The South-West Committee (SWC) came into being as a result of a meeting held in Hobart on 12 November 1962. The meeting convened by Ron Brown attended by representatives of organisations and persons particularly interested in the future of South-West Tasmania, resolved to form an organisation to work for the conservation of the area and for the introduction of a rational plan for the development of its resources.;;In its early years the Committee, which was representative of organisations more generally concerned with conservation and outdoor recreation, was instrumental in having the whole of the South-West declared a fire protected area under the Rural Fires Board Act, and in the creation of a Faunal District covering more than a million and a half acres, the largest reserve of its kind in Australia except for the northern Territory.;;In 1966, following a thorough and exhaustive investigation, the SWC submitted to government a comprehensive and co-ordinated plan for the future of the South-West. Among other things, the submission suggested areas particularly suited to be set aside for reserves, together with the type of development desirable within each area. Proposals were also submitted for the type of authority best suited to administer the area.;;Limited progress in the achievement of these and other objectives together with the announcement by the Hydro Electric Commission (HEC or Hydro) of plans for the Gordon River scheme for power development which would subsequently drown Lake Pedder resulted in a call by the SWC for an independent enquiry (Lake Pedder Committee of Enquiry) to examine all aspects of conservation and development in the South-West.;;In the five years from 1967 a number of recommendations arising from another enquiry conducted by the Legislative Council Select Committee (Cartland Report) which received its principal submissions from the SWC, e.g. the declaration of a large national park in the South-West, the setting up of a South-West National Park Board, and the establishment of a new authority to administer national parks and wildlife in the state (National Parks and Wildlife Service) were approved.;;The SWC had a constituent membership of over 1,000 persons. Many organisations were represented in the SWC's constituency including:;;Aero Club of (Southern) Tasmania;;Launceston Walking Club;;Residents of Port Davey;;Tasmanian Caverneering Club;;Tasmanian University Mountaineering Club;;Tasmanian Aviation Service;;Save Lake Pedder Committee;;South-West Tasmania Action Committee;;Tasmanian Flora and Fauna Conservation Committee;;Youth Hostels Association of Tasmania;;and most recently the Lake Pedder Restoration Committee;;Records are held for many other both government and non-government bodies and individuals whom bear either a direct or indirect relation to the activities of the South-West Committee particularly concerning the Lake Pedder controversy as indicated by the presence of material at item level given a description containing the words "Lake Pedder". See "Related Agencies" field below for links to the records deposited by those agencies and individuals.