- Research Guide: First World War
- Research Guide: Sir Denison Samuel King Miller KCMG
- Research Guide: James Kell
- Research Guide: Sir Ernest Cooper Riddle KBE
- Research Guide: Sir Henry John (Harry) Sheehan KBE
- Research Guide: Hugh Traill Armitage CMG
- Research Guide: Sir Leslie Melville KBE
- Research Guide: Sir Robert Gibson GBE
Series Guide: Bank Governors & Senior Personnel
As the early records were created at a time when there was no official Bank archives or formal records system, the series represents those records that have survived and been accessioned into the archives. Many of the early records were retained by the incumbent or their family on retirement. Some have made their way back to the Bank through the gifting of records by family members.
The Bank Governors & Senior Personnel records are generally maintained outside of the Bank’s central records systems until the staff member’s retirement, after which they are transferred to the Bank’s archives for accessioning. While the series originally included the records of all significant staff members, such as Sir Leslie Melville, who was the Bank’s first economist, and Sir Robert Gibson, the Chairman of the Commonwealth Bank Board, the series is now generally used for the papers of the Bank’s governors only.
Description of series
Scope
Records in this series commence with the appointment of Denison Miller as the first Governor of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in 1912. The records span the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and the Reserve Bank of Australia as a continuous series. Some records pre or postdate an individual’s service with the Bank but were captured as part of their personal papers. For example, Denison Miller’s papers date from 1876, with these earlier records donated to the Bank by Miller’s family.
Records captured include biographical information, appointment books, index cards, speeches and addresses, personal papers and letters, official and semi-official correspondence and appointment diaries.
Of particular interest are records relating to the depression of the 1930s, the war time history of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, records relating to the Australian Financial System Review (Martin Report) and the Committee of Inquiry into the Australian Financial System (Campbell Committee). In addition, other Bank-related material includes records regarding overseas visits, conferences and meetings with Bank staff and government, correspondence with artists and designers regarding work for the Head Office building and liaison with departments and branches of the Bank, including the Bank’s London Office.
On a more personal note, the records contain invitations from organisations and community groups to functions and fundraising events, congratulatory messages relating to appointments and honours, and chronological and alphabetical files of personal correspondence with friends, family, the public and other acquaintances.
Biographical/historical notes
The series includes the papers of all the Bank’s governors from 1912, the records of some of the Bank’s deputy governors (many of whom went on to become Bank governor), the records of some of the Bank’s senior personnel who held various roles at the Bank, and the papers of individuals who held positions on the Bank’s Board (for example Sir Robert Gibson) and includes the records of the following individuals:
- Hugh Traill Armitage; Donald Badger; Thomas Bartley; Jack Breden; Stan Bryson; Des Cleary; Herbert (HC) Coombs: Allan Elvery; Bernie Fraser; John Garland; Lyndhurst Giblin; Robert Gibson; Robert (Bob) Johnston; Austin Holmes; Grahame Keep; James Kell; Harold Knight; Harvey Longmuir; Athol Lewis; Ian Macfarlane; James Mallyon; Albert McPherson; Lance McWatters; Leslie Melville; Denison Miller; Charles Mobbs; Don Parr; John Phillips; Mervyn John Phillips; Claude Reading; Ernest Richardson; Ernest Riddle; Leonard Rusden; Donald Sanders; John Scott; Harry Sheehan; Glenn Stevens; William Wilcock; John Wright.
The following Bank Governors & Senior Personnel records were released in September 2021:
- Sir Denison Samuel King Miller, KCMG
- James Kell
- Sir Ernest Cooper Riddle
- Sir Henry (Harry) Sheehan, KBE
- Hugh Traill Armitage, CMG
- Sir Leslie Melville
- Sir Robert Gibson
Sir Denison Miller, James Kell, Sir Ernest Riddle, Sir Harry Sheehan and Hugh Traill Armitage were all governors of the Commonwealth Bank. Sir Leslie Melville was the Commonwealth Bank’s first economist and a Board member, and held various senior roles in Australia and overseas. Sir Robert Gibson was a Chairman of the Commonwealth Bank Board.
Arrangement description
The majority of records are arranged using an alpha/numeric numbering system, with the alpha prefix being the initials of the individual (for example, Denison Miller has been accessioned as GDM (with the “G” standing for “Governors & Senior Personnel”, and the “DM” for Denison Miller). The letter “G” is used as a prefix for all records in the series.
The system then generally follows a year and running number system (for example GDM-23-10 is the 10th file in the year 1923), with other variations used from time to time (for example an alpha code, indicating the type of records captured (e.g., DS for Daily Sheets, in place of the year).
The records were managed using a manual process until total conversion to the Bank’s electronic records system in the 2000s, after which the numbering system changed to a yearly prefix with a system generated running number.
The records do not always cover the whole date range of an individual’s service at the Bank. For example, James Kell was employed at the Bank from 1912 until his retirement in 1927, but the records in this series only cover the years 1922–1923. Further correspondence can often be found in other records, for example the London Letters series.
The records released in September 2021 are as follows:
Denison Miller
Denison Miller - General Correspondence
Accession Number |
Description |
Date Range |
---|---|---|
GDM-12-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Pre-Commonwealth Bank Papers |
1895–1912 |
GDM-12-2 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Appointment as Governor |
1912 |
GDM-13-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Applications for Employment in the Bank's Service |
1912–1913 |
GDM-14-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Staff Appointments |
1912–1914 |
GDM-18-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Visit Overseas - General |
1916–1918 |
GDM-18-2 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Visit Overseas - Invitations - June - July 1918 |
1918 |
GDM-18-3 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Visit Overseas - Invitations - July - September 1918 |
1918 |
GDM-18-4 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Visit Overseas - Reports of Visits and Interviews |
1918 |
GDM-18-5 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Visit Overseas - Governor to Deputy Governor - Letters |
1918 |
GDM-18-6 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Visit Overseas - Deputy Governor to Governor - Letters |
1918 |
GDM-18-7 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Visit Overseas - Illuminated Address |
1918 |
GDM-19-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Head Office Premises - Inspections - 1915 to 1919 |
1915–1919 |
GDM-20-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Knighthood - Congratulatory Messages - 3 May to 3 June 1920 |
1920 |
GDM-20-2 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Knighthood - Congratulatory Messages - 3 June 1920 |
1920 |
GDM-20-3 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Knighthood - Congratulatory Messages - 4 to 7 June 1920 |
1920 |
GDM-20-4 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Knighthood - Congratulatory Messages - Replies |
1920 |
GDM-20-5 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Invitations to Functions and Replies - 1917 to 1920 |
1917–1920 |
GDM-21-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - General Matters - 1912 - 1921 |
1912–1921 |
GDM-21-2 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - War Service Homes, Soldier Settlement, Repatriation |
1916–1921 |
GDM-21-3 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Reappointment as Governor |
1918–1921 |
GDM-21-4 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Invitations to Functions and Replies - 1921 |
1921 |
GDM-21-5 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Donations to Charities, etc. and Memberships - 1914 to 1921 |
1914–1921 |
GDM-22-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Knighthood - Congratulatory Messages - 1920 to 1922 |
1920–1922 |
GDM-22-2 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Invitations to Functions and Replies - November 1921 to March 1922 |
1921–1922 |
GDM-22-3 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Invitations to Functions and Replies - April to August 1922 |
1922 |
GDM-23-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - General Matters - 1921 - 1923 |
1921–1923 |
GDM-23-2 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Bankers and Businessmen Overseas |
1915–1923 |
GDM-23-3 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Biographical Notes, Club Membership, Family Matters |
1909–1923 |
GDM-23-4 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Governor General and State Governors |
1913–1923 |
GDM-23-5 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Prime Minister and Treasury |
1916–1923 |
GDM-23-6 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Donations to Charities, etc. and Membership - 1922 to 1923 |
1922–1923 |
GDM-23-7 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Invitations to Functions and Replies - September 1922 to June 1923 |
1922–1923 |
GDM-23-8 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Invitations to Functions and Replies - February to June 1923 |
1923 |
GDM-23-9 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Head Office Premises - Inspections - 1919 to 1923 |
1919–1923 |
GDM-23-10 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Death |
1923 |
SA-70-57 |
RI 5-2 Commonwealth / Reserve Bank History - Personalities - Miller, Denison (Sir) |
1969 |
Denison Miller - Commissions
Accession Number |
Description |
Date Range |
---|---|---|
GDM-C-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Commissions - Appointment - Governor Commonwealth Bank of Australia - dated 29/05/1912 - Appointment commenced 1 June 1912 |
1912 |
GDM-C-2 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Commissions - Re-appointment - Governor Commonwealth Bank of Australia - dated 30/05/1919 - Appointment commenced 1 June 1919 |
1919 |
Denison Miller - Diaries
Accession Number |
Description |
Date Range |
---|---|---|
GDM-D |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Diaries - Accountant, Bank of New South Wales |
1876–1908 |
Denison Miller - Private Press Cutting Book - Index
Accession Number |
Description |
Date Range |
---|---|---|
GDM-P |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Denison Miller - Private Press Cutting Book - Index |
1911–1924 |
James Kell
James Kell - General Correspondence
Accession Number |
Description |
Date Range |
---|---|---|
GJK-22-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - James Kell - Correspondence with Solicitor - General - Duties and Responsibilities of Deputy Governor |
1922 |
GJK-23-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - James Kell - Correspondence with Treasurer |
1923 |
Ernest Riddle
Ernest Riddle - General Correspondence
Accession Number |
Description |
Date Range |
---|---|---|
GER-23-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Ernest Riddle - Memorandum - The Scope of the Bank's Business - 1923 |
1923 |
GER-31-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Ernest Riddle - Semi-Official Correspondence |
1927–1931 |
Harry Sheehan
Harry Sheehan - General Correspondence
Accession Number |
Description |
Date Range |
---|---|---|
GHS-39-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Harry Sheehan - National Debt Commission - Minutes and Agenda - 1938 - 1939 |
1938–1939 |
GHS-40-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Harry Sheehan - National Debt Commission - Minutes and Agenda - 1940 |
1940 |
GHS-41-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Harry Sheehan - Death |
1941 |
Harry Sheehan - Press Cuttings
Accession Number |
Description |
Date Range |
---|---|---|
GHS-P |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Harry Sheehan - Press Cuttings |
1938–1941 |
Hugh Traill Armitage
Hugh Traill Armitage - General Correspondence
Accession Number |
Description |
Date Range |
---|---|---|
GHA-23-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Hugh Traill Armitage - Memorandum – Scope of Functions of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. |
1923 |
GHA-41-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Hugh Traill Armitage - National Debt Commission - Minutes & Agenda – 36th meeting held 3/3/1941 & 37th meeting held 18/8/1941 |
1941 |
GHA-48-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Hugh Traill Armitage - Semi-Official Correspondence – Senior Bank Officials |
1945–1948 |
ST-PR-2 |
Staff Department - Officers' Personnel Records - Armitage, H.T. - 1912-1963 |
1912–1963 |
Hugh Traill Armitage - Draft Biography
Accession Number |
Description |
Date Range |
---|---|---|
GHA-A-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Hugh Traill Armitage - Draft Biography - Notations |
1963 |
Hugh Traill Armitage - Passports
Accession Number |
Description |
Date Range |
---|---|---|
GHA-P |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Hugh Traill Armitage - Passport – Issued 31 January 1922 |
1922 |
Leslie Melville
Leslie Melville - General Correspondence
Accession Number |
Description |
Date Range |
---|---|---|
GGM-33-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Leslie Melville - Senator H. Colebatch |
1933 |
GGM-35-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Leslie Melville - "Monetary Policy and the Depression" - Notes and Memoranda - C. 1935 |
1935 |
GGM-35-2 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Leslie Melville - Professor E.O.G. Shann |
1932–1935 |
GGM-37-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Leslie Melville - Royal Commission on Banking - Correspondence with J.G. Phillips |
1936–1937 |
GGM-55-1-A |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Leslie Melville - "The Unstable State" |
1955 |
GGM-55-1-B |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Leslie Melville - "The Unstable State" |
1955 |
GGM-65-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Leslie Galfreid Melville - Commissions - Re-appointment - Member Board of the Reserve Bank of Australia - dated 06/07/1965 - Appointment commenced 23 August 1965 |
1965 |
Robert Gibson
Robert Gibson - General Correspondence
Accession Number |
Description |
Date Range |
---|---|---|
GRG-26-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Robert Gibson - Rural Credits Department - Establishment |
1925–1926 |
GRG-31-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Robert Gibson - Redemption of Government Securities held by State Savings Banks |
1931 |
GRG-31-2 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Robert Gibson - Savings Banks - Suggested Amalgamation of all Australian Savings Banks |
1931 |
GRG-31-3 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Robert Gibson - Staff - Reduction in Status - Appeal of Thomas Henry Slatyer |
1928–1931 |
GRG-33-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Robert Gibson - Board Members Correspondence |
1927–1933 |
GRG-33-2 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Robert Gibson - Executive Committee Meetings |
1926–1933 |
GRG-33-3 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Robert Gibson - General |
1925–1933 |
GRG-33-4 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Robert Gibson - Government Savings Bank of New South Wales - Amalgamation |
1931–1933 |
GRG-33-5 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Robert Gibson - Governor / Chairman - Correspondence |
1925–1933 |
GRG-33-6 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Robert Gibson - Western Australian Government Savings Bank - Amalgamation |
1930–1933 |
GRG-34-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Robert Gibson - Bronze Busts |
1934–1935 |
GRG-35-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Robert Gibson - Biography Proposed |
1934–1935 |
GRG-47-1 |
GOVERNORS & SENIOR PERSONNEL - Robert Gibson - Private Papers |
1924–1979 |
SA-70-56 |
RI 5-2 Commonwealth / Reserve Bank History - Personalities - Gibson, Sir Robert |
1969 |
In addition to the records above, there are also a number of collection items associated with each person. See each individual Research Guide for a listing of these items.