This series consists of letters, photographs, invitations, books, pamphlets and other material relating to the work of Mr Percy Sheaffe in and around Canberra from 1910 till his death in 1963.

Many of the items, such as photographs and invitations, are related to projects in Canberra such as the original survey of the city and area (1910), the hammering of the first pegs (1913), the laying of the foundations for the Commencement Column (1913), the laying of the foundation stone for the Capital (1920) and the building and opening of Parliament House (1927). Some of the photographs in particular show what the area was like before major construction work was undertaken and indicate what life in the early years of Canberra was like.

Many of the newspaper articles and pamphlets show the changing attitudes to Canberra, its development and growth and the changing face of Australian society as a whole.

Administrative Information

The following data was keyed from the original paper documentation:

Form number: NAS 43 (Accession Record)

Date of transfer: 21 December 1971

Archives file number: 1967/145

Archives accession number: AA1971/658

Transferred into archival custody by: Miss Isabel Sheaffe and Miss Jean Sheaffe in November 1968

Quantity: 3'3" (3 type no.1 boxes; 1 type no.10 box)

Person recording unregistered

1963-1963: Estate of the late Percy L SHEAFFE

Person controlling unregistered

1963-    : Miss Isabel Gordon Sheaffe; Miss Jean L Gordon Sheaffe