1. NRS 897: Main series of letters received, 1788-1826 98 vols, 1 bundle

In addition to letters from Government officials and private individuals, this series includes copies of agreements, despatches, general orders, instructions, ordinary regulations, proclamations, memoranda, reports and returns.
Also included are letters received from settlements such as Bathurst, Moreton Bay, Newcastle, Port Macquarie and Van Diemen's Land.

2. NRS 898: Special Bundles, 1794-1825

3. NRS 899: Memorials to the Governor, 1810-26 40 vols, 1 box

These are, for the most part, applications for land grants, leases and Tickets of Occupation but also include requests relating to other matters such as applications for assigned convicts or to be victualled from the Stores. Memorials frequently contain some background history or other details to support the applicant's case.
The arrangement of the Memorials is roughly alphabetical.

4. NRS 900: Petitions to the Governor from convicts for mitigation of sentences, 1810-26 30 vols, 1 box

These are principally petitions from convicts, or from family members or other persons on their behalf, for some mitigation of sentence such as a ticket of leave or a pardon. These documents often contain information as to the convict's general conduct and history including the name of the ship of arrival, colonial employment and family details.
The arrangement of the Petitions is roughly alphabetical.

5. NRS 938, Copies of letters sent and received, mainly within the Colony, or "Document Books Nos.1-3", c.1817-Oct 1827 3 vols

For description see NRS 938 in the Inventory of Series.

1. NRS 905, Main Series, 1826-1982 c.6885 boxes

Earlier letters on a particular subject are located with the last letter on the subject and arranged:

• 1826-32 by Registered Number;
• 1833-49 in Subject Bundles (usually according to the last person who wrote on the matter);
• 1850-1982 by Registered Number.

2. NRS 906, Special Bundles, 1826-1982

It is suggested that a reader interested in a particular subject use this list first as many papers on important matters were extracted from the main series and became special bundles. The majority are registered but some non-registered material is also included.

3. NRS 907, Letters from individuals re Land, 1826-56 227 boxes, 2 bundles

The papers include letters from individuals, memoranda, reports, applications and petitions relating to the grant, purchase, rent or lease of land in the Colony. Also included are papers relating to such matters as disputes over ownership, use or boundaries of land between two or more parties.

They are arranged alphabetically by the person's name whose land is in question, or by partnerships of one or more persons. The letters are registered but due to the arrangement it is usually unnecessary to consult the Indexes and Registers. 

A list of persons writing has been compiled by State Archives and copies of this list are available in the reading room and on the website.

Letters re land for institutions and churches are listed with the Special Bundles.

4. NRS 908, Plays submitted for approval prior to being performed, 1842-56

In accordance with an Act of the Governor in Council, 9 George IV No.14, entitled An Act for regulating places of public exhibition and entertainment (1 September 1828) copies of plays were submitted to the Colonial Secretary for approval prior to being performed. He retained these copies in his office for reference if necessary. Originally the plays were with the covering letters but they have been removed and placed at SZ numbers for greater security.
Registers of licences granted under this act can be found at [4/1710] (January 1829-September 1844) and [4/5784] (October 1844-April 1863). A microfilm copy of the latter volume is available at  Reel 2231.

View the item list »

5. NRS 909, Governor's and Colonial Secretary's Minutes and Memoranda, 1826-1927

These form a separate series but have a close relationship with the in-letters with cross-referencing in the Registers of each.

Some Minutes for 1826-1927 are connected to registered in-letters and put away with them. Others are put away in minute number order in a separate bundle for each year, and have been shelved together [4/983-1072].
The 1870-1915 Minutes are in separate bundles shelved with the registered in-letters of each year.

After 1915 minutes were connected to correspondence and not put away separately.

Registers:

1. NRS 910, Registers of Minutes and Memoranda, 1826 - 17 Aug 1927 ([4/1074-80, 4/6987-88]; microfilm copy Reels 2725-2727).
2. NRS 911, Register of Governor's Memoranda received, 2 Jan 1826 - 22 Jul 1829 ([4/6666B.1]; microfilm copy Reel 2725)
3. NRS 912, Register of Governor's Minutes received, 13 Jan 1826 - 22 Jul 1829 ([4/1073]; microfilm copy Reel 2725)

View the item list »

6. Commissioners of Claims, 1832-55

1. NRS 913, Memorials forwarded by the Commissioners of Claims, 1832-42. 22 boxes
2. NRS 914, Reports of the Commissioners of Claims, c.1835-55. 24 boxes

Registers:

1. NRS 917, Register of Memorials 1-970 received by the Commissioners of Claims appointed under 4 Will. IV no.9, 20 Dec 1833 - 15 Apr 1835, NRS 917 ([X13]; microfilm copy Reel 1420. 1 vol
2. NRS 915, Register of Blank Cover references to Commissioners of Claims, 1837-44, NRS 915 [2/2170-71]. 2 vols
3. NRS 916, Register of Blank Cover references to Commissioners of Claims (New Zealand), 1840-41, NRS 916 [4/3972]. 1 vol
4. NRS 2675, Registers of Cases Nos.1-1549 ([2/2369-71]; microfilm copy Reel 1249). 3 vols

7. Telegrams

1. NRS 1008, Copies of telegrams from the Agents General for New South Wales in London, 11 Aug   1873 - 24 Jan 1908 [4/3973-82, 4/3989]. 11 vols

Occasionally other official correspondence is included, ie in [4/3973-74]. From about 1885 some of the telegrams are coded and translations are attached. The volume located at [4/3989] consists of 'Treasury cables' relating to overseas loans, tenders, bills of exchange received and discounted, and similar financial matters.

• [4/3978-82] are indexed in the front of each volume.
• [4/3973] 11 Aug 1873 - 14 Mar 1878
• [4/3974] 20 Apr 1878 - 21 Jun 1881
• [4/3975] 3 Jan 1882 - 12 Mar 1884
• [4/3976] 19 Mar 1884 - 18 Jun 1885
• [4/3977] 29 May 1885 - 12 Jul 1887
• [4/3978] 22 Jul 1887 - 20 Jun 1890
• [4/3979] 23 Jun 1890 - 15 Apr 1893
• [4/3980] 20 Apr 1893 - 2 Jul 1896
• [4/3981] 1 Jul 1896 - 17 Dec 1901
• [4/3982] 26 Aug 1902 - 24 Jan 1908
• [4/3989] 6 Jan 1893 - 16 Dec 1896

2. NRS 1011, Copies of telegrams to and from overseas government offices, 26 Mar 1886 - 26 Oct 1909 [4/3991]. 1 vol
3. NRS 1012, Copies of telegrams to and from overseas commercial agents, 29 Aug 1902 - 21 May 1907 [4/3990]. 1 vol . There is a subject index in the front of the volume.
4. NRS 1009, Telegraphic Cipher Codes, 1880, 1886, 1891 [4/3992-95]. 4 vols. For description see NRS 1009 in the Inventory of Series.

8. Indexes and Registers

1. NRS 922, Indexes and Registers to letters received, 1826-1921. 329 vols
2. NRS 923, Card index, 1922-41. 26 boxes
3. NRS 924, File movement registers, 1922-66. 72 vols
4. NRS 925, Schedules of papers presented to the Governor for decision, 1832-34. 15 vols

The schedules provide details of registered number, date, name of applicant, subject, Colonial Secretary's report, and the Governor's decision. 

Item and Date

• [4/439] Nov 1832
• [4/440] Dec 1832
• [4/441] Jan 1833
• [4/442] Feb 1833
• [4/443] Mar 1833
• [4/444] Apr 1833
• [4/445] May 1833
• [4/446] Jun 1833
• [4/447] Jul 1833
• [4/448] Aug 1833
• [4/449] Sep 1833
• [4/450] Oct 1833
• [4/451] Nov 1833
• [4/452] Dec 1833
• [4/453] Jan - May 1834

5. NRS 926, Register of Blank Cover references re Land, 1831 [4/7091]. 1 vol

Register of letters received referred to another public officer, most often the Surveyor General. The volume records blank cover number, registered number, to whom referred and date referred, subject to be reported on, and when reported.

6. NRS 927, Registers of Blank Cover references (letters referred to other government departments), 10 Mar 1837 - 14 May 1844. 4 vols

The registers record blank cover number, date, from whom received, to whom referred, registered number, and subject.

There are indexes in the front of the volumes.

Item and Date

• [4/3969] 1 Mar 1837 - 17 Sep 1839
• [4/3970] 22 Sep 1839 - 27 Jan 1842
• [4/3971] 15 Jan 1842 - 3 May 1843
• [2/2173] 2 Apr 1843 - 14 May 1844 (mainly land matters)

7. NRS 928, Register of reports from Commissioners of Crown Lands beyond the limits of locations, 1840-47 [4/6664 part]. 1 vol (part)

This volume records the reports received from the various Commissioners of Crown Land and notes the registered number given the reports. There were five kinds of reports:

1. Monthly report of Conduct of Border Police (from July 1840);
2. Monthly report of Employment (from July 1840);
3. Half yearly returns of Horses (from July 1840);
4. Itinerary (from July 1842); and
5. Census (from October 1844).

8. NRS 929, Register of letters received from the Lieutenant Governor of New Zealand addressed to the Governor of New South Wales, 1840 - 4 July 1842 ([4/6675]; microfilm copy Reel 2795). 1 vol

The correspondence is filed with the Main Series of Letters Received with the exception of those letters which are in the Dixson Library.

The Colonial Secretary registered the letters received from New Zealand addressed to the Governor separately during this period. The register records an annual single registration number, date when written and when registered, name of author, residence, summary of content and notes of action taken. There is an index in the front of the volume.

9. NRS 930, Register of orders and addresses from the Legislative Council and Assembly, 1853-57,  [4/431]. 1 vol. 

The Orders and Addresses are in the Main Series of Letters Received. When a motion was put requesting material and/or information to be tabled, the Colonial Secretary produced the documents which were returned to him. This register refers to these. It shows registration number, date received, Council or Assembly number, date motion was made, on whose motion, presented by, subject (copy of the motion which was submitted), how disposed of, and remarks. There is an alphabetical index in the front of the volume.

10. NRS 931, Register of Customs Conventions and Postal Agreements, 1873 [4/7038]. 1 vol

The Customs Conventions are listed in the list of Special Bundles.

11. NRS 932, Register of Despatches sent to the Colonial Secretary for action by the Government (M/B registrations), 1890-1912 [4/8263]. 1 vol

This volume records despatches from the Secretary of State to the Governor which were forwarded to the Colonial Secretary for his information or for subsequent action (eg., gazettal notification, transfer to the relevant Department, etc.). The register records: number, date received, date of the despatch, subject and how disposed of. The despatches themselves are located in the Main Series of Letters Received in separate bundles labelled "Despatches" and numbered M (running no.)/B.

There is also a "skeleton register" in State Records, arranged by despatch number, which will assist in finding individual despatches.