Presbyterian minister, politician and writer. (1799-1878) migrated from Scotland to Australia in 1823. He established the Presbyterian Church in Australia and opened a Presbyterian school, the Australian College, which operated between 1831 and 1854. Lang and the Presbyterian Synod had a volatile relationship throughout his life.

Passionate in his religious beliefs and supporter of assisted family immigration schemes, Lang actively encouraged British and Scottish immigration to Australia.

Lang also sought influence through writing and publishing books and journals, including An Historical and Statistical Account of New South Wales, both as a Penal Settlement and as a British Colony (1834) and The Colonial Observer (1841-1844). He was elected to the Legislative Council for three terms and the Legislative Assembly (1859-69).

The collection consists of papers of Reverend John Dunmore Lang and family. Sermons, notes, lectures, Isabelle Lang’s commonplace book, William Lang’s sketch book, journals of ship voyages. Notes on the provenance of the papers and a brief list of the papers received are included in the collection.