NRS-14468 | Correspondence files [Valuer General]

Full description

 These files are prefixed as "B" (to 1944/45) or later as "G" General files (from 1946).  They relate to policy and administration, municipalities and shires, and general matters and include correspondence from government departments (State and Commonwealth), statutory authorities (Boards, Commissions, Authorities, etc.), quasi-government bodies, the Public Service Board, industrial organisations and employee associations. Many relate to compensation claims for land resumed by sundry Government constructing authorities and the valuation and acquisition of land. Intra-departmental correspondence and departmental policy and administrative matters are also included. (1)

The files cover a variety of subjects, including: Homebush Abattoirs, land resumptions, sites for cool stores, supply of joinery and moulding, accommodation for infectious diseases, Post Office sites, purchase of land for government housing purposes, applications for railway lines, railway refreshment rooms and resumption of city railway property, additional accommodation for public schools, police stations, fire stations and public hospitals, grants for sewerage system easements, water supply and irrigation schemes, stormwater channels, ocean outfall sewers, proposed soldiers’ settlement schemes, cemetery sites, and land purchases for the establishment of parks and recreation reserves. (2)

Subsequent files include harbour improvements, nurseries, rifle ranges, sanitary depots, lighthouse properties, metal quarries and gravel pits, and purchase of timber mills. (3) Records relating to Sydney Harbour Bridge resumptions, Aerodrome sites, wharfage for Commonwealth Oil Refineries, Port Kembla electricity supply are also included, (4) as well as land resumptions for town planning purposes. (5)

Additional records include resumptions for road widening and new roads, land for electrical easements and water pipe lines, resumption of land for a public aviation station, disposal of surplus lands, acquisition of land for technical colleges, (6), with records relating to housing schemes, town halls, electricity supply systems, sites for council chambers and the establishment of cattle saleyards. (7)

Later records include Hume Reservoir residues, records relating to the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission, Activities Conference of State Departments relating to the Colombo Plan, (8) and records relating to automatic data processing, data collection, estimates of time required for computer usage, decentralisation including new staff accommodation and structure, technical data and information, co-ordination of activities, and procedures. (9)

Endnotes
1. NRS 14484, Valuer General; Departmental procedure manual, 1967 [2/1915] Chapter 7, Correspondence.
2. NRS 14468, Valuer General; Correspondence files, 1920-21 [19/9056].
3. ibid., 1921 [19/9057].
4. ibid., 1923 [19/9059].
5. ibid., 1927 [19/9069].
6. ibid., 1938-41 [19/9139].
7. ibid., 1941-44 [19/9147].
8. ibid., 1944-64 [10/32029].
9. ibid., 1962-67 [12/1070].