Interview with Frank McAlary, barrister / interviewer, John Farquharson.

2001

59154

McAlary, Frank.

Native title (Australia)

Lawyers -- Australia.

McAlary speaks of his family first coming to Australia around 1840 settling in Grafton but later moved to Victoria and practised law, his father as a fencer, his memory of visiting Sydney when the Harbour Bridge was being built, how the family moved to Sydney following his father's death, Sydney during World War II, his army training and his legal studies, his period as an articled clerk then admission to the Bar, the relationship between Barwick and Kerr leading to the Whitlam dismissal, his view of Clive Evatt, his cases before the Privy Council, representing Bart Cummings and Robbie Waterhouse, some outstanding judges, how he dealt with shonky witnesses, his view on what is needed for a better system of justice, how changes in the law have lead to a weaker legal system, his own family, his love of the bush and the need to live close to it, his property at Glen Innes including Kimberley Properties, meat production and marketing, cattle duffing, his particular business investments. McAlary speaks of the opening of the High Court, religion and work at the Matthew Talbot Hostel administered by St. Vincent de Paul, Aborigines and Aboriginal stockmen, view on Michael Kirby, Aborigines and their land claims based on native title.

Access open for research; written permission required for personal copies and public use during the lifetime of the interviewee.

Recorded on May 28, 2001 in Sydney, N.S.W.

Oral History Collection.

4 sound discs (ca. 240 min.) : digital.