NRS-19209 | Register of Auction Sales [Wentworth Lands Office]

Full description

This register contains a summary record of all Auction Sales in the Land District of Wentworth, kept by the Wentworth Crown Land Agent, later the ­ Wentworth Lands Office.

Crown Lands that could be sold at public auction include: conditionally purchased lands that had been deemed to have been abandoned; land that has no conditions for residence or improvement; land that has had no improvements done; land put up for sale at auction that did not sell, can be put up for auction again.

Crown Land to be auctioned by the Crown had first to be surveyed. By law a Crown Land auction had to be proclaimed by the Governor within three months of the scheduled date of sale, and not less than one month before.

The ‘Crown Land Alienation Act of 1861’ states that a deposit of twenty five percent of the purchase price be paid at the time of sale, and the balance to be paid within three months, else the contract be void and the deposit forfeited, and the land put up for auction again.

The heading at the top of each page in the register reads: ‘Sale of Crown Lands held at Wentworth on the (date inserted), under the Advertisement dated the (date inserted).’ Each page is a different day listing all the lots sold on that particular day, and each lot is given a letter: ‘A’ ‘B’ etc, starting at ‘A’ on each new day/page.

The register records information such as the letter for the lot sold for each day; the situation of the land giving county, parish, town or place; extent of the lot, i.e. sold, not sold or withdrawn; allotment or portion; section; rate, upset or realised; purchasers; amount; remissions; deposit; balance; balance when paid; and any further remarks.