Description of series:

This series consists of the confidential and restricted correspondence files of the Department of Navy from 1951 until the majority of the Department transferred to Canberra in 1959. 

The series covers a wide variety of subjects including: 
.  administrative matters such as a survey of the West Australia area
   functions, or disposal of ammunition; 
.  public relations including the reports of a daily newspaper that
   the Navy Department had not been cooperative in the release of
   news of atomic weapon tests at Monte Bello; 
.  radioactivity; 
.  shipbuilding including policy matters such as a survey of
   industrial potential for the rapid construction of warships;
.  accommodation and housing, including allegations of injustice
   regarding the allocation of official residences, and reports of
   fires with resulting deaths; 
.  pay and allowances including those of civil personnel; 
.  ranges including information on sound ranges; 
.  wrecks, collisions, marine distress and salvage; 
.  finance including reports of inquiries into the loss of public
   monies; 
.  maintenance and repairs; and 
.  recruiting and training matters.  

The files are arranged according to the Naval multiple number system in which registration numbers were allocated according to a list of numbered subjects. The primary number represents a broad subject, the secondary number a subgroup within that subject, and the third number is a consecutive number identifying the particular document or file. A fuller description of the Naval registration system can be found in series registration B1142, Registration booklets (L14's) for confidential and restricted correspondence files, multiple number series. The confidential and restricted correspondence series (B5521) was given the same primary range of numbers as the general correspondence (B6418) series namely 3000 - 5000. However the two series can be distinguished by their secondary numbers, the general correspondence files secondary numbers run from 1 to 99 whereas the confidential and restricted correspondence files were allocated secondary numbers within the range of 101 to 199, eg 

  3031/1/- refers to Administration - General (unclassified)
  3031/101/- refers to Administration - General ( Restricted and 
  Confidential)

The secret correspondence series of the same period has a separate numbering system with the primary numbers in the 5000's.
 
The files consist of related documents each with its own registration number, attached together by a pin in a folder. The number of the top document is the file number. The folders are either buff or green coloured, the buff folders usually have "Restricted" typed in bold face on the cover, underneath is typed "Department of the Navy", the green folders usually have "Confidential" typed in bold face on the cover, they also have "Department of Navy" typed underneath. Some files have file numbers written on the cover, others have the top right hand corner of the cover folded over to show the number of the top document.
 
The majority of the contents of this series falls within the series date range of 1951 to 1959, however there has been some top-numbering from both the previous secret and confidential correspondence series 1923 - 1950 and from the general correspondence series with 201 secondary infix 1923 - 1950 (B4883). The series has also been extensively culled and many files have been destroyed. It would appear also that a few documents were added to the series after 1959.

The records in MP926/1 are part of Commonwealth Record Series B5521, Confidential and restricted correspondence files, multiple number series ['101'series], but have not been physically converted to B5521.  The records should be requested under the MP926/1 number. Other elements of B5521 that have not been physically converted are MT1136/1, MP1049/18 and MP1185/11.

A secondary run of 44 files has been added to the end of the main numerical run of files in MP926/1. The secondary run has file numbers ranging from 3023/101/1 to 4283/102/4.


Administrative information
 
The following data was keyed from the paper documentation:
Form number:              CA 17
Creating department:      Navy, Navy Office, Central Registry Transferring department:  Navy, Navy Office, Central Registry
Date of transfer:         02/11/1967
Archives file number:     RWM31/2/31