Historical information

Robin Boyd’s desk cupboard contained two exercise books (D482.1-D482.2) and assorted articles, essays and other material regarding Sydney Opera House (P1378.01-P1378.36, D179-D181, D479-D480), inserted inside the front cover of Walkabout Magazine July 1966 (P1377). Robin Boyd asked Mandie Eckersley (nee Boyd), his eldest daughter, to research the Sydney Opera House for him in the Mitchell Library, both before and after Utzon left. Robin was writing a book, but was very disillusioned with the way the entire saga unfolded. Mandie Boyd recalls: “It was a huge task because he wanted any mention at all in any publications to be noted. No one else had done it at that stage, not even the clippings service.” This first volume is filled with transcriptions on newspaper articles, editorials and letters to the editor covering the period 1951 to 1962.

Physical description

The Reding Universal Exercise Book, all pages filled (92 pages)

Inscriptions & markings

Written on front cover: Mandie Eckersley, 20 Dillon St, Paddington, N.S.W. Telephone - 318339, Dec 1962, L01919. In exercise book: all handwritten notes. On back cover: list of numbers, squiggle, and dates "Dec 18 Dec. 23".