Bonwick Transcripts, 1641-1892, being a collection of transcripts from material mainly in the Public Records Office, London, and from other sources relating to New South Wales and Australia, transcribed by James Bonwick and assistants, 1887-1902

BT 1-88/Series 1
BT 1-120/Series 2
BT 1-36/Series 3

fonds

1641-1892, transcribed 1887-1902

Textual Records, Cartographic Materials

909915

MicrofilmRefer to Contents for location numbers

36.9 metres of textual material (246 boxes)

James Bonwick (1817-1906) began examining historical records of Australian interest in London in 1884, and in 1887 he was authorised by the New South Wales Colonial Secretary, Sir Henry Parkes, to transcribe Governors' despatches he had discovered. In 1888 he was appointed Archivist and until 1902 continued to compile what became known as the Bonwick Transcripts. These handwritten transcripts of records, mainly from the British Colonial Office in the Public Records Office, NSW Colonial Secretary's office in Sydney, and from some in private hands, were used in the Historical Records of New South Wales (1892-1901) and Historical Records of Australia (1914-1926).

The Trustees of the Public Library of New South Wales had always been interested in this work; for some years before their publication ceased, the editor of the Historical Records of New South Wales, F. M. Bladen, was attached to the staff of the Public Library, and was Principal Librarian from 1907 to January 1912. The Bonwick Transcripts were transferred to the Mitchell Library when it was founded in 1910.

References:
Compiled from the collection
Report of the Trustees of the Public Library of New South Wales, 1949

SERIES 1: Bigge - Evidence and appendix, 1787-1823, transcribed 1887-1902

SERIES 2: Documents reprinted in Historical Records of Australia, and other documents

James Cook, 1698-1806
BT 1-BT 3B
BT 2 (Request Microfilm: CY 2588)

Phillip etc., 1780-1830 and oddments to 1846
BT 4A-BT 114A (BT 40 omitted in error)
BT 4A (Request Microfilm: CY 2361, frames 1-242)
BT 4B (Request Microfilm: CY 2361, frames 243-606)

Tasmania, 1803-1804
BT 115

Tasmania, Dec. 1813-
BT 116-BT 118

North Australia, 1823-1827
BT 119

Records of births, deaths, marriages; pardons etc., 1803-1823
BT 120 (Request Microfilm: CY 1379)

SERIES 3: Documents reprinted in Historical Records of Australia

Historical Records of Australia, Series I Volume 4
BT 1-BT 4

Historical Records of Australia, Series I Volume 9
BT 5-BT 8

Historical Records of Australia, Series I Volume 10
BT 9-BT 12

Historical Records of Australia, Series I Volume 11
BT 13-BT 17

Historical Records of Australia, Series I Volume 12
BT 18-BT 21

Historical Records of Australia, Series I Volume 13
BT 22-BT 25

Historical Records of Australia, Series I Volume 14
BT 26-BT 30

Historical Records of Australia, Series I Volume 15
BT 31-BT 33

Historical Records of Australia, Series IV Volume 1
BT 34-BT 36