NRS-15830 | Birchgrove Estate and Park Trust minute books

This series contains minutes of the general and special meetings of the Birchgrove Estate and Park Trust. The Minutes were created at least monthly and recorded chronologically. The general meetings record inward and outward correspondence received by the Trust, motions put to the Trust, reports of committees and other relevant items of business. The minutes document the variety of activities for which the Trust was responsible including: Management of Birchgrove Park, enforcement of by laws, protection of shrubs and trees, and monitoring the usage and maintenance of facilities in the Park. Special Meetings were called to record a specific issue. Reports were generally also tabled at these Meetings relating to the subject.The Birchgrove Trust was an independent body governed by the Public Parks Act 1854 (18 Victoria Act No. 23), and subsequent legislation. The creation of minutes and conduct of meeting was at the discretion of the Trustees under s.4 of the Legislation. The maintenance of minutes of meetings is a standard administrative practice for Government Bodies. The series start date has therefore, been determined on the establishment date of the Trust. It is presumed that minutes would have been created from that date. In April 1948 upon the resignation of the trustees, the control and management of Birchgrove Park appears to have passed to Balmain Council. The Council in the management and administration of the Park would presumably have used this minute book as a reference.Custody History This series was in the custody of Mitchell library from 1965 until December 2001 when it was transferred to State Records NSW under section 29 of the State Records Act, 1998.