This series consists of over 7,000 glass plate negatives mainly of Canberra and the surrounding area. Most of them were taken by William James Mildenhall who was employed in the Federal Capital Territory from 1921 in various capacities - as a clerk in the Accounts Branch, then the Federal Capital Commission, then as Information Officer for the Commission, then as a clerk in the FCT Branch of Home Affairs, then the Civic Branch of the Department of the Interior. Most of the photographs seem to have been taken during his time as Information Officer when his duties appear to have included recording photographically the growth of Canberra. In 1930, apparently due to complaints by a commercial photographer, he was transferred but continued to do a limited amount of official photographic work. This series is the result of his official work, his personal collection of plates being held by the National Library of Australia.

The series also includes some earlier plates, thought to date back to c.1913. Some of these show the development of the nurseries at Acton and Yarralumla, and were probably taken by Mr. Weston, first

Superintendent of Parks and Gardens, who came to Canberra in 1913.  

The greater part of the series, when transferred to archival custody, consisted of unnumbered boxes of plates, controlled by a Register with index (CRS A3561). The remaining 30 or so boxes were

unregistered. These have been amalgamated to form one series, and a single number has been imposed on each plate. A subject index to the plates was prepared by an Archives Officer in 1965. The plates have now been removed from the original boxes for storage in containers more suitable for their preservation. Samples of the original boxes have been retained and are controlled as AA1980/231 - Original containers of CRS A3560, Mildenhall collection of glass plate negatives, c.1921-1935. The plates have been copied by the National Archives of Australia. These copy prints are available for public reference in the Orientation Room of the National Office Parkes ACT.

Related series unregistered

AA1980/231, Original 4 containers of CRS A3560, Mildenhall collection of glass plate negatives, c.1921-1935