VPRS 8 Statistical Returns of Gaols and Criminals Executed [1839-1850]; Estimates of Expenditure [1841] and Criminal Statistics [1858-1859]

Full description

This series contains a variety of documents relating mostly to law and order in the Port Phillip District. All of the documents in this series were transferred initially to the Public Library of Victoria from the Office of the Government Statist in July 1949. The records have been maintained in this sequence since then by the Library and subsequently the Archives Division of the State Library of Victoria before the latter became the Public Record Office.

It is probable that most of these documents were created for the compilation of statistical publications such as the Blue Books. The production of Blue Books in Victoria came to be the responsibility of the Government Statist which would indicate why these documents came to be in the possession of the agency in question. As a consequence, the creating agencies for these records has been determined by reference to those agencies responsible for that function for the date range.

The records held in this series are as follows:

1. Returns of gaols for the years 1839 - 1850.

An return was prepared annually for each of these years by the Gaoler of the Melbourne Goal on printed forms produced in Sydney, presumably for the information of the New South Wales Government. Information recorded includes statistical data about the prisoner population as at there end of each year as well as handwritten answers to 22 questions regarded the operation of the prison. Prisoner names are not recorded except in relation to question 20 which lists the names of insane prisoners.

Included with these returns is a handwritten copy of Goal Regulations dated 29 September 1841 as well as ration and clothing allowances for prisoners and staff. These appear to have been produced by the H.M Gaol Sydney for the benefit of the Melbourne Gaol.

2. Estimate of the Probable Expenses of the Establishments at Port Phillip for the Year 1841.

There are two copies of this printed document, one of which contains handwritten annotations against a number of entries.

3. Criminal Statistics for the years 1858 and 1859

These are printed copes of the Statistics as published by the Government Printer. The statistics were put together by the Victorian Police Force for the half year ending 31 December 1858 and the calendar year ending 31 December 1859 showing offence, total number arrested, sex, age, country, religion, education, occupation, number previously convicted and how the arrests were eventually dealt with.

As these are statistical returns, these documents do not disclose the names of any individuals.

4. Returns of Criminals Executed in Port Phillip for the years 1841-1850.

These returns were produced by the Deputy Sheriff and record the numbers executions according to religion (i.e Protestant, Roman Catholic or Jew) or aborigine.

As these are statistical returns, these documents do not disclose the names of any individuals.