LOUISA LAWSON MEMORIAL WEEKEND 4–6 September 2026 • Sydney

Join with uson the 4, 5 and 6 September to build up momentum with the campaign

Archival evidence in TROVE suggests that the money raised for Louisa Lawson’s sandstone memorial seat in the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney was never applied to the seat itself — trustees blocked the project and redirected the funds, though the exact allocation is unclear. No public accounting was made, which is why tracing trustee minutes and newspaper reports is crucial to document how the funds were absorbed.

 
🔎 Where to Look in TROVE
To strengthen your campaign, Douglas, here are the most promising archival sources to trace:

Source Type
Why It Matters
TROVE Search Strategy
Trustee minutes & Botanic Gardens reports
May record formal decisions about redirecting Lawson’s memorial funds.
Search: “Royal Botanic Gardens trustees minutes 1920 Louisa Lawson”
Newspaper coverage (1920–1925)
Public debate, fundraising drives, or announcements about the memorial seat.
Search: “Louisa Lawson memorial seat Botanic Gardens”; filter by date 1920–1925
Women’s organisations’ publications
Groups like the Women’s Progressive Association may have protested the redirection.
Search: “Women’s Progressive Association Louisa Lawson memorial”
Government Gazettes
Could include notices of fund transfers or approvals.
Search: “NSW Government Gazette Royal Botanic Gardens memorial seat”