Victorian Genealogy
Finding People and Places in Victoria, Australia.
Also see Public Servants.
Also see Engineers.
Also see Public Works Contractors.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT PLANS
Examples of 'public works' buildings are state schools, prisons, courts, 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.
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:
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.
Early roads may be seen in Historic Plans Collection or Parish and Township Plans. See Historic Plans Collection or Parish and Township Plans.
In 1853, the Central Roads Board was established. It was to be responsible for the formation, construction, improvement, management and maintenance of proclaimed main roads and bridges from 1853 to 1858. It was also responsible for the co-ordination of the works undertaken by the District Roads Boards. The Board of Land and Works took responsibility for main roads and bridges from 1858 until 1913.
Local roads and bridges were primarily funded, constructed and maintained by local government authorities. Also see Local Government.
In 1913 the Victorian state government established the Country Roads Board and they constructed and maintained main roads in Victoria. In 1983 this was succeeded by the Road Construction Authority. In 1989 this was merged with the Road Traffic Authority to become the Roads Corporation which trades as Vic Roads.
National funding for roads began in the 1920s, with the federal government contributing to major roads managed by the state and territory governments. The Federal Government did not completely fund any roads until 1974 when the Whitlam Government introduced the National Roads Act 1974. Under the act, the states were still responsible for road construction and maintenance but were fully compensated for money spent on approved projects.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - ROAD AND BRIDGES-PHOTOGRAPHS, DRAWINGS, PLANS, DESIGNS AND MAPS
This is a finding aid for photographs, drawings, plans, designs and maps of roads and bridges.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/transport/visual-records-roads-bridges
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - COUNTRY ROADS BOARD PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION 1913-1973 (VPRS 17684)
Many photographs have been digitised.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - MAIN ROADS MANAGEMENT, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE
This is a finding aid for main roads management, construction and maintenance.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/transport/road-management
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - LOCAL ROADS, STREETS, FOOTPATHS AND BRIDGES
This is a finding aid for local roads, streets, footpaths and bridges.
Roads that are no longer in use may be sold by the government. See Land Ownership Records.
They may also be held under license. See Land Selection and Occupation Records.
Permission to occupy roads may be obtained from local government authorities. See Local Government. This may be reported in newspapers. See Newspapers, Magazines and Journals.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION, MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
This is a finding aid for main roads construction, management and maintenance.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - LOCAL ROADS, STREETS, FOOTPATHS AND BRIDGES
This is a finding aid for local roads, streets, footpaths and bridges.
Also see Railway Employees.
For railway construction trust rates see Railway Rate Records.
The Victorian Railways operated in Victoria and also some lines in New South Wales from 1859 to 1983. The first railway was built in Victoria in 1854 by a private railway company. There was a mixture of public and private railways until 1878 when the private companies had all been taken over the Victorian Railways.
The Victorian Railways also ran the following:
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - RAILWAY RECORDS
Public Record Office Victoria holds railway records from 1859 to 2014. It also holds records for the following private railway companies:
There may be some digitized records.
PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS - “BOARD OF LAND AND WORKS: VICTORIAN RAILWAYS” REPORTS 1862-1883 AND “REPORTS OF THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS COMMISSIONERS” 1885-1972
“Board of Land and Works: Victorian Railways” reports and “Reports of the Victorian Railways Commissioners” may be seen on the Parliamentary Papers database. The former may include lists of railway employees. The latter may include railway employee appointments and removals from 1884 to 1903. Both may include lists of railway contractors. See under Victorian Parliament.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - PUBLIC TRANSPORT PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION (VPRS 12800, 12903)
The collection includes late nineteenth and twentieth century photographs; they have been digitised.
Also see Tramway Employees.
In Melbourne several tram companies and tramways trusts merged to form the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board from 1916 to 1922. Tramways were also operated in Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - TRAMWAY RECORDS 1855-2014
Public Record Office Victoria holds Melbourne tramway records. These include bus employees. It also holds records for the following private tramway companies and tramways trusts:
Public Record Office Victoria also holds Ballarat tramway records 1902-1918 (VA 747).
Some records may be digitized.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - PUBLIC TRANSPORT PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION (VPRS 12800, 12903)
The collection includes late nineteenth and twentieth century photographs; they have been digitised.
Also see Sea Pilots.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - PORTS, SHIPS AND AIRPORT RECORDS
Records relate to the Port of Melbourne, Port of Geelong and Port of Portland. Other ports include Port of Western Port, Port of Anderson's Inlet, Port of Corner Inlet and Port Albert, Port of Gippsland Lakes, Port of Snowy River, Port of Mallacoota, Port of Hastings and ports at Queenscliff, Barwon Heads, Lorne, Apollo Bay and Warrnambool. Also included are airports owned by the state government. Some records may be digitized.
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:
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=60672
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - PORTS, SHIPS, PLANES AND AIRPORTS-PHOTOGRAPHS, DRAWINGS, PLANS, DESIGNS AND MAPS
These are state government records. Some records may be digitized.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - MELBOURNE HARBOUR TRUST PHOTOGRAPHS 1870s-1983 (VPRS 8357)
The photographs have been digitized. They are dated between 1880 and 1983. Most of the photographs are not dated.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - PORTS, SHIPS AND AIRPORT RECORDS
Records relate to the Port of Melbourne, Port of Geelong and Port of Portland. Other ports include Port of Western Port, Port of Anderson's Inlet, Port of Corner Inlet and Port Albert, Port of Gippsland Lakes, Port of Snowy River, Port of Mallacoota, Port of Hastings and ports at Queenscliff, Barwon Heads, Lorne, Apollo Bay and Warrnambool. Also included are airports owned by the state government. Some records may be digitized.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - PORTS, SHIPS, PLANES AND AIRPORTS-PHOTOGRAPHS, DRAWINGS, PLANS, DESIGNS AND MAPS
These are state government records. Some records may be digitized.
Also see Lighthouse Keepers.
The responsibility for lighthouses in Victoria was originally held by the colonial governments of New South Wales and Victoria. The colony of Victoria joined the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901 becoming the state of Victoria. The Commonwealth government took control of the administration of lighthouses in Victoria. Lighthouse records may be found at the National Archives of Australia. Lighthouses in Victoria include:
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA - GABO ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE JOURNAL 1874-1877 (B5316)
This has been digitized.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA - CAPE OTWAY LETTER BOOK 1856-1913 (A14074)
This has been digitized.
LIGHTHOUSES OF AUSTRALIA INC.
AUSTRALIAN LIGHTHOUSES
THE LIGHTHOUSE DIRECTORY
CAPE OTWAY LIGHTSTATION
For water and sanitary rates see Water Rate Records or Sanitary Rate Records.
STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA - MELBOURNE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS PLANS 1890s-1950s
The MMBW plans were produced by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) from the 1890s to the 1950s to facilitate the design and development of Melbourne's sewerage system. They provide a historical record of Melbourne streetscapes and environmental features, including outlines or 'footprints' of buildings. They have been digitized.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - MELBOURNE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS PLANS 1889-1970
There are several sets of plans and a collection of Field or Level Books. The MMBW created detailed plans of houses and other buildings in the Melbourne metropolitan area. They are not online.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - STATE RIVERS AND WATER SUPPLY COMMISSION ATTACHMENT BOOKS 1906-1958 (VPRS 6012)
These have been digitized.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS6012
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:
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=60672
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