1935
that Admiralty House, and its grounds, would be transferred to the
Commonwealth free of charge for use as the official residence in
New South Wales of the Governor General on the basis that the
Commonwealth undertook to re-transfer the property to the
Government of New South Wales if required should it cease to be
used for the specific purposes abovementioned. Subject to
modifications the Commonwealth accepted the offer made in
January 1936.
Ownership of Garden Island was finally determined by the Privy
Council on 29 January 1929. The Council affirmed the previous
judgment of the High Court, that the respondent State, ie New
South Wales, was entitled to possession of Garden Island. The
question of ownership having been determined the only questions
outstanding became the terms and conditions of occupancy of
Garden Island by the Commonwealth, or alternatively the terms
and conditions of the transfer or sale of Garden Island to the
Commonwealth.
Among the papers are the following: reports on the proposed
transfer to the Commonwealth of naval properties in and adjacent
to Sydney Harbour (eg Garden Island; Admiralty House; Spectacle
Island; the Royal Navy Victualling Store, Darling Island; "Tresco",
the Flag Captain's Residence; Man-of-war steps, breakwater etc);
valuations of properties; 1889 printed Parliamentary papers: Naval
Depot (Correspondence respecting erection of buildings at Garden
Island and Woolloomooloo Bay, and as to Sydney being head
naval depot of Her Majesty's Ships in the Pacific) comprising
papers from 1885 to 1889; 1867 printed Parliamentary papers:
Garden Island (Correspondence, etc, respecting dedication of)
comprising papers 1859-66; Order in Council of 26 October 1899,
the New South Wales Military Lands Order in Council 1899,
relating to the transfer of certain military lands, works and
buildings in New South Wales from the Imperial to the Colonial
Government; copy of the Memorandum of Transfer under the Real
Property Act of the land comprising Admiralty House to Her
Majesty the Queen; an undated manuscript booklet or report
Garden Island - Transfer to Commonwealth Government. History
of Negotiations; and, reports of the committee appointed to
consider the question of transfer of the Garden Island property to
the Commonwealth: draft report 1943, the final report 14 May
1943, and further report January 1944.
Also included are various plans such as those of: Garden Island;
Victoria Barracks, Paddington; Woolloomooloo and Farm Cove
anchorages; the City of Sydney showing the Military Reserve at
Fort Phillip; "Barrack Square", Parramatta; and, of the Admiralty
House grounds, North Sydney.
State Records Authority of New South Wales
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