Donald Mountfort papers, ca. 1924 - 1991

MLMSS 8531/Boxes 1-8
MLMSS 8531/Boxes 9X-10X

fonds

ca. 1924 -1991

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Clippings, Ephemera, Photographs

411607

2.24 metres of textual material and graphic material (8 boxes, 2 outsize boxes)

Donald Mountfort came to Australia from Buckley in North Wales in 1924 as part of the 'Dreadnought' immigration scheme for British boys. In response to the growing German Naval power and presence in the Pacific during the early years of the 20th century, the Lord Mayor initiated a public appeal to buy a battleship for the Royal Navy. The name of this class of battleship was Dreadnought. Within months of the fund coming into being the Federal government decided to create its own Royal Australian Navy. Part of the money which had been raised was used to promote and assist the migration of youths from Great Britain. On arrival in Sydney the 'Dreadnought boys' were sent to government run farms at Yanco, Cowra, Arrawatta, Glen Innes, Grafton, and Wollongbar. More than half the migrants went to Scheyville near Pitt Town. At the farms agricultural skills were taught and after about three months the boys were sent to any farms in the state requesting labour. The first Dreadnought boys arrived in 1911 but was halted during the First World War, and resumed in 1921. In 1930 migration to New South Wales was stopped because of the Depression. On arrival, Donald Mountfort worked for over 12 years on dairy farming and sheep stations and developed an interest in radio repair. In 1945, Mountfort opened a shop in Maroubra selling radios and electrical appliances and a gas appliance agency. He later moved premises to Anzac Parade, Kingsford adding gramophone records and televisions to his stock. Later in life, Mountfort became a keen gemologist and lapidary worker supplying related materials in his shop. He also wrote short stories, poems and his autobiography, ‘From farm boy to leading Radio Man’ published in 1991.

Reference:
Compiled from the collection

Donald Mountfort papers, ca. 1924 – 1991, consisting mainly of business, administrative and accounting records, photographs and advertising material relating to Mountfort’s radio and electrical appliance shops in Maroubra and Kingsford. Also includes significant personal reference papers, including correspondence and photographs relating to Mountfort’s life and a long sequence of correspondence with politicians.

BOX 1
Creditors ledger, 1962-1971, Stock ledger books, 1948 and 1945-1955, Radio sales ledger book, 1945-1955

BOX 2
Daily sales register book, 1946-1952, Radio Station Log book including newspaper clippings, 1947-1949, Television sales book, 1936-1963, Accounts book, 1947-1950, Cash book, 1970-1973

BOX 3
Cash book ledger, 1964-1966, Newspaper clippings and journal articles related to domestic electrical appliances, 1950’s and 1960’s, radio business graphs of sales, purchases, gross profit and wages, 1946-1962, Refrigerators note book, 1950-1953, sales record graphs, 1948-1949, first account book for Maroubra business, 1945, cost book, 1945-1962, business address and contact file ca. 1945-1965

BOX 4
Folder of references used in the compilation of ‘From farm boy to leading Radio Man’, by Donald Mountford, 1991, photographs of Maroubra shop interiors, ca. 1945-1965 , Daily summary book, 1956-1957, Cash book, 1952-1956

BOX 5
Creditors ledger Television, 1956-1958, Purchase journal, 1974-1978, Purchases, 1947-1952, Purchase journal, 1966-1969, Cash book, 1962-1966, Radio sales book, 1955-1964, Business suppliers, List of buyers, newspaper clippings and miscellaneous business papers.

BOX 6
Purchases book, 1978-1980, Purchases book, 1971-1974, Purchases book, 1969-1971, Accounts book, 1972-1978, loose business papers, 1946-1962, correspondence with politicians, 1960-1985

BOX 7
Correspondence with politicians, 1960-1985, Television sales, 1956-1959, cash book, 1966-1970, cash book, 1973-1978, bad debts, 1957-1967, folder of photographs mainly of Mountfords shop interiors and window displays in Maroubra, ca. 1945-

BOX 8
Folders of references used in the compilation of ‘From farm boy to leading Radio Man’, by Donald Mountfort, 1991.

BOX 9X
Oversize Sales book, 1945-1947, wages books, 1950-1982, oversize customer address book, 1950-1959

BOX 10X
Wages books, 1950-1982, invoices and receipts, ca. 1976-1982, shop advertising and display cards

Copyright status:: In copyright
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords Project 2011-2012