Records

Each record focuses on a single item from the National Archives' collection. Some records contain extra information to help you interpret them.

• Record

  

  Horses used to prepare land for Old Parliament House

  This is a black-and-white photograph of men and draught horses levelling land and laying pipes in Canberra in 1926.

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  Improved machine for mincing prickly pear into fodder – patent application

  This diagram is part of a patent application from 13 October 1928 for a improved machine to mince prickly pear into fodder.

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  Infestation of the introduced plant species prickly pear

  This black-and-white photograph from 1956 shows an infestation of prickly pear.

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  Memorial Hall in Queensland to commemorate the success of the cactoblastis moth against the prickly pear cactus

  A photograph of the Cactoblastis Memorial Hall in Boonarga, Queensland. It commemorates the success of the cactoblastis moth against the prickly pear cactus.

• Record

  

  Preparation work to fell a karri tree

  This is a colour photograph of a tree feller using a chainsaw to fell a 150-foot (45-metre) karri tree in Western Australia in 1966.

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  Recommendation to destroy prickly pear weeds using flame throwers

  A letter to the Advisory Council of Science and Industry suggesting flame throwers to destroy prickly pear weeds. This was rejected as an ineffective solution.

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  Recommendation to destroy prickly pear weeds using tanks driven by returned soldiers

  This is a letter to Albert Gould recommending the use of tanks and returned soldiers to destroy prickly pear weeds.

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  Suggestions for prickly pear eradication

  A collection of newspaper cuttings regarding the eradication of prickly pear.

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  Use of insects to destroy prickly pear

  A request sent to the Premier of New South Wales about the eradication of the 'Prickly Pear' plant, which had become a weed since its introduction to Australia.