Summary

These documents relate to the early history of Delta Iron Works [see Related Links], Brandon, and complement the collection of archival material from Delta Iron Works also held in Special Collections.

In his covering letter to this donation, Green describes the material as:

"Archival papers pertaining to Alfred James Green and the business enterprises conducted by him from 1896 to 1906 in Townsville and from 1906 in Brandon, in the Burdekin Delta."

Green's Foundry:

A foundry run by Mackay and Green in Mackay is mentioned by Roy Connolly in his 1964 book, John Drysdale and the Burdekin (Sydney, Ure Smith). Connolly goes on to say that the Green in this firm was "father of A. J. Green ... who established in 1910 the Brandon Foundry, later known as the Delta Iron Works." He also mentions that at the time of writing A. J. Green was a nonagenarian still living in Brandon.
In 1899, Alfred James Green bought a Townsville business from W. A. Norris for £125.00, though how this relates to Green's other businesses is unclear.

Green's Foundry was evidently well thought of, capturing high profile contracts. In their book, "A Pattern of Pubs: Hotels of Townsville 1864-1914," Dorothy M. and Bruce C. Gibson-Wilde wrote of Buchanan's Hotel, Sturt St, "The verandahs were wreathed in some of Australia’s finest iron lace manufactured by Green's Foundry of Townsville."

Delta Iron Works:

A. J. Green operated this business in Townsville until 1906, when he moved to Brandon and established Delta Iron Works. In his letter of 25 September 1997, Keith Green wrote, "The Brandon business has operated under several names and continues to operate at the time of writing as a foundry and engineering works, still under the ownership and management of descendants of A. J. Green."

Types of documents included in this archive:

Accounts books (alternatively called debtors' registers) – These list customers, work done and prices charged.

Time books – Work diaries in date order with names of persons working, work they accomplished and hours spent on each task for each day.

Order books – Records items ordered from suppliers; entries are in date order.
Duplicate Order books – Includes carbon copies of notes and letters written to suppliers as well as copies of orders.

Withdrawals from Stock books – Not all arranged in the same way. Includes information about items withdrawn, on what date, by whom and for which customer.

Stock book – Lists items in stock with quantity, names of suppliers, etc.
Monthly Balances Accounts book –In alphabetical order by customer.