This series consists of typescript addresses, speeches and lectures given by His Excellency Sir John Kerr in his capacity as Governor-General of Australia (1974-77). The addresses were delivered at various functions, including official openings, dinners and luncheons, seminars, conventions and conferences, defence services' graduation ceremonies, agricultural shows, school and scouting functions. The series also includes Kerr's Australia Day broadcasts, his Robert Garran Memorial oration (November 1974), address to the Indian Law Institute (February 1975), address on receiving the World Lawyer Award (Manila, August 1977) and Vancouver Memorial Lecture (Western Australia, October 1977).
 
The addresses are titled according to the occasion and are in chronological order. Some of them carry annotations by Kerr; others have a note attached indicating that the address was not used or not delivered exactly as per the written version. Copies of many of the addresses were subsequently distributed on request, this being recorded on a sheet attached to the address concerned. 
 
At the time the records were transferred to archival custody, it was stated that they were duplicates and that the originals would be transferred later. However, all the record items dating from 23 August 1974 to 17 June 1976 have the wording 'Original only - Please retain' marked on the covers, and the series remains the only known collection of Kerr's addresses as Governor-General.

The first item in the series is an index or chronological listing to the addresses. National Archives staff made two additions to the index, and imposed a single number system of control on the items, at the time the series was registered in May 1993.

Another copy of this set of addresses with some differences is registered as M4528.