The Binnie family, especially William Binnie, and his father Archibald Binnie, were actively engaged in the development of the Queensland coal industry for much of the twentieth century. While the family interests were primarily centred in the Ipswich region, William Binnie also played a central role in the development of the Central Queensland coal fields. He was the Secretary of the West Moreton Colliery Owners Association in 1906 and Manager of the Blackheath Colliery in 1908. By the 1960s W. Binnie with R. Binnie, A. Binnie, M.D. Binnie were the directors of United Collieries Pty. Ltd.

One of Australia's famous literary and artistic families founded by William à Beckett and Emma Mills (1838-1906).

The Briggs family lived at Clunes, Victoria. Charles Henry Briggs’ mother, Eliza Briggs (nee Rowley) was the daughter of Captain Thomas Rowley. Charles Henry Briggs moved to Sydney and later set up in business at Bathurst and Goulburn. Ernest Briggs, a 5th generation Australian, was descended from Captain T. Rowley and was manager of the Radio Station 4BK in Brisbane in the 1930s. The papers relating to the Briggs family consist mainly of correspondence, which belonged to Charles Henry Briggs and one of his sons Charles James Briggs, and a number of miscellaneous documents such as a tombstone inscription of the Briggs and Rowley families and papers relating to the Australian Natives Association. The newspaper clippings in a bound volume are from the Brisbane Courier, the Telegraph and the Chronicle from December 1894 to April 1895 regarding the case against Rev. Charles Ogg brought by the Presbytery of the Ann St Church. There is also a illuminated parchment testimonial, which was given to Miss Margaret Ann Ogg, daughter of Rev. C. Ogg, on her retirement. Most of the studio portrait photographs are from an album of the Briggs family, some with identification. Others are photographs of Ernest Briggs and the staff of the station 4BK in the 1930s, and there is also one of Miss Margaret Ann Ogg at her house in Windsor. The collection was collected and presented by W.B. Ross (1857 to 1930).