The papers consist mainly of family correspondence of G.W. Walker and his children and a few diaries and miscellaneous papers. James B. Walker's letters to his sisters, particularly letters to Mary Augusta while she was over seas are especially descriptive of his activities and of Hobart life. Mary Walkers' letters from London describe her life as a student in London and her correspondence with friends met then contain references to artists, especially women painters and sculptors. This collection is complemented by - AU TAS UTAS SPARC 2007/1 - https://sparc.utas.edu.au/index.php/walker-family-papers-2007
Letter dated 30th November 1850 from the Colonial Secretary's office signed by James Ebenezer Bicheno regarding a grant of land at the south end of Collins Street Hobart to the Total Abstinence Society.
List of gentleman and proposed dates for the plan for the advocacy of the Total Abstinence Society cause in connection with the V.D. Land T.A Society at the Prisoners Barracks, Hobart Town up to December 1851 on the second Friday evening in the month at 7 o’clock
Copy of a letter signed G.W. Walker and statement of account respecting the Temperance Halls and transfer to the V.D.L. Total Abstinence Society for the building fund
Minutes of an overflow meeting held in promotion of National Temperance in the Infant School Room, Murray street on the evening of Thursday 6th July 1854. Address delivered by David Blair on the important subject of "National Temperance". George W Walker in the chair.
Copy of an uncompleted petition from the inhabitants of Hobart Town and its vicinity to the Honourable the Legislative Council of Van Diemen's Land. Petitioners therefore pray that the 38th Section of the Licensing Act, commonly known as the " Sunday Clause" may not be repealed.
Undated complaint by the finance committee of the Hobart Town Total Abstinence Society addressed to Mr J.B. Mather and Mr Geo. Bell, of suffering grievous moral wrong and slander from Geo. W Walker
Photograph collection consists of Walker family photographs and photographs of local Tasmanian scenes. Some unidentified portraits by unknown photographers. Daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, carte de visite, cabinet portraits, stereoscopic views, Hobart streetscapes and Tasmanian scenes
Photograph of unidentified house with pillared verandah and shrubbery, paling fence, other houses beyond (? Hobart). A man, woman and child faintly visible on verandah.
Photograph taken "Near Fort Macquarie" Sydney from water, looking at landing steps, and showing row boat, horse and cart, dog, cliffs, steps & distant ships' masts.
Photograph from the collection of James Backhouse Walker of a view of Hobart from West Hobart. Looking down Murray & Harrington Streets. The photographer is Henry Hall Baily who had studios in Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets Hobart from 1865 until 1918.
Photograph from the collection of James Backhouse Walker of an elevated view of Hobart looking east taken near Browne Street, (about 1876, according to a note on the reverse). Warwick Street in the foreground. Photographed by Henry Hall Baily who had studios in Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets, Hobart from 1865 until 1918.
Photograph from the collection of James Backhouse Walker of a view of Hobart from the top of Murray St in about 1876 according to notes on the reverse. The photographer is Henry Hall Baily who had studios in Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets Hobart from 1865 until 1918.
Photograph from the collection of James Backhouse Walker of a view of Hobart looking South East with a garden in the foreground and Elizabeth Street in the middle distance. The photographer is Alfred Winter who had studios in Bathurst, Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets from 1874-1880.
Photograph from the collection of James Backhouse Walker of a view of Hobart from West Hobart looking east toward the river, showing Holy Trinity Church. The photographer is Henry Hall Baily who had studios in Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets Hobart from 1865 until 1918..
Bound notebook containing handwritten notes regarding facts and figures on expenditure on hard liquor, intemperance in the Army, loss of life & property a sea, etc.
Sarah Benson Walker's reminiscences of her life in Hobart Town as recorded by her son James Backhouse Walker. It includes narrative of the voyage out, and descriptions of Hobart in the very early period, information about Hobart personalities as well as the story of Sarah Benson Walker's life
Unidentified daguerreotype in a plain leather and velvet case of a man, seated, young to middle age, with side whiskers. Head lightly coloured, shirt front painted white, plain background, 1 pillar
Ambrotype in case of a man seated, youngish, straight, short hair, moustache and beard, leaning on elbow on side table with books and lace cloth, plain background, slightly tinted.
Ambrotypes in case of two unidentified portraits. Woman in left side of case and on right side man, seated, thin face, side -burns, white shirt. Background of drapery and mountain view. Head lightly tinted, shirt front painted white. two portraits in oval frames in one case.
Ambrotypes in cases of little girls. Both seated, wearing black and white Pierrette type white dresses. One child has ringlets. Cases: tooled imitation leather, lined red velvet, frames oval top.
Photograph of Hobart harbor and mountain (snow topped) from river, showing sailing ships, steam ferries. Glossy print, on "cabinet" mount, T. Crawford, Hobart.
Photograph from the collection of James Backhouse Walker of a view of Hobart looking towards the Eastern Shore. The panorama has been taken from Mr. Roberts' garden with various shrubs and a Norfolk Island pine in the foreground. Henry Hall Baily is the photographer. He had studios in Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets Hobart from 1865 until 1918.
Photograph from the collection of James Backhouse Walker of a view of Hobart, looking towards St. George's Hill, Battery Point. Showing St Georges Church and James Luckman's windmill probably taken in the 1870s.
Photograph from the collection of James Backhouse Walker of a view of Mt. Wellington from St. George's Hill with Hawthorn Cottage in the foreground and Bishopscourt - Garden Crescent and Davey Street Chapel in the background (according to notes on the reverse). The photographer was the Anson Brothers, whose firm was located in Liverpool, Collins and Elizabeth Streets between 1878 and 1891.
Photograph from the collection of James Backhouse Walker of a view of Hobart from Huon Road looking east in about 1879, according to notes on the reverse.
Various photographs of Harrington Street - St. Marys Cathedral, Wilmot Terrace; Pressland House (formerly J P Cowles School); Goulburn St. ; St John the Baptist Church. Photographs by Winter Baily and Anson Bros.
Lantern slide of maps of Tasmania. Prepared by J.W. Beattie (1859-1930) whose studio locations were Elizabeth Street, Hobart from 1891-1920, Murray Street from 1921-40 and Cat and Fiddle until 1994.
Lantern slide of James Backhouse. Prepared by J.W. Beattie (1859-1930) whose studio locations were Elizabeth Street, Hobart from 1891-1920, Murray Street from 1921-40 and Cat and Fiddle until 1994.
Petition detailing the large portion of human misery, inculding poverty, disease, and crime induced by the use of alcoholic or fermented liquors and asking that the Council enact a law similar to that now in operation in the State of Maine ; which must, by its natural effect, not only entirely banish intemperance and all its consequent evils from the community, but will remove the oppression with which it weighs upon the moral and physical energies of the people, and be the surest means of promoting their social and domestic happiness, and their advancement in wealth, knowledge, and religion.
Constitution and Laws of the Van Diemen’s Land Liquor Law League agreed upon at a meeting of the Members convened for that purpose, and for the confirmation of appointments to office held in the Temperance Hall, Bathurst Street on the 8th August 1854.
Undated petition to the Legislative Council from the inhabitants of Green Ponds regarding the act to regulate the sale of liquors being the 38th Section of the Licensing Act, the Sunday Clause not be repealed
Marriage certificate of George Washington Walker and Sarah Benson Mather, married at Friends Meeting House, Hobart. Dated 15th December 1840. Witnessed and signed by many of the respectable inhabitants of the colony