Local Government

See Muncipal Libraries under Libraries and Mechanics' Institutes.

See Archives.

Also see Councillors and Aldermen.

Also see Municipal Officers.

Also see Voter Rolls under Electoral Rolls.

OVERVIEW

Local government in Victoria began in 1841. There were cities, boroughs and town councils, and municipal districts. 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.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT VICTORIA

This includes a local council finder:

https://www.localgovernment.vic.gov.au/

This includes a map of local council areas in Victoria and a list of websites.

http://knowyourcouncil.vic.gov.au/councils

WIKIPEDIA

The history of local government authorities may be traced on Wikipedia.

RATE RECORDS

See Rate Records (by Region).

Or see Rate Records (A-Z).

BUILDING RECORDS

See Building Records.

LICENCES

Licences may be found in Court Records. The issuing of licences may be reported in local newspapers. See Newspapers, Magazines and Journals.

PORT ALBERT

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

• Port Albert Licensing Book 1858-1871

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

MINUTES

FITZROY

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

• Fitzroy City Council Minutes 1858-1947 and Committee Minutes 1858-1962

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

PRAHRAN

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

• Prahran Council Minute Books 1860-1898

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

HAMILTON

FAMILYSEARCH - BOROUGH OF HAMILTON 1859-1925

They have been digitized. Original records housed with the Town Clerk, Hamilton.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/570765?availability=Family%20History%20Library

FAMILYSEARCH - SHIRE OF DUNDAS 1876-1944

They have been digitized. Original records housed at the Shire offices, Hamilton.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/569602?availability=Family%20History%20Library

PENSHURST

FAMILYSEARCH - SHIRE OF MOUNT ROUSE 1860-1958 MINUTE BOOKS (INCLUDES ROAD BOARD 1860-1863)

They have been digitized. Original records housed at the Shire offices, Hamilton and Penshurst.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/569609?availability=Family%20History%20Library

COLERAINE

FAMILYSEARCH - SHIRE OF WANNON 1872-1938

These have been digitized. Original records housed at the Shire offices in Coleraine, Victoria.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/570975?availability=Family%20History%20Library

CASTERTON

FAMILYSEARCH - SHIRE OF GLENELG 1864-1941

They have been digitized. The period 1872-1880 are damaged and unreadable. Original records housed at the Shire offices in Casterton, Victoria.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/571125?availability=Family%20History%20Library

CORRESPONDENCE

MELBOURNE

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - CITY OF MELBOURNE TOWN CLERK'S SUBJECT INDEX TO CORRESPONDENCE 1840-1997

https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/city-melbourne/town-clerks-subject-index-correspondence-1840-1997

NEWSPAPERS

Proceedings of local government authority meetings may be found in local newspapers.The activities and advertisements of the local government may also be found in newspapers. See Newspapers, Magazines and Journals.

MUNICIPAL DIRECTORIES

FAMILYSEARCH - VICTORIAN MUNICIPAL DIRECTORY AND GAZETTEER 1888-1900

This can be found under Australia, Victoria Directories in the Catalog.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/224722?availability=Family%20History%20Library