Illuminated address presented to Edward W. Knox, Esq., the General Manager of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company Limited, for fifty years service, 1864 to 1914; photograph and printed material; and wooden box, 1894-1928, 1956

PXE 1022
XR 72

fonds

1894-1928, 1956

Graphic Materials, Textual Records, Objects, Photographs, Watercolours

881144

Album (1 watercolour, 39 photographs) - 29.5 x 37.5 cm
1 photograph - image 14.5 x 20.7 cm, in mount 22.7 x 27.9 cm - albumen
1 folder of textual material - printed, photocopies
1 box - approx. 21 x 62 x 55 cm - wood, interior base lined with velvet

Sir Edward Knox (1819-1901) founded the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. in 1855 and was the company's first chairman of directors. He handed the general management of the company over to his second son Edward William in 1880, but remained chairman until 1901. In June 1844 he married Martha, sister of William Rutledge.

Edward William Knox (1847-1933) joined C.S.R. in April 1864 as a junior clerk. He was appointed general manager of the company in 1880, becoming chairman and managing director in 1920. He resigned as managing director in December 1932, and resigned from the board of C.S.R in February 1933. He married Edith, daughter of J. S. Willis in 1878.

Reference:
Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Edition
http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/
(accessed 20 January, 2010)

PXE 1022
Collection comprises a presentation album, photograph, and printed material.

ITEM 1
A presentation album (20 pages), ca. 1914, of brown suede embossed with the letters "EWK" on front cover, containing an illuminated address, the signatures of staff of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company Ltd., and an album of views showing the company's operations. The inside covers and edges and back of pages are of Moire silk.

Illustrative title page features a watercolour and ink sketch of a tropical scene, with an inset of the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. Ltd. Head Office at 1 O'Connell Street, Sydney.
All items in album (except Item no. 1) are photographs surrounded on pages by watercolour and ink sketches of scenes including water views, landscapes, tropical scenery, sugar cane plantations, canecutters, sugar cane or flora.

Address reads:
"Dear Sir,
In a few weeks you will complete the long period of fifty years service with this Company, the greater part of it in the position of General Manager.
We had hoped to meet you on the occasion to offer our congratulations, but as you are about to depart on a visit to Europe, we take this earlier opportunity of expressing our gratification that you have been able to continue so long to discharge the onerous duties of your position.
The success and development of the Company's business under your direction have been remarkable, and in the achievement of this result it may give you pleasure to know that you have had the high esteem and loyalty of your Staff.
We ask you to accept the accompanying Album of Views, illustrative of the Company's extensive operations, and would request that to commemorate your Jubilee of Service you will also accept from us a portrait of yourself to be executed by some eminent artist in England.
We wish you a pleasant voyage and a safe return, and trust that you may be spared to enjoy many years of health and happiness.
We are, Yours sincerely"

Album of views:
1. Harbour view with inset of Old Refinery, Sydney [Colonial Sugar Company, Chippendale], watercolour and ink drawing
2. S.S. "Fiona"
3. Pyrmont Refinery, Sydney
4. Raw Sugar Store, Yarraville
5. Yarraville
6. Chelsea, Auckland
7. Water Supply [Auckland]
8. New Farm Refinery
9. Glanville Refinery, Adelaide
10. Freemantle [i.e. Fremantle?] Offices
11. Harwood Mill
12. Launch with cane
13. Cane Cutters
14. Broadwater Mill
15. Cane Grab
16. Condong Mill
17. Condong Mill, Caneflume
18. Isis Scrub, Childers Mill, Q. [Queensland]
19. Crushing Engine, Childers
20. Cane Carrier, Childers Mill
21. Sugar Floor [Childers]
22. Homebush Mill, Mackay, Q. [Queensland]
23. Managers House, Victoria Mill, Q. [Queensland]
24. Victoria Mill
25. Macknade Mill, Herbert River, Q. [Queensland]
26. Scrub-land, Macknade Mill, Herbert River, Q. [Queensland]
27. Goondi Mill, Johnstone River, Q. [Queensland]
28. Load of cane, Johnstone River, Q. [Queensland]
29. Mulgrave River, Cairns, N. Queensland
30. Canefields, Hambledon Mills, Cairns
31. Hambledon Mills, Cairns, Q. [Queensland]
32. Nausori Mill, Fiji
33. Cutting Cane, Rarawai, Fiji
34. Rarawai Mill, Ba River, Fiji
35. Labasa Mill, Fiji
36. Lautoka Mill, Fiji
37. Crushing Station, Lautoka Mill, Fiji
38. Vacuum Pans, Lautoka Mill, Fiji
39. Sigatoka Bridge
40. Na Roro Bluff, Sigatoka, Fiji

Presentation album originally housed in wooden presentation box at call number XR 72.

ITEM 2
Photograph of Sir Edward Knox Golden Wedding presentation plate, 1844-1894

ITEM 3
Printed booklet of the Presentation to Mr and Mrs E.W. Knox to commemorate their Golden Wedding, 1928 (8 pages).
Contains an account of the presentation and images of 1 O'Connell Street, Sydney, the Company's Offices in 1905, portraits of Mr and Mrs E.W. Knox, and presentation of the portraits to Mr and Mrs Knox in 1928.

ITEM 4
Photocopies of Colonial Sugar Refining Company Ltd. correspondence relating to the acquisition and display of the illuminated address, 1956 (3 pages)

XR 72
Rectangular wooden presentation box of silky oak (Grevillea robusta) with hinged lid and four feet fashioned from wood-carved gumnuts. Wooden carved waratahs are applied on each corner of the box. An inscribed metal plaque is on on top of the box. The interior base of the box is finished in a blue velvet. Key to box attached to a keyring engraved with "C.S.R. TL [Technical Library] 19". Presentation album at PXE 1022 originally housed in this box.

Access via appointment - Applies to wooden presentation box at XR 72

Out of copyright: Applies to photographs created before 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Title taken from album

All items at PXE 1022 were housed in the presentation box (XR 72) when presented to the Library.

Published account of the proceedings at the presentation to E.W. Knox for fifty years service:
Account of the proceedings at the presentation to E. W. Knox, Esq.
Sydney, N.S.W. : John Sands, 1914

Album illuminated by John Sands Limited, Sydney

Album contains signatures of staff of Colonial Sugar Refining Co. Ltd. from Head Office and Pyrmont, Melbourne, Yarraville, Auckland, Adelaide, Brisbane, Freemantle [i.e. Fremantle?], Harwood, Broadwater, Condong, Homebush, Victoria, Goondi, Childers, Hambledon, Macknade, Labasa, Rarawai, Nausori, Lautoka and Sigatoka.

Photograph of Sir Edward Knox Golden Wedding presentation plate, 1844-1894 - back of mount is stamped "The Colonial Sugar Refining Coy. Ltd. Technical Library"

Metal plaque on top of wooden presentation box is inscribed:
"Presented to Edward W. Knox, Esq., February 1914, Sydney"