Hunter Living Histories

In early October 2024, taking advantage of a lull in enquiries, in ten days I single-handedly moved and consolidated our entire print thesis collection, held across two floors of the Auchmuty Library, to the denizens of the lower Stack. Proving to myself that the “young storeman and packer” archivist still lay within this aging body. During this ‘via dolorosa’ climbing up and down the ‘Mount Everest of Thesis’ ladders, cleaning shelving, dusting tomes, while in a delirium, singing to myself, and breaking out in Scottish accents from time to time, I began to notice the names of people; the living and dead. Those who have left their great mark across time within and without our University and across the Regions it serves, through a devout vocation to education and research. As we approach our University’s 60th year, here are some reflections, as a means of introduction to this Collection, should any of you wish to visit it, or become Masters and PhD Students to join its illustrious ranks. – Gionni Di Gravio OAM, Archivist

In Dedication
Karina Sanders

 This post is dedicated to the memory of late Karina Sanders, the Auchmuty Librarian who catalogued the vast majority of these University Theses.  According to the Eulogy provided by her husband Dick, Karina in the 1970s began:

“a new career as a Librarian, at the University of Newcastle. She studied for her Librarian qualifications part time, completing them a year early. She loved her work. She was an ‘original cataloguer’ and enjoyed the challenge of correctly cataloguing difficult works, including often complex theses. Sometimes, if the works were in his field, Dick’s help was sought at night. She received a medal after 25 years, and retired in 2005, having served for 29 years.”

What Is The University Print Thesis Collection?

The University of Newcastle (Australia) Print Thesis Collection in Manuscript/Typescript formats (along with our STAFF Collection) represent the University’s intellectual outputs both in manuscript (unpublished) and monograph (published) forms respectively.

They date from the University’s inception as a University College in 1951 and later autonomous institution in 1965 as a “University” in its own right.

Special Collections (Archives) in the Auchmuty Library holds the Higher Degree Post Grad Theses (Masters and PhD)  as well as some Honours theses (that are mostly History theses that relate in some way to the local Hunter and Central Coast Regions).

What Do They Represent Historically?

The Collection demonstrates an historical progression of thesis creation from the Newcastle University College days to University of Newcastle, from manuscript/typescript to electronic word processor up to the digital age when we ceased accepting physical copies in the 2010s and went digital.

In physical form, they are in a STABLE state, not needing anything except space and acceptable environmental conditions to continue to last in perpetuity.

 

The Thesis as Historical Artefact

The “thesis” as historical artefact is an important milestone in the life journey of our higher degree graduates, their families and their communities. The students themselves were proud to achieve such an honour, and continue on as Alumni across the University’s global communities. The awarding of a Masters and PhD thesis was also the pinnacle honour for the University as educational institution for higher learning.

Transition from Print to Digital

Up until the 2010s it was a University requirement that a bound original copy of the manuscript thesis was deposited/donated with the library (at the graduate’s expense). The digital theses are currently housed in the NOVA Digital Repository. https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/

 

The Personal Nature of Print Theses

In pre-digital times the years of work that went into the thesis was not only the work of the author, but also of their wider family. Many of these early theses were typed by wives, partners, family members to support the graduate.

Many contain original artworks, original photographs. The physical work represents an important milestone in the history of their lives and the University’s impact on their lives and communities. It all tells a story.

 

What Was The University Of Newcastle’s First PhD?

Our first PhD (Thesis 5) was awarded to William Coleborne in 1965, on the Shepherd of Hermas, a second century classical work of Christianity. His granddaughter, Catharine Coleborne is a Professor here at the University’s School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences, clearly displaying a continuation of scholarly engagement across the generations within a family, and their service to this University.

 

Who Was The First Woman Awarded A PhD at the University Of Newcastle?

The first PhD awarded to a woman at the University of Newcastle, was THESIS 230 (1971) by Marlene Joan Norst from the Department of German:

FRIDAY, 17th MARCH, 1972

Doctor of Philosophy
Department of German

Marlene Joan Norst, M.A.,Dip.Ed.(Syd.)
Thesis: “Julius Duboc and Robert Waldmuller”

Dr Marlene Johanna Norst, Macquarie University Library, Australia – On occasion of inaugural lecture to the Friends of Macquarie Library entitled ‘Nature revealed, art concealed: a tribute to Ferdinand Lucas Bauer’ – 21 May, 1987

What Was the First Thesis of the Newcastle University College?

James Eshott Carr (1921-2011). The Electrochemical Properties of Membranes Composed of Materials Exhibiting Ion Exchange Properties. N.S.W. University of Technology Thesis 1952. Chemical Engineering Conversion Course. [Archives Shelf Location: C2421]

More information on the first three graduates of Newcastle University College in 1953:

Newcastle’s First Graduates

Jess Dyce and Her Personal Library

Jessie Reid Dyce, also known as Jess Dyce, was a renown teacher and educator, recognised with a Newton-John Award in 1981 for her services to education in New South Wales. We hold both her Masters Thesis (THESIS 193) on Australian Playwright Patrick White, as well as her PhD (THESIS 883) on poet Christopher Brennan. We also hold her personal library as a Special Collection.

Important Theses Relating to the History of the Hunter Region

Regional historians will probably find the theses by Green, Rule and Deamer of relevance containing original research on the frontier, pioneer settlement, and colonial architecture of the Hunter Valley:

Henry James Cyril (“Cyril”) GREEN. The pioneer settlement of the Hunter River Valley, 1821 – 1831  (1975, Thesis 519 )

Margaret RULE. Relations between the Aborigines and settlers in selected areas of the Hunter Valley and in the Liverpool Plains 1800 – 1850  (1976, Thesis 915 )

Ross M DEAMER. Houses erected on original land grants in the Lower Hunter, Paterson, and Williams River Valleys between 1800 – 1850.  ( 1971, Thesis 309 )

First Aboriginal PhD Ourimbah Campus

Wendy Hanlen was the first Aboriginal person to be conferred with a PhD at the Ourimbah Campus. Ref: Uninews April 2003 p.8

Emerging literacy in New South Wales rural and urban indigenous families. University of Newcastle. Faculty of Education and Arts. School of Humanities 2002 (THESIS 2569)

Other important persons of note: Dr Bill Jonas was the first Aboriginal person in the country to be awarded a PhD from the University of Papua New Guinea in 1980. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Newcastle in 1998. Dr Ross Ingram (16 Feb 1967– 15 May 2003) was the first Indigenous person from NSW to be accepted into the University of Newcastle’s Medical School and the first Wiradjuri person to become a doctor. He died in 2003 aged just 36 years. Dr Sharlene Leroy-Dyer was the first Aboriginal person to gain a PhD in Business from the University of Newcastle.

The “Weekes” Thesis 2199 – A Multimedia Splendour

Some Fine Arts and Architecture theses are works of art in their own right. The Weekes (Thesis 2199) which is a multi-media dimensional arts in many formats, slides, monograph, video etc.

Elephant anatomy as the basis for multi-dimensional exploration.
Weekes, Trevor.; University of Newcastle. Faculty of Art and Design. 1999

The Heaviest Thesis?

Tadpoles and Frogs of Australia (2012) (THESIS 3966) by Marion Anstis for the School of Environmental and Life Sciences. The thesis is printed on the most beautiful glossy paper stock, which makes it also the heaviest thesis I had to handle.

 

The Widest Thesis?

Australian women’s letters between 1788 and 1840 by Burhanuddin Arafah.; University of Newcastle. Faculty of Education and Arts. 2003 (THESIS 2799)

You need the hand span of pianist and composer Franz Liszt to pull this one off the shelf.

Thesis 666?

The self, the imagination, and survival in the poetry of James Dickey by Ross Bennett; University of Newcastle. Dept. of English. 1978 (THESIS 666)

How Many Theses Do We Hold?

According to the call numbers, there are approx. 4012 physical print theses held in Special Collections across levels 1 and 2, representing the historical process of thesis production from manuscript/typescript to word processor to digital print, prior to the cessation of physical deposit/donation.

In October 2024 a consolidation, relocation and audit of all Print Theses to Closed Stack L104 in the Auchmuty Library was done. There are approximately 64 Theses missing from the shelves.

The Missing

Of the 64 missing, the actual number missing from the shelves is 37. This means there is a bibliographic record for the thesis, but no physical copy on the shelves or digital copy in the repository. (Bib Entry, No physical, No digital)

THESES 292, 2243, 2271, 2380, 2477, 2539, 2571, 2622, 2641, 2677, 2678, 2694, 2711, 2735, 2825, 2884, 2906, 2976, 3035, 3084, 3095, 3158, 3173, 3372, 3374, 3402, 3413, 3415, 3435, 3437, 3499, 3533, 3541, 3556, 3567, 3577, 3583.

The Missing Physical Theses That Are Digital

Of the 64 missing, there are 13  that are digital only. Some may have actually entered the Collection during the transition period between physical and digital. So, even though a Thesis Call Number was allocated, the graduate chose to deposit a “digital” thesis rather than a “physical” one, hence the gap.

THESIS 3177 (Bib Entry, No physical, Digital:
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/25001)

THESIS 3248 (Bib Entry, No physical, Digital:
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/25771

THESIS 3375 (Bib Entry, No physical, Digital:
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/25875)

THESIS 3439 (Bib Entry, No physical, Digital:
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/28343)

THESIS 3486 (Bib Entry, No physical, Digital:
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/31742)

THESIS 3498 (Bib Entry, No physical, Digital:
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/31438)

THESIS 3532 (Bib Entry, No Physical, Digital:
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1479711)

THESIS 3557 (Bib Entry, No physical, Digital:
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/33064)

THESIS 3560 (Bib Entry, No physical, Digital:
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/34355)

THESIS 3784 (Bib Entry, No physical, Digital:
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/923550)

THESIS 3914 (Bib Entry, No physical, Digital:
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/804394)

THESIS 3915 (Bib Entry, No physical, Digital:
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/917294)

THESIS 3992 (Bib Entry, No physical, Digital:
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1318418)

Note: the physical copy of THESIS 2992 surfaced 26 November 2024 and has been added to the Physical Collection.

Thesis Numbers That Were Never Used

Of the 64 missing, there are 14 theses numbers that appear to never have been used. (No Bib Entry, No physical, No digital)

THESES 2902, 3038, 3040, 3044, 3061, 3062, 3081, 3087, 3094, 3107, 3108, 3109, 3112, 3113.

 

SEPTEMBER 2025 UPDATE

Unbeknown to us, a number of theses from Ourimbah suspected of mould contamination had been stored at Grace Storage. These were recovered, cleaned and returned to the Auchmuty Library in September 2025 and reshelved with the others on Level 1 room L104.

The Missing as at September 2025

We know only have three (3) missing theses; THESES 292, 2271, 3577.

• THESIS 292 – Trade and manufacturing industries in West Malaysia, with reference to import substitution
• THESIS 2271 – Waterfront architecture with reference to Port Hunter    E015111652
• THESIS 3577  – Dystopia, utopia, fantasia a journey into the unknown by Alfred Campbell Scott      E019251289

SEARCH

If you unsure you can check our digital theses by doing a search on
NOVA: https://nova.newcastle.edu.au

Or search on our library catalogue here:
https://www.newcastle.edu.au/library/search-and-borrow

How to Make An Appointment to View a Physical Thesis

To make an appointment to view these items click here:

https://newcastle.au.libcal.com/appointments

1. From the dropdown menu Select:  Special Collections Appointment – On Campus
2. Then,  Select Either Reading Room Desk 1 or 2 for the day you will be up, and book in a time. (There is a morning slot 10am-12pm and afternoon slot 1pm-3pm.)

A University Map of the Callaghan Campus Map is here (Special Collections (Archives)  are located on Level 2 of the AUCHMUTY LIBRARY (L):

https://www.newcastle.edu.au/campus-life/newcastle/callaghan/map

Information on Parking at the University is here:

https://www.newcastle.edu.au/our-uni/campuses-and-locations/transport/ticketed-parking

Gionni Di Gravio OAM
University Archivist & Chair, Hunter Living Histories