NRS-15826 | Journals [Darlington Muncipality]

Full description

This series contains the Journals of Darlington Municipal Council. The General Journal in this series contains an index.

These accounting records were initially created under s.38 of the An Act for establishing Municipalities Institutions 1858 (22, Victoria Act No. 13), and subsequent legislation. This section specified that the council keep books of accounts, which were to be made available to auditors. The Council was also to prepare a detailed account of expenditure and revenue to be published in June and December. Municipal Accounting regulations also governed the format and type of records to be maintained.

These Journals formed part of a standard public sector accounting system. This system generally comprised Cash Books, Journals (General and Subsidiary), and Ledgers (General and Subsidiary).

The purpose of journals in the accounting system was to chronologically record payments other than cash (except for the cash payment and receipt journals). The journal was a book of original entry. Each entry involved two accounts a debit and a credit, which was considered a “balanced” Journal entry. At regular intervals journals entry were posted to the ledger. General Journals were maintained to record specialist transactions such as transfers from one account to another and to correct errors. Subsidiary or specialist journals were maintained to record the transaction appropriate to the Journal such as sales, or purchases (on credit). (1)

The General Journal contained all accounts maintained by the council including rates, street accounts, maintenance and repairs. Income and expenditure recorded by the Ledger was accredited into the General Fund. The Council also maintained other funds such as loans and trust funds. Under Schedule 1 of the 1908 Municipal Accounting Regulations, (2) accounts were classified into General Purpose (G.P) Public Works (P.W), Public Service (P.S), Health Administration (H.A) and Shire Property.

Custody History
This series was in the custody of Mitchell library from 1965 until December 2001 when it was transferred to State Records NSW under section 29 of the State Records Act, 1998.

End Notes
(1) Stanley, P Accounting for non Accountants: the plain English guide to accounting Information Australia Melbourne 1999 p. 39 - 40
(2) NSW Government Gazette 19 November, 1908 p. 6131 – 6135