Rate Records by Region

OVERVIEW

Local government in Victoria began in 1841. There were cities, boroughs, town and municipal district councils. There were local road boards for rural areas. The road boards amalgamated into shires. There has been much redrawing of municipal boundaries. In 1915 the state government forced the amalgamation of municipal entities whose rate base was too low. In 1994 the state government forced the amalgamation of many municipal entities. In order to find the municipal entity for the time period in question may involve looking at the history of municipal entities for the area.

Rate records may be found still with the local government council or their archives. They may be found in local libraries, historical or genealogical societies. Other repositories include Public Record Office Victoria (North Melbourne and Ballarat), Bendigo Regional Archives Centre, Geelong Historical Records Centre, State Library of Victoria and the Genealogical Society of Victoria. FamilySearch has digitized many rate records; some may only be viewed at Family History Centres or FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries.

Rates are taxes charged by the local government for the provision of municipal services. Rate records may include names, addresses and occupations of occupiers, the names and addresses of owners, description and situation of the rateable property (this may include the size and location of the land, types of buildings, type of construction and number of rooms of the buildings) and the amounts of rates due and paid.

Other types of rates include water rates, sanitary rates and railway construction trust rates.

MELBOURNE AND SUBURBS

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - CITY OF MELBOURNE RATE RECORDS 1861-1974 NOT INCLUDING 1864-1865 (VPRS 5708)

These have been digitized. The City of Melbourne includes Carlton. It also included North Melbourne, Flemington and Kensington from 1905 (Hopetoun Ward).

https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS5708

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - NORTH MELBOURNE 1855-1905 (VPRS 5707)

These have been digitized. North Melbourne was originally a ward of the City of Melbourne 1855-1859. It was the Borough of Hotham 1859-1874, followed by the Town of Hotham 1874-1887 and then the Town of North Melbourne 1887-1905. The Town of North Melbourne became part of the City of Melbourne from 1905 (Hopetoun Ward).

https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS5707

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - FLEMINGTON AND KENSINGTON RATE RECORDS 1882-1905 (VPRS 4097)

These have been digitized. Flemington and Kensington were located in the Borough of Flemington and Kensington 1882-1905. The Borough of Flemington and Kensington became part of the City of Melbourne from 1905 (Hopetoun Ward).

https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS4097

FAMILYSEARCH - FITZROY RATE BOOKS 1858-1901 (VOLUMES 1880, 1890 AND 1891 MISSING)

These have been digitized. Original records were in possession of the Fitzroy City Council.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/204671?availability=Family%20History%20Library

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - CITY OF BOX HILL RATE RECORDS 1936-1947 (VPRS 9553)

These have been digitized.

https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS9553

GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA - RICHMOND RATE RECORDS 1857-1887

These have been digitized and are indexed through their Genealogical Index of Names.

https://www.gsv.org.au/article/our-collection

ANCESTRY - VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, RATE BOOKS, 1855-1963

This includes Melbourne suburban council records. These are mostly pre 1903 with City of Caulfield 1857-1955 and City of Malvern 1856-1933 being the exceptions. These are searchable both by occupier and owner. The following local council rate records are included:

City of Brighton, 1861-1900
City of Broadmeadows, 1863-1899
City of Caulfield, 1857-1955
City of Coburg, 1863-1900
City of Collingwood, 1864-1900
City of Fitzroy, 1858-1900
City of Footscray, 1864-1900
City of Hawthorn, 1868-1901
City of Kew, 1862-1899
City of Malvern, 1856-1933
City of Moorabbin, 1862-1900
City of North Melbourne, 1894
City of Northcote, 1883-1901
City of Port Melbourne, 1860-1901
City of Prahran, 1856-1900
City of South Melbourne, 1855-1900
City of St Kilda, 1859-1900
City of Williamstown, 1858-1902

These have been digitized. They are searchable and may be browsed.

https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=60706

ANCESTRY - CAMBERWELL AND WAVERLEY, AUSTRALIA, RATE BOOKS 1857-1927

These include the Shire of Boroondara. These have been digitized. They are searchable and may be browsed.

https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=60707

GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA GENEALOGICAL INDEX OF NAMES - MORNINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE, NEPEAN WARD 1864-1900

This has been indexed into the Genealogical Society of Victoria's Genealogical Index of Names (GIN) Database.

https://www.gsv.org.au/article/our-collection

GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA GENEALOGICAL INDEX OF NAMES (GIN) - WYNDHAM ROAD DISTRICT AND SHIRE

The following records have been indexed into the Genealogical Society of Victoria's Genealogical Index of Names (GIN) Database.

Wyndham Road District Ratebook 1864
Wyndham Shire Ratebook 1872, 1882-1883

https://www.gsv.org.au/article/our-collection

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - ROAD DISTRICT OF BACCHUS MARSH AND MADDINGLEY, SHIRE OF BACCHUS MARSH RATE RECORDS 1863-1930 (VPRS 13037)

These have been digitized.

https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS13037

GEELONG AND DISTRICT

FAMILYSEARCH - GEELONG, BARWON WARD RATE BOOKS 1850-1900

These have been digitized. Original records were in possession of the Geelong City Offices.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/274086?availability=Family%20History%20Library

FAMILYSEARCH - GEELONG, KARDINIA WARD, VILLAMANTA WARD, THOMSON WARD AND BELLARINE WARD RATE BOOKS c1850-1900

These have been digitized (Villamanta Ward 1851 and Bellarine Ward 1894-1895 are missing). Original records were at the Geelong Historical Centre.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/630551?availability=Family%20History%20Library

FAMILYSEARCH - GEELONG RATE BOOKS 1899-1902