Finding aid to the Bell Family Papers<br />
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Summary information<br />
Reference code: <br />
OM80-76<br />
Title: <br />
Bell Family Papers<br />
Dates: <br />
1875-1940<br />
Creator: Bell Family<br />
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Abstract: <br />
Papers of the Bell family<br />
Extent and medium: 0.18 linear metres<br />
Location: Boxes 7227 and 9088.<br />
Repository: Heritage Collections<br />
State Library of Queensland<br />
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Biographical / Administrative history<br />
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Biographical history<br />

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Gertrude Augusta Norton was born on 30 June 1856, the eldest child of James Norton and his wife Harriet, nee Walker. Her Australian ancestors can be traced back to three families; the Nortons, the Walkers and the Blaxlands, who all arrived in Sydney during the early 1800’s from England. Her grandfather, James Norton Senior, arrived in Sydney in 1818 establishing a homestead at Elswick. He first forged his reputation as a lawyer in Sydney and later became a bank director at the Bank of Australia from 1826 to1843. In 1824, he married Jane McKenzie, the daughter of Alexander McKenzie. James Norton Junior (1836-1914), acquired Ecclesbourne in Double Bay, Sydney in 1859. Gertrude Bell sometimes visited her maternal grandparents, Thomas Walker (1791-1861) and his wife Anna, nee Blaxland.<br />

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Thomas Walker had arrived in Sydney in 1891 and built Rhodes House, on the Concord estate near Newington. Anna Blaxland’s father, John Blaxland (1769-1845) decided to emigrate with his younger brother Gregory and his wife Harriot, nee de Marquet in 1805. Blaxland was the first settler at Newington, which was granted to him by the New South Wales government. Gertrude’s mother died in 1860 when she was five and after that her relationship with her father became stronger. James Norton remarried on 31 December 1862 to Isabella Stephens. Gertrude missed her mother and could not easily warm to her new step-mother. As a young girl, Gertrude learnt French at school. She also practiced the piano.<br />

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On 24 July 1875, Gertrude married James Thomas Marsh Bell (1839-1903) a pastoralist and managing partner of Camboon Station together with Vincent Colville Hyde. In 1883 Bell and Hyde bought the 22 000-acre (8900 ha) freehold property, Coochin Coochin near Boonah in Queensland. Bell and Hyde introduced Hereford stud to the Dawson valley and sold much of the station to finance the move in 1895. The Bells had eight children, Bertram, Ernest, Francis, Victor, Una, Aileen, Enid and Mary. Gertrude’s two sons Bertram and Victor enlisted in the Royal Air Force at the start of World War I.<br />

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Gertrude also lived in England for some years to be closer to her two sons. While in England she wrote Sarabande, a novel set in Egypt. She also kept a journal throughout her life. Back in Australia Gertrude Bell published the novel 'Under the Brigalows' (Melbourne, 1921), set on an Australian cattle-station. Her daughter Enid (1904-?) followed in Gertrude’s footsteps and wrote much of the Bell family’s genealogy papers.<br />
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Content and structure<br />
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Scope and content<br />
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The collection contains the personal citizen documents of Gertrude Augusta Bell and ration books belonging to her daughters from their time in England during 1918, as well as letters addressed to James Thomas Marsh Bell from Vincent Hyde between 1875 to 1918. Also included are letters of appreciation to Gertrude Augusta Bell received on the publication of "Under the Brigalows" in 1921, and sympathy letters received by the Bell family on the death of Gertrude Augusta Bell in 1946. The collection includes a history of Jimbour estate and an ownership timeline of the Station from 1840 to 1953, as well as the Bell family history, written by Enid Bell. The papers further contain a Memorandum of Agreements for the cattle sold at Coochin, a biography of Gertrude Bell written by Enid Bell, and the family history of the Blaxlands, Nortons and Walkers, also written by Enid Bell.<br />
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System of arrangement<br />
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Arranged into 15 series<br />
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Conditions of access and use<br />
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Conditions governing access<br />
Unrestricted access<br />
Conditions governing reproduction<br />
For information on the copyright owner of this material, please contact Heritage Collections, State Library of Queensland.<br />
Preferred citation<br />
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[Item reference code], Bell Family Papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Australia.<br />
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Allied materials<br />
Finding aids<br />
A series and item list is available<br />
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Subjects<br />
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personal papers<br />
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Series<br />

Series: Permits, 1911-1916, <br />
OM80-76<br />
Creator: Bell, Gertrude Augusta<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 1 folder<br />
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Scope and content : <br />
A permit for Gertrude Bell allowing her to visit Egyptian monuments, identity documents issued by the Police during her stay in London, and a permit allowing Mrs Bell to travel within a military zone.<br />
System of arrangement : <br />
Chronological<br />
Finding aids : <br />
An item list is available<br />
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Item: Permit, 5 Sep 1916, <br />
OM80-76/2<br />
Creator: Metropolitan Police<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 27 pages<br />
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Location: Box 7227<br />
Scope and content : <br />
Permit book issued to Gertrude Bell on the 5 September 1916 allowing her to travel within the "special military area," to Inverness Fortress on the 28 September 1916.<br />
System of arrangement : <br />
Chronological<br />
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Item: Permit, 1911, <br />
OM80-76/1<br />
Creator: Service des Antiquites de l'Egypte<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 2 pages<br />
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Location: Box 7227Language / scripts of material :   French, Arabic and English<br />
Scope and content : <br />
A permit issued to Gertrude Bell allowing her to access certain Egyptian monuments.<br />
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Item: Certificate, 1915, <br />
OM80-76/3<br />
Extent and medium: Extent : 1 certificate<br />
Dimensions : 4 pages<br />
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Location: Box 7227<br />
Scope and content : <br />
A certificate issued to Gertrude Bell under the National Registration Act of 1915.<br />
System of arrangement : <br />
Chronological<br />
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Series: Ration books, 1918, <br />
OM80-76<br />
Creator: Bell Family<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 1 folder<br />
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Scope and content : <br />
Three ration books issued by the Ministry of Food in London to Gertrude Bell and her daughters Enid and Mary for the provision of food.<br />
System of arrangement : <br />
Chronological<br />
Finding aids : <br />
An item list is available<br />
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Item: Ration books, 15 Oct 1918, <br />
OM80-76/4<br />
Creator: Ministry of Food<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 11 pages<br />
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Location: Box 7227<br />
Scope and content : <br />
Three ration books issed by the Ministry of Food, Food Office of Westminster  to Gertrude Bell, Enid Bell and Mary Bell. During the first World War, Mrs Gertrude Bell and her daughters resided in England for a period. <br />
System of arrangement : <br />
Chronological<br />
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Series: Correspondence, 1875-1973, <br />
OM80-76<br />
Creator: Bell, Gertrude Augusta<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 3 folders<br />
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Scope and content : <br />
The letters discuss various matters pertaining to running a station, such as agricultural machinery, problems with flies, droughts, etc.<br />
System of arrangement : <br />
Chronological<br />
Finding aids : <br />
An item list is available<br />
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Item: Correspondence, 1875-1973, <br />
OM80-76/5<br />
Creator: Bell, Gertrude Augusta<br />
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Location: Box 9088<br />
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Series: Correspondence, 1862-1936, <br />
OM80-76<br />
Creator: Bell, Gertrude Augusta; Norton, James, 1836-1914<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 1 folder<br />
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System of arrangement : <br />
Chronological<br />
Finding aids : <br />
An item list is available<br />
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Item: Correspondence, 1862-1936, <br />
OM80-76/6<br />
Location: Boxes 7227, 9088<br />
Scope and content : <br />
 Letters mainly addressed to Mrs Gertrude Augusta Bell of Coochin Coochin station. from a variety of correspondents including her daughter Una and her nephew Peter. A few other letters are addressed to her daughters.<br />
System of arrangement : <br />
Chronological<br />
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Series: Correspondence, 1946, <br />
OM80-76<br />
Creator: Bell, Enid; Bell, Una; Bell, Aileen<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 1 folder<br />
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Scope and content : <br />
Letters of condolence on the occasion of Gertrude Augusta Bell's death in 1946. The letters are addressed to Gertrude's daughters Enid, Una and Aileen at Coochin Coochin.<br />
Finding aids : <br />
An item list is available<br />
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Item: Correspondence, <br />
OM80-76/7<br />
Creator: Bell, Enid; Bell, Una; Bell, Aileen<br />
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Location: Box 7227<br />
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Series: Correspondence, 1908-1973, <br />
OM80-76<br />
Creator: Bell, Enid<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 1 folder<br />
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Scope and content : <br />
A letter sent to Enid Bell.<br />
System of arrangement : <br />
Chronological<br />
Finding aids : <br />
An item list is available<br />
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Item: Correspondence, 2 Jan 1964, <br />
OM80-76/8<br />
Creator: Morrison, W. J<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 2 single sided pages<br />
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Location: Box 7227<br />
Scope and content : <br />
A letter written to Enid Bell from by W. J. Morrison of the International Bookshop, inquiring if she would be interested in having her book "Legends of the Coochin Coochin" republished. The letter provides a list of publishing houses which Morrison believes may be interested in publishing the book.<br />
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Series: Family papers, 1964, <br />
OM80-76<br />
Creator: Bell Family<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 3 folders<br />
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System of arrangement : <br />
None<br />
Finding aids : <br />
An item list is available<br />
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Item: Family papers, Undated, <br />
OM80-76/11<br />
Extent and medium: Extent : 2 single sided pages<br />
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Location: Box 9088<br />
Scope and content : <br />
An account of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's visit to Coochin.<br />
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Item: Family papers, Undated, <br />
OM80-76/10<br />
Creator: Unidentified<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 4 single sided pages<br />
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Location: Box 9088<br />
Physical characteristics and technical requirements : <br />
Photocopy<br />
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Item: Family papers, No date, <br />
OM80-76/12<br />
Extent and medium: Extent : 28 single sided pages<br />
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Location: Box 9088<br />
Scope and content : <br />
This history traces the fortunes of the owners of Jimbour from 1840 to 1953. Jimbour was first in possession of Richard Todd Scougall in 1840. The Bell and Sons partnership took over the management of the property in 1847. This Bell family was of no relation to the Bells of Coochin Coochin. In 1953 the Russell family became the managers of the Jimbour estate.<br />
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Item: Family papers, No date, <br />
OM80-76/9<br />
Creator: Bell, Enid<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 17 single sided pages<br />
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Location: Box 9088<br />
Scope and content : <br />
Part of Enid Bell's compilation of the history of Coochin Coochin Station. The essay explains the origin of the name Coochin Coochin, given to the area by the Ugarapul people.<br />
Physical characteristics and technical requirements : <br />
Fragile.<br />
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Series: Contracts, 1904-1915, <br />
OM80-76<br />
Creator: Bell, Enid<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 1 folder<br />
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Scope and content : <br />
Contracts, with accompanying correspondence, for the cattle sold at the Coochin Coochin Station.<br />
System of arrangement : <br />
Chronological<br />
Finding aids : <br />
An item list is available<br />
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Item: Contracts, 1904-1915, <br />
OM80-76/13<br />
Location: Box 9088<br />
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Series: Certificates, 1905, <br />
OM80-76<br />
Creator: Bell family<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 1 folder<br />
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Scope and content : <br />
A certificate of registration of dairy for the Coochin Coochin estate at Boonah under the Dairy Produce Act of 1904.<br />
Finding aids : <br />
An item list is available<br />
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Item: Certificate, 1905, <br />
OM80-76/14<br />
Extent and medium: Extent : 1 page<br />
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Location: Box 7227<br />
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Series: Financial records, 1909-1910, <br />
OM80-76<br />
Creator: Bell family<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 1 folder<br />
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Scope and content : <br />
Financial records for the sale of cattle from 1909 to 1910.<br />
Finding aids : <br />
An item list is available<br />
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Item: Account Sales, 1910, <br />
OM80-76/16<br />
Creator: Fenwick & Co<br />
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Location: Box 9088<br />
Scope and content : <br />
Account sales of cattle sold at auction by Fenwick & Co.<br />
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Item: Receipt, 1909, <br />
OM80-76/15<br />
Creator: Fenwick & Co<br />
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Location: Box 9088<br />
Scope and content : <br />
Sales records for cattle sold at auction by Fenwick & Co.<br />
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Series: Reports, Undated, <br />
OM80-76<br />
Creator: Bell, Enid<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 1 folder<br />
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Scope and content : <br />
A report about a lecture, given by Enid Bell, about the history of Coochin Coochin Station.<br />
Finding aids : <br />
An item list is available<br />
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Item: Report on a lecture by Enid Bell, No date, <br />
OM80-76/17<br />
Extent and medium: Extent : 1 page<br />
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Location: Box 7227<br />
Scope and content : <br />
A report on a lectrue delivered by Miss Ednid Bell at Newstead House on Tuesdaqy 16 Aug [undated] , about the history of her home, Coochin Coochin Station at Boonah.<br />
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Series: Specifications, Undated, <br />
OM80-76<br />
Creator: Bell, E. J.<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 1 folder<br />
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Scope and content : <br />
Specifications for fences at Coochin Coochin estate.<br />
Finding aids : <br />
An item list is available<br />
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Item: Specification, Undated, <br />
OM80-76/18<br />
Creator: Bell, E. J.<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 4 pages<br />
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Location: Box 9088<br />
Scope and content : <br />
Specifications for fences to be erected at Coochin Coochin estate.<br />
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Series: Permits, 1905, <br />
OM80-76<br />
Creator: Bell, Ernest<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 1 folder<br />
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Scope and content : <br />
Permit allowing Ernest Bell to transport his cattle to the Brisbane Showgrounds.<br />
Finding aids : <br />
An item list is available<br />
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Item: Permit, 25 Jul 1905, <br />
OM80-76/19<br />
Creator: Bell, Ernest<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 1 page<br />
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Location: Box 7227<br />
Scope and content : <br />
Permit allowing Ernest Bell to transport his cattle to the Brisbane Showgrounds.<br />
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Series: Diaries, 1862, <br />
OM80-76<br />
Creator: Norton, James, 1795-1862<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 1 folder<br />
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Scope and content : <br />
Diary entries written by James Norton about his work at Elswick homestead.<br />
System of arrangement : <br />
Chronological<br />
Finding aids : <br />
An item list is available<br />
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Item: Diary, 1862, <br />
OM80-76/20<br />
Creator: Norton, James, 1795-1862<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 7 pages<br />
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Location: Box 7227<br />
System of arrangement : <br />
Chronological<br />
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Series: Publications, 1912-1956, <br />
OM80-76<br />
Creator: Bell family<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 1 folder<br />
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Scope and content : <br />
Publications published between 1912 to 1956. They include the Coochin Stud Herefords aution catalogue and journal articles about the Bell family history.<br />
System of arrangement : <br />
Chronological<br />
Finding aids : <br />
An item list is available<br />
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Item: Publication, 1956, <br />
OM80-76/24<br />
Creator: Morgan, MacLeod H. A.<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 28 pages<br />
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Location: Box 7227<br />
Scope and content : <br />
Publication "Bell's Line of Road: The North Grose Route" by H.a. MacLeod Morgan, printed in 1956.<br />
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Item: Publication, 29 Oct 1935, <br />
OM80-76/21<br />
Creator: Houison, J. K. S.<br />
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Extent and medium: Extent : 40 pages<br />
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Location: Box 7227<br />
Scope and content : <br />
The publication "John and Gregory Blaxland" by J.K.S. Houison. A paper read before the Royal Australian Historical Society on 29 Oct 1935.  <br />
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Item: Publication, 24 Oct 1924, <br />
OM80-76/23<br />
Extent and medium: Extent : 11 pages<br />
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Location: Box 7227<br />
Scope and content : <br />
One pamphlet issued in connection with the sale of Coochin Stud Herefords at Boonah Show Grounds on Friday 24th October 1924. <br />
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Item: Publications, 1912-1956, <br />
OM80-76/21-24<br />
Extent and medium: Extent : 14 pages<br />
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Location: Box 7227<br />
Scope and content : <br />
Contains copies of the publications "Bell's Line of Road - The North Grose Route" by H.A. MacLeod Morgan, 1956; "John and Gregory Blaxland" by J.K.S. Houison [ paper read before the Royal Australian Historical Society, 29 Oct 1935;  "Th3e Nortons of Sussex (Eng.) and New South Wales" 1912; and a catalogue for a sale of Coochin Stud Herefords at the Boonah Show Grounds on Friday 24 Oct 1924.  <br />
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