Buildings

Also see Rate Records by Region.

Or see Rate Records (A-Z).

Also see Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works Plans.

Also see Fire Insurance Plans.

Also see Architects.

Also see Builders.

See Heritage Organizations.

See Churches, Synagogues and Religious Records.

See School Records.

See Libraries and Mechanics' Institutes.

For hotels see Publicans.

For post offices see Postal Service.

See Prison Records.

MILES LEWIS - AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURAL INDEX

This was compiled by Miles Lewis in 1986. It covers the nineteenth century to the 1950s and was prepared from a card index held by the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Melbourne. It includes a searchable database of architects and lists their projects.

https://aai.app.unimelb.edu.au/apex/f?p=199:10:

PRIVATE BUILDINGS

MELBOURNE

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - CITY OF MELBOURNE EARLY BUILDING RECORDS 1850-1915

These are not online.

https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/councils-city-melbourne-1841-1997/city-melbourne-early-building

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PLANS AND PERMITS 1916-1960

These are not online.

https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/city-melbourne/city-melbourne-building-plans-and-permits-1916-1960

ANCESTRY - VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, SELECTED TRIAL BRIEF AND CORRESPONDENCE REGISTERS AND OTHER IMAGES, 1837-1993

These are provided by Public Record Office Victoria. These records are not indexed but can be browsed by description and range. They include:

Melbourne Building Application Index (City of Melbourne) 1916-1993

https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=60672

MILES LEWIS - MELBOURNE MANSIONS DATABASE

This was compiled by Miles Lewis. It is a database of major Melbourne houses of the nineteenth century. It is searchable by location and by the name of the architect.

http://mileslewis.net/melbourne-mansions/

QUEENSCLIFF

ARCHIVAL ACCESS VICTORIA - QUEENSCLIFF BUILDING PERMITS 1960-1989

This database includes building permits from the Borough of Queenscliff between 1960 and 1989. They are taken from VPRS 17038 at Public Record Office Victoria

https://datastudio.google.com/reporting/b6da986c-5229-4662-b49d-61072f7e6c33

BENDIGO

BENDIGO REGIONAL ARCHIVES CENTRE - CITY OF BENDIGO BUILDING REGISTERS, SIMPLE INDEX 1926-1969

https://www.brac.vic.gov.au/_files/ugd/cdba08_27a3862ccaba42989285cc06d662d28c.pdf

BENDIGO REGIONAL ARCHIVES CENTRE - CITY OF BENDIGO PERMIT APPLICATIONS INDEX

https://www.brac.vic.gov.au/_files/ugd/cdba08_767d8ffbfa144a7d8af2eab96af965c0.pdf

PUBLIC BUILDINGS

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - PUBLIC BUILDING PLANS AND FILES 1920s - 1988

The Department of Health kept files and plans on public buildings such as community halls, schools, cinemas, theatres, hospitals, churches and even the Melbourne Cricket Ground. These are all non-government buildings. This was to detail the compliance of these public buildings with health and safety regulations (e.g. number of toilets, fire safety and so on). The files have been indexed into the catalogue.

https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/researching-land-and-property/public-building-plans-and-files

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - NON-GOVERNMENT SCHOOL BUILDING RECORDS (VPRS 8044, 7882, 10300)

This is a finding aid for non-government school building records. The records are not online.

https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/education/non-government-school-building-records

PUBLIC WORKS

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT PLANS

Examples of 'public works' buildings are state schools, prisons, courthouses, public hospitals, among many others. In addition, these series also contain plans such as bridge and road construction. These are all government buildings or structures.

Some of these have been digitized.

https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/researching-land-and-property/public-works-department-plans

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT SUMMARY CONTRACT BOOKS 1856-1935 (VPRS 972)

Details included were: year, contract number, amount, locality, brief description of work, and name of contractor.

https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS972

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, INSPECTOR GENERAL TO INSPECTOR OF WORKS, LETTER BOOKS 1869-1881 (VPRS 991)

These have been digitized.

https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS991

ANCESTRY - VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, SELECTED TRIAL BRIEF AND CORRESPONDENCE REGISTERS AND OTHER IMAGES, 1837-1993

These are provided by Public Record Office Victoria. These records are not indexed but can be browsed by description and range. They include:

Inspector of Works Letter Book

These are Letter Books, Inspector General to Inspector of Works - Public Works Department 1869-1881 (VPRS 991).

https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=60672

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - GOVERNMENT BUILDING PHOTOGRAPHS 1926-1965 (VPRS 10516)

This series includes photographs created by the Department of Public Works between 1926 and 1965. The photographs include state primary schools, state secondary schools, state colleges, public hospitals, courthouses, police stations, prisons and bridges. Also included are Victorian public buildings and some interstate public buildings. This is a finding aid for government building photographs.

https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/education/government-building-photos-1926-1965

NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA - ARMY ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS HELD IN MELBOURNE 1901-1962

The records are held in series described as 'correspondence files' which in general cover the wide range of Australian Army policy, operational and administrative issues.They include files relating to rifle ranges, drill halls and training depots. The following is Fact Sheet 135 from the National Archives of Australia.

https://www.naa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-05/fs-135-army-administrative-records-held-in-melbourne.pdf