Victorian Genealogy
Finding People and Places in Victoria, Australia.
Also see Governments.
Also see solicitors and barristers' records. See Barristers, Solicitors and Conveyancers.
Also see Pastoralists.
Also see Farmers.
Crown land is land that is held by the government.
Much of the Crown land in early Victoria was held under pastoral licences from the government. See Pastoral Runs.
From 1855 miner's rights which were required before mining operations could be undertaken. Historically these also gave the right to occupy up to four acres of Crown land. See Miner's Rights.
Selection of Crown land began in Victoria in 1860. See Land Selection and Occupation Records.
Once the land has been sold ie alienated it passes to private ownership. See Land Ownership Records.
Land that has not been alienated remains Crown land. Public schools, public universities and colleges, public hospitals, public mental asylums, public cemeteries, some churches, some abattoirs, some markets, municipal buildings and land, public roads, government railways, forestry reserves, national parks, parks, recreation reserves and racecourses are located on Crown land.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - MICROFICHE CATALOGUE TO CROWN LAND AND SURVEY FILES
In order to find the unit number for files relating to Crown land either a file number is required or an allotment number, section number and name of township or parish. These are obtainable from the Parish or Township Plan. See Parish and Township Plans. The VPRS and unit number can then be located in the Microfiche Catalogue to Crown Land and Survey Files. This is not online.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - COMMISSIONER OF CROWN LANDS OUTWARD LETTER BOOK 1839-1840 (PART OF VPRS 9)
This has been digitized.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS9
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - DEPARTMENT OF CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY, INDEX TO INWARD REGISTERED CORRESPONDENCE 1856, 1858-1876 (VPRS 5522)
This has been digitized.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS5522
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - DEPARTMENT OF CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY, REGISTERS OF INWARD CORRESPONDENCE 1856-1876 (VPRS 70)
This has been digitized.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS70
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - DEPARTMENT OF CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY, ALPHABETICAL REGISTERS OF INWARDS CORRESPONDENCE 1876-1896 (VPRS 166)
This has been digitized.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS166
Also see Pastoral Run Plans.
Also see Historic Plans Collection.
Pastoralists were also known as squatters. They held pastoral runs illegally or under licence.
Governor Darling of the colony of New South Wales created what is known as the 'limits of location', creating two areas within the colony by a Government Order on 5 September 1826. Settlers were only allowed to take up land within the ‘limits’. A further Government Order on 14 October 1829 increased this area of approved settlement to include an area called the Nineteen Counties; this included Sydney and the settled area surrounding it.
Governor Bourke of the colony of New South Wales sought to legalise and regulate squatting through legislation in 1836. The regulations consequent to the 1836 Act included issuing licences to settlers to depasture their stock on the vacant Crown lands beyond the limits of location, on application to the Colonial Secretary.
MUSEUMS OF HISTORY NEW SOUTH WALES, STATE ARCHIVES COLLECTION - SQUATTERS AND GRAZIERS INDEX 1837-1849 (NRS 906, NRS 1391)
This is an index to holders of depasturing licences and others who were occupying Crown land beyond the Nineteen Counties, and who were visited by the Commissioners of Crown Lands.
MUSEUMS OF HISTORY NEW SOUTH WALES, STATE ARCHIVES COLLECTION - DEPASTURING LICENSES (SIC) INDEX 1837-1851
Depasturing Licences permitted settlers to graze stock on Crown Lands "beyond the limits of location". The "limits of location" refer to the nineteen counties of settled area extending from Sydney.
ANCESTRY - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, DEPASTURING LICENSES (SIC), 1837-1846
These records are provided in association with State Records Authority of NSW. This is a collection of depasturing licences for individual squatters from the government of New South Wales. The licences permitted settlers to graze stock on Crown lands. They allowed grazing to happen beyond the limits of location (the 19 counties that included Sydney and the settled area surrounding it) and were renewable and good for one year.
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1790
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - PASTORAL RUN REGISTERS 1848-1883 (VPRS 5825)
This is not online.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS5825
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - REGISTER OF PASTORAL LICENCES 1875-1900 (VPRS 1293)
This is not online.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS1293
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - REGISTER OF APPLICATIONS FOR THE LEASE OF PASTORAL RUNS 1848-1851 (VPRS 13924)
This is not online.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS13924
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - RETURN OF PASTORAL RENTS RECEIVED 1864-1873 (VPRS 809)
This is not online.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS809
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - REGISTER OF PAYMENT OF PASTORAL RENTS 1871-1874 (VPRS 3649)
This is not online.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS3649
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 are:
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=60672
VICTORIAN PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS DATABASE - OCCUPANTS OF CROWN LANDS 1853
The database is searchable.
https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1853-54NoC4.pdf
VICTORIAN PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS DATABASE - CROWN LAND LICENSES 1856
The database is searchable.
https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1855-56NoC36.pdf
FINDMYPAST - CROWN LAND LICENCES VICTORIA 1851-1855
It lists the occupants of crown land licenses for the years 1851 to 1855. It is arranged by district, including: Gippsland, Murray, Portland Bay, Western Port and Wimmera. They are taken from publications presented to Parliament in 1853 and 1856. This is searchable by name.
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/crown-land-licences-victoria
GUIDE TO AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS RECORDS
This guide provides links to archival and published resources relating to Australian business entities and people involved with those entities. It includes the following:
https://www.gabr.net.au/index.html
FAMILYSEARCH - GELLIONS STATION, YARRAM. ACCOUNT BOOK 1868-1892
Original records were in possession of the Port Albert Maritime Museum, Port Albert.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/59601?availability=Family%20History%20Library
Lists of pastoral runs appear in government gazettes. From 1862 lists of pastoral runs were published in June and December each year. The granting of new leases were also published. See Government Gazettes.
TROVE - PASTORAL PIONEERS OF PORT PHILLIP 1835-1851 BY BILLIS AND KENYON
This has been digitized.https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-29718849/view?partId=nla.obj-29726826#
Lists of pastoral runs appear in newspapers. See Newspapers, Magazines and Journals.
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA GENEALOGICAL INDEX OF NAMES - MARION BUTTON DEPASTURING LICENCES INDEX 1840-1851
These are extracted from Port Phillip Herald and The Argus.
https://www.gsv.org.au/article/our-collection
From 1855 a miners' right is required before a mining claim could be occupied and mining operations undertaken. Historically these also gave the right to occupy a quarter acre of Crown land for a residence. Miner's rights needed to be renewed annually. In 1858 holders of miner's rights were also given the right to operate a business on Crown land (such as a shop or hotel), the right to fell timber on claims and the right to build races and dams on Crown lands for mining purposes. Miners' rights were obtainable from the local court. See Victorian Courts of Petty Sessions. Various records relating to miners' rights are also held by Public Record Office Victoria. They are not online.
If the land held under miner's right was purchased, the miner's right needed to be surrendered and may be found in the land purchase records. See Land Ownership Records.
Selection began in Victoria in 1860. There were various schemes where people could select land and pay it off over many years or they could just hold the land under licence for a number of years. There were various Acts of Parliament detailing these schemes; the Section under which people took up the land, laid the conditions for their possession of the land.
Public Record Office Victoria holds land selection and occupation files. Some of these can be accessed through the catalogue under the name of selector. All World War 1 Soldier Settlement Scheme records are included.
Parish and Township Plans detail the Crown grantees of the land. The Crown grantees may have selected the land prior to purchase. The number on the Parish or Township Plan is the application number. The lower numbers are the Section numbers under which the land was selected. These numbers may be required in order to find the file at Public Record Office Victoria. See Parish and Township Plans.
Put Away Plans are earlier versions of Parish Plans which may show earlier landholdings; these may either be earlier Crown grants (the land has been since subdivided) or selections where the occupier failed to purchase the land. See Put Away Plans.
STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA - TOWNSHIP AND PARISH GUIDE
This is a list of townships and parishes proclaimed under the Land Acts of the State Of Victoria. For each township, it has the parish, the land district, the municipality and the proclamation year and the page number in the Government Gazette. For each parish, it has the county, the land district and the municipality. The guide has been digitized.
https://viewer.slv.vic.gov.au/?entity=IE4361644&mode=browse
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - CROWN LEASES 1862-PRESENT (VPRS 17075)
Crown Leases are one of two types of leasehold over Crown land in the Land Register. Crown Leases enable the exclusive use of Crown land for a specific term and purpose. These were commonly used for grazing and purchase. Crown Leases are searchable on computer at Public Record Office Victoria. A volume and folio number is required to find the correct certificate. These may be found in private documents, probate records or land selection records.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - LAND SELECTION AND CORRESPONDENCE FILES C.1856-C.1984 (VPRS 5357)
This series is partly open. It may be accessed through the catalogue under the name of selector.
FAMILYSEARCH - LAND SELECTION REGISTERS
These records are sourced from Public Record Office Victoria. Land selection registers usually include registers of applications, registers of lessees, registers of licensees and rent rolls. Many of the placenames associated with these records should have been labelled as land districts. If you are looking for a location that is not listed try looking for the name of the nearest town in the area or the parish in the township and parish guide above, and this will give you the name of the land district.
https://www.familysearch.org/en/
FAMILYSEARCH - GEELONG LAND DISTRICT, APPLICATIONS FOR ALLOTMENTS 1886-1950
Original records were held at the Geelong Historical Records Centre, Geelong.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/551220?availability=Family%20History%20Library
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA GENEALOGICAL INDEX OF NAMES (GIN) - PARISH OF GORONG, COUNTIES OF BOURKE AND GRANT SCHEDULE OF ALLOTMENTS, VICTORIA. DEPARTMENT OF CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY
https://www.gsv.org.au/article/our-collection
FAMILYSEARCH - LAND SELECTION, REGISTERS OF LESSEES, VARIOUS DISTRICTS, SECTION 12 LAND ACT 1862, 1862-1883 (VPRS 13091 P1 VOLUME 1)
Original records at Public Record Office Victoria.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/3665742?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - LAND SELECTION, REGISTER OF APPLICATIONS, SECTION 47, LAND ACT 1862, 1862-1865 (VPRS 1286 P0 VOLUME 1)
Original records at Public Record Office Victoria.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2819844?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - LAND SELECTION, REGISTER OF LEASES, SECTION 47, LAND ACT 1862, 1862-1865 (VPRS 13018 P1 VOLUME 1)
Original records at Public Record Office Victoria.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2819829?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - LAND SELECTION REGISTERS, PARTICULARS OF GAZETTED APPLICATIONS, SECTION 47, LAND ACT 1862, 1863-1864 (VPRS 13017 P1 VOLUMES 1, 2)
Original records at Public Record Office Victoria. Applications for leases granted for land for different enterprises. Those that satisfied the selection criteria were advertised in the Victorian Government Gazette for four consecutive weeks.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/3156206?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - LAND SELECTION, RENT ROLL FOR LESSEES, SECTION 47, LAND ACT 1862, 1863-1890 (VPRS 13026 P1 VOLUME 1)
Original records at Public Record Office Victoria.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2819831?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - LAND SELECTION, INDEX TO APPLICATIONS REGISTERS, ALL DISTRICTS, SECTION 42, LAND ACT 1865, 1866-1871 (VPRS 1288 P0 VOLUMES 1, 2, 3)
Original records at Public Record Office Victoria.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2819970?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - LAND SELECTION, REGISTER OF APPLICATIONS, ALL DISTRICTS, SECTION 42 AMENDING LAND ACT 1865, 1865-1891 (VPRS 13034 P1 VOLUMES 1, 2, 3, 4, VPRS 13059 P1 VOLUME 1, VPRS 14140 P1 VOLUME 1)
Original records at Public Record Office Victoria.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2819820?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - LAND SELECTION, REGISTER OF LICENSES (SIC) ISSUED BY PARISH, ALL DISTRICTS, REGULATIONS OF 1868 SECTION 42 AMENDING LAND ACT 1865, 1868-1871 (VPRS 13060 P1 VOLUME 1)
Original records at Public Record Office Victoria.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/3156210?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - LAND SELECTION, INDEX TO REGISTER OF LESSEES AND GRANTS, SECTION 33, LAND ACT 1869, 1869-1883 (VPRS 1319 P0 VOLUME 1)
Original records at Public Record Office Victoria.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2819973?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - LAND SELECTION, REGISTERS OF LICENSEES, DAYLESFORD, SECTION 47, LAND ACT 1869, 1875-1892 (VPRS 3710 P0 VOLUME1)
Original records at Public Record Office Victoria. This is an alphabetical index to surnames of licensees detailing type of land usage, parish, rates etc.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2819815?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - LAND SELECTION, REGISTERS OF APPLICATIONS, SECTION 49, LAND ACT 1869, 1870-1874 (VPRS 13128 P1 VOLUMES 1, 2)
Original records at Public Record Office Victoria.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2819814?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - REGISTER OF APPLICATIONS AND RENT ROLLS, SECTION 49, CLOSER SETTLEMENT ACT 1904, 1905-1917 (VPRS 13950 P1 VOLUME 2, 3, 4, 5, VPRS 13951 P1 VOLUME 1, 2, 3, 4 P2 VOLUME 1
Original records at Public Record Office Victoria.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2819813?availability=Family%20History%20Library
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - WORLD WAR 1 SOLDIER SETTLEMENT SCHEME 1917-1935
ANCESTRY - VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, BATTLE TO FARM, 1919-1935
Soldier settlements were land settlement schemes where soldiers who had returned from World War 1 were able to lease or buy land. They are searchable and may be browsed.
https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/61864/
FINDMYPAST - VICTORIA, WORLD WAR ONE SOLDIER SETTLERS INDEX
Soldier Settlements were land settlement schemes where soldiers who had returned from the war were able to lease land. The original records are held by Public Record Office Victoria. The index is searchable.
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/victoria-world-war-one-soldier-settlers
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA GENEALOGICAL INDEX OF NAMES - VICTORIAN PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS
This includes the following name index:
https://www.gsv.org.au/article/our-collection
Government gazettes may record an application for a licence or lease. Once an application has been successful, the application number is usually given. This is needed in order to find the file at Public Record Office Victoria. Government gazettes may also record an application to transfer the license or lease or the forfeiture of a licence or lease. See Victorian Government Gazettes.
Newspapers may report an application for a licence or lease or an application to transfer the license or lease or the forfeiture of a licence or lease. See Newspapers, Magazines and Journals.
The land transfer system in Victoria operates under two systems:
The documents relating to General Law may be found at Public Record Office Victoria; these were previously held at the General Law Library in Laverton North. The General Law system was for land alienated before 2 October 1862. From 31 December 1998 every time a land transfer takes place under General Law there is a requirement that the land be converted from the General Law system to the Torrens Law system.
When the land was alienated the first record issued is the Crown grant. The Register of Crown Grants (VPRS 18874) may be found at Public Record Office Victoria; these were previously held at the General Law Library in Laverton North. These are also on computer at Public Record Office Victoria.
The Register of Crown Grants is accessible through the Crown Grant Index 1838-1862 (VPRS 18875) (There was previously a name searchable index on computer at the General Law Library). Crown grants may be seen on Parish and Township Plans. See Parish and Township Plans. Crown grants may also be seen on put away plans where the land has been subsequently subdivided. See Put Away Plans. For a particular piece of land, a backwards search from the Application for Certificate of Title (see below) or the Application Search Notes (see below) may locate the grant grantee.
FAMILY HISTORY CONNECTIONS - VICTORIAN CROWN GRANTEE INDEX
This may be viewed online at the Family History Connections website. For members only.
https://familyhistory.asn.au/layout.php?mod=aigsindexes&i=5
VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT GAZETTES
The land that was being put up for sale by the government may be “gazetted” ie a notice was placed in the government gazette some months prior to the auction date. Once the sale has gone ahead and the title deeds were ready for collection a notice may have been placed in the government gazette. See Government Gazettes.
NEWSPAPER REPORTS
The government may have advertised the auction sales in newspapers. Once the sale has gone ahead, newspapers may report details of the auction and the purchasers and the prices paid. Once the title deeds were ready for collection a notice may have been placed in the government gazette. Some newspapers then reported notices in the government gazette which related to their district. See Newspapers, Magazines and Journals.
RECORDS OF SALES MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT
The government kept registers of the purchasers of land. These include the details of the land, names and addresses of purchasers and the date of purchase. If land was reserved for special purposes such a church or school this was also recorded. These records are held by the Public Record Office Victoria.
The government kept reports of land sales by public auction. These include the date of purchase, the details of the land, the reserve price, names of purchasers, the deposit paid, the balance paid and the total paid. These records are held by the Public Record Office Victoria.
Sale Contract Books were kept by the Government for the sale of Government land. These may include the details of the land, signatures, names and addresses of purchasers or their agents, the date of purchase and the amount of deposit and the total amount paid. These records are held by the Public Record Office Victoria.
Registers of Deeds were kept by the Government for the sale of Government land. These include the details of the land, names of purchasers, the date of the deeds, the date the deeds were received, the date the deeds were issued, the fee paid by the purchasers as well as a signature of the purchasers (or their agent). These records are held by the Public Record Office Victoria.
Memorials may be registered when land was transferred, mortgaged or leased. Memorial Books can be found at Public Records Office Victoria; they were previously held at the General Law Library in Laverton North. They are also on computer at Public Record Office Victoria. It was not compulsory to register memorials though it was usually done. Memorials are indexed by vendor. To access the Memorial Books the first step is to search the RGO Name Index for the name of the vendor. This is then followed by a search of the RGO Land Index which lists all the memorials for that particular vendor; the book and page numbers are given for each memorial. Using the respective book and page numbers, the particular memorial can then be located in the Memorial Books.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - RGO NAME INDEX 1838-1998 (VPRS 18871)
The RGO Name Index is held at Public Records Office Victoria; this was previously held at the General Law Library in Laverton North. The name index is also on computer at Public Record Office Victoria. The name index provides access to the RGO Land Index. The name indexes are in two series - 1838 to 1859 and 1859 to 1998 - and arranged by surname with a section at the end for companies.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - RGO LAND INDEX 1838-1998 (VPRS 18872)
The RGO Land Index is held at Public Records Office Victoria; this was previously held at the General Law Library in Laverton North. The land index is also on computer at Public Record Office Victoria. The land index provides access to the RGO Memorial Books; the land index is accessible using the RGO Name Index. The land indexes are in two series - 1838 to 1859 and 1859 to 1998.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - RGO MEMORIAL BOOKS 1838-1998 (VPRS 18873)
The RGO Memorial Books are held at Public Records Office Victoria; they were previously held at the General Law Library in Laverton North. The memorial books are also on computer at Public Record Office Victoria. The RGO Memorial Books are accessible using the RGO Land Index.
When an application was made to convert to the Torrens Law system; ie obtain a Certificate of Title, a file of the application and all the associated legal documents was kept. These usually include all the conveyance and mortgage documents since the crown grant. The Applications for Certificate of Title can be seen at Public Record Office Victoria (VPRS 460).
An application number is required to find the correct file. The application number can be found on the associated Certificate of Title. Application numbers can also be found on the maps on the Land and Survey Spatial Information (LASSI) website; these are the green AP numbers.
https://maps.land.vic.gov.au/lassi/
FAMILYSEARCH - INDEX TO APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATE OF TITLE 1885-1905 (VPRS 16705 P1 VOLUMES 1, 2, 3)
Original records at Public Record Office Victoria.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2819812?availability=Family%20History%20Library
When an application was made to convert to the Torrens Law; ie a Certificate of Title, a search was made of the history of land transactions relating to the land. The Application Search Notes 1862-2020 (VPRS 18870) are filed at Public Record Office Victoria; these were previously held at the General Law Library in Laverton North. The application search notes are also on computer at Public Record Office Victoria.
An application number is required to find the correct file (The application search notes are under the same application number as the Application for the Certificate of Title (see above)). The application number can be found on the associated Certificate of Title. Application numbers can also be found on the maps on the Land and Survey Spatial Information (LASSI) website; these are the green AP numbers.
https://maps.land.vic.gov.au/lassi/
A property may have been advertised for sale in newspapers the way real estate is sold today. Once the sale has gone ahead, newspapers may report details of the auction and the purchasers and the price/s paid. See Newspapers, Magazines and Journals.
Also see Real Estate Agents and Auctioneers.
When the land was alienated after 2 October 1862 the first certificate of title issued is the Crown grant. Crown grants may be seen on Parish and Township Plans. See Parish and Township Plans. Crown grants may also be seen on put away plans where the land has been subsequently subdivided. See Put Away Plans (There were previously microfiche in the General Law Library at Laverton North that state the volume and folio numbers for Crown Grants after 1862).
FAMILY HISTORY CONNECTIONS - VICTORIAN CROWN GRANTEE INDEX
This may be viewed online at the Family History Connections website. For members only.
https://familyhistory.asn.au/layout.php?mod=aigsindexes&i=5
VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT GAZETTES
The land that was being put up for sale by the government may be “gazetted” ie a notice was placed in the government gazette some months prior to the auction date. Once the sale has gone ahead and the title deeds were ready for collection a notice may have been placed in the government gazette. See Government Gazettes.
NEWSPAPER REPORTS
The government may have advertised the auction sales in newspapers. Once the sale has gone ahead, newspapers may report details of the auction and the purchasers and the prices paid. Once the title deeds were ready for collection a notice may have been placed in the government gazette. Some newspapers then reported notices in the government gazette which related to their district. See Newspapers, Magazines and Journals.
RECORDS OF SALES MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT
The government kept registers of the purchasers of land. These include the details of the land, names and addresses of purchasers and the date of purchase. If land was reserved for special purposes such a church or school this was also recorded. These records are held by the Public Record Office Victoria.
The government kept reports of land sales by public auction. These include the date of purchase, the details of the land, the reserve price, names of purchasers, the deposit paid, the balance paid and the total paid. These records are held by the Public Record Office Victoria.
Sale Contract Books were kept by the Government for the sale of Government land. These may include the details of the land, signatures, names and addresses of purchasers or their agents, the date of purchase and the amount of deposit and the total amount paid. These records are held by the Public Record Office Victoria.
Registers of Deeds were kept by the Government for the sale of Government land. These include the details of the land, names of purchasers, the date of the deeds, the date the deeds were received, the date the deeds were issued, the fee paid by the purchasers as well as a signature of the purchasers (or their agent). These records are held by the Public Record Office Victoria.
Up to 1999-2002, Certificates of Title are searchable at Public Record Office Victoria; this is before they became computerized. A volume and folio number is required to find the correct certificate. These may be found in private documents, probate records or the Application for Certificate of Title file if the land was alienated before 1862 (There were previously microfiche in the General Law Library at Laverton North that stated the volume and folio numbers for Crown Grants after 1862).
Certificates of Title are searchable backwards and forwards in time as the volume and folio numbers for previous (provided it is not a Crown Grant) and successive Certificates of Title are given on the certificate of title. Mortgages and caveats may be listed on the Certificates of Title. Certificates of Title are downloadable on the Landata website.
https://www.landata.vic.gov.au/
A property may have been advertised for sale in newspapers the way real estate is sold today. Once the sale has gone ahead, newspapers may report details of the auction and the purchasers and the price/s paid. See Newspapers, Magazines and Journals.
Also see Real Estate Agents and Auctioneers.
Rates are taxes charged by the local government for the provision of municipal services. Rates are calculated depending on the value of the property. Valuation books may be found in rate records. See Rate Records. Also see Rate Records (A-Z).
The Victorian Colonial and State Governments charged land tax on properties. Land tax is currently charged on investment properties, holiday homes, commercial properties and vacant land. Land tax is currently calculated on the site value of all taxable land.
ANCESTRY - VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, LAND REGISTERS 1863-1962
This includes the land tax register for 1888 for Victoria.
https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/62582/
FINDMYPAST - LAND TAX REGISTER AND VALUATION VICTORIA 1888
The Victorian Land Tax Register and Valuation was a supplement to the 7 December issue of the Victorian Government Gazette 1888. It is searchable.
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/land-tax-register-and-valuation-victoria
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - VALUATION RECORDS 1930-1979 (VPRS 8040)
These registers were created by the State Government to record property values in order to calculate land tax. Valuation registers contain a single record of property ownership, value, and improvements or changes over time for individual properties. These registers were kept for land and houses across Victoria from the 1930s to the 1970s. They are not online.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/researching-your-house/valuation-registers
TROVE - PASTORAL PIONEERS OF PORT PHILLIP 1835-1851 BY BILLIS AND KENYON
This has been digitized.
https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-29718849/view?partId=nla.obj-29726826#
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - LANDS GUIDE
A guide to finding records of Crown land at Public Record Office Victoria.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/lands-guide
If you have questions or problems with this site, email the Web Administrator.