Joan Herlihy was an adviser to the Solomon Islands Special Committee on Provincial Government which met in November 1978, shortly after independence. The Committee produced a report in January 1979, Decentralisation and Provincial Government: Solomon Islands, which was the basis for provincial and local government arrangements in the Solomon Islands for the next 20 years. Frustration with centralisation of political power in Honiara was a concern of the Committee and remains a concern in the Solomon Islands, as indicated by the civil conflict in 2000-2001. Dr Herlihy’s PhD thesis, Always we are last: a study of planning, development and disadvantage in Melanesia, was submitted at the ANU in 1981.

Documents collected by Dr. Herlihy as Adviser to the Special Committee on Provincial Government (SCPG) in 1978-1979, as follows: West Council Papers, 1975-1979; Background Papers, Nos. 1-132 (gaps), 1978; Unnumbered background and issues papers, summary of submissions, agenda papers, daily summary, circulars, notes, minutes, recommendations, draft and final report, draft provincial government legislation.
Further papers on most aspects of Solomon Islanders’ social, economic and political life collected by Dr Herlihy arranged by subject, as follows: Plans and Planning – National Plans, 1945-1980;
Departmental Plans – Solomon Islands, 1974-1976; Planning – Solomons, 1973-1978; Cooperatives, 1965-1971; Economy of the Solomon Islands, (1) & (2), 1967-1980; Solomons – Rural Economy and Development, 1975-1982; Kamaosi Rural Training Centre, 1970-1973; Agricultural and Industrial Loans Board and Other Credit and Loans, 1969-1980; Tourism, 1968-1980; Transport and Communications in Solomon Islands, 1966-1978; Constitution, 1968-1978; Decentralisation and Local Government, 1967-1978; Local Government Conferences, 1974-1977; Area Committees, 1970-1977; Councils, 1966-1977; Isabel Council (1) & (2), 1964-1976; Council Planning – Isabel, 1972-1978; Makira Council, 1968-1977; Council Planning – Makira, 1973-1976; Employment and Wages, 1914-1932, 1962-1976; Trade Unions, 1973-1975; Land in Solomon Islands (1) & (2), 1964-1978; Solomons Culture and Traditional Systems, 1940-1977; Press Cuttings, 1977-1979. <b>See Finding aids for details.</b>