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Royal Commission for the Improvement of the City of Sydney and its Suburbs, 1908-1909

Description

Unique IDAS-0534DateBetween 1st January 1908 and 1st January 1909Date qualifiercircaFormatMapShort descriptionThis series consists of the report of the Royal Commission for the Improvement of the City of Sydney and its suburbs, 1908-1909 and sketches, plans and maps drawn by GD McDuff of proposed and recommended schemes.DescriptionThis series consists of the report of the Royal Commission for the Improvement of the City of Sydney and its suburbs, 1908-1909 and items drawn by GD McDuff, an Engineer and Lithographic Draftsman, which were photolithographed by the Government Printer. The items consist of sketches and maps (called plans) of proposed and recommended schemes submitted to the Royal Commission on Sydney Improvement. The schemes include treatment of Sydney City, Belmore Park, Circular Quay, railways and tunnels. The series was compiled by City Surveyors Department (AG-0087). Some content in the attachments dates to 1902.

The Royal Commission

The Royal Commission was an initiative of the Lord Mayor, Thomas Hughes, a businessman, Lord Mayor of Sydney and a Member of the Legislative Council. In January 1909, Hughes recommended Council invite the government to appoint a Royal Commission to enquire into the subject of improvements to Sydney.

The Premier agreed and a Commission was established on 14 May 1908 to investigate all proposals for the improvement of the City of Sydney and its suburbs, and to fully inquire into the whole subject of the remodelling of Sydney.

The Lord Mayor Thomas Hughes was appointed head of the eleven-member Commission. Other members included Edmund Walcott Fosbery, Henry Gorman, James Graham, Robert Rowan Purdon Hickson, James Sinclair Taylor McGowen, Edward William O’Sullivan, Ernest Alfred Scott, Norman Selfe, James Wall, and John Wheeler.

The Commissioners held 90 meetings, carried out site inspections, collected 40 witness statements and collated reports from other cities.

The final report was released on 25 June 1909. 40 recommendations were made, the majority relating to road and transport improvements such as an underground electric railway, recommendations for street changes and extensions. The Commission also inquired into beautification of the city, slum areas and housing reform, and future growth of the city. It recommended a new Building Act and enhanced municipal town planning and conservation controls.

Reference
Some of this text is drawn from notes by Robert Freestone, University of New South Wales, 2009 and Museums of History, Agency registration AGY-4935.
Relationship summaryRELATED TO: Membership of external committees AY-0090 (01/01/1908 to 01/01/1909)
RELATED TO: Planning for public spaces AY-0031 (01/01/1908 to 01/01/1909)
RELATED TO: Strategic town planning AY-0030 (01/01/1908 to 01/01/1909) LanguageEnglish (eng)

Access

Public access statusRestricted original (digital copy available)

Identification and Arrangement

Source system ID534System of arrangementSingle number

Digitisation

Digitisation statusFully digitised

Data Quality

Authenticity & integrityThese plans formed part of the Royal Commission report. The records have been held in the Council’s custody and have a high level of authenticity.

Relationships

OrganisationRoyal Commission for the Improvement of the City of Sydney and its Suburbs, 1908-1909Creating agenciesCity Surveyor's DepartmentRelated activitiesStrategic town planningPlanning for public spacesMembership of external committees

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Royal Commission for the Improvement of the City of Sydney and its Suburbs, 1908-1909