NRS-12972 | Annual returns of companies

Full description

This series comprises extracted company returns and related financial documents originally submitted under the requirements of the Companies Act 1936 (NSW). The records include:

• Copies of company annual reports (including balance sheets and accounts)
• Summaries of share capital and other financial particulars
• Returns of shareholders, including names, addresses, shareholdings, and details of share transfers
• Auditors' certificates confirming compliance with the Unclaimed Moneys Act 1917 (1)

These documents were originally part of the Company Packets maintained by the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies. In preparation for the microfilming of company records in 1970, the Corporate Affairs Commission undertook a selective extraction process. At that time, it was decided not to microfilm:

• Annual returns more than seven years old, and
• Records of share allocations more than two years old

These extracted documents were retained as a separate series and removed from the Company Packets before filming (2).

The records provide valuable insight into the financial and administrative structure of companies registered in New South Wales, including information about company directors, shareholder demographics, capital structure, and patterns of share ownership.

In June 1982, the Archives Authority authorised the destruction of Share Allocations (which had been microfilmed), c. 1962+, as it was determined that information regarding share allotments would be available in the annual returns. (3)

Legislative Context:

Under the Companies Act 1936 (NSW), public companies were required to submit annually to the Registrar:

• A summary of authorised and issued share capital, including details of paid-up and forfeited shares, indebtedness, and particulars of directors
• An auditor’s certificate verifying compliance with the Unclaimed Moneys Act 1917
• A list of shareholders and share transfers since the last return (4)

These submissions were essential for regulatory oversight and public accountability of registered companies.

This series is related to:

• NRS-12951, Documents lodged under Companies Acts [Company Packets], 1875-1975,
• NRS-16382, Documents lodged under Companies Acts for No-Liability Mining Companies [Company Packets], 1880-1975, and
• NRS-16383, Documents lodged under Companies Acts for Foreign Companies [Company Packets], 1907-1975.

(X1830-43, A219, A236, A262, A274, A279, A280, A286, A292, A296, A403, A569, 20/13859-13929, AK320, AK271, W1078-1079, A6547). 585 boxes, 14 volumes, 2 bundles.

ENDNOTES

(1) DR2750 p.2.

(2) DR2750 p.2.

(3) DR2859 p.1.

(4) Companies Act (NSW), 1936, Act No. 33.