NRS-20070 | Examining Surveys [Land and Property Information]

Full description

Examining Surveys are carried out on behalf of the Registrar-General when an Investigating Surveyor believes that there is a requirement for an internal survey prior to the lodgement of a plan; when a particular area is recognised as having specific boundary differences; or when the work of a registered surveyor requires auditing for accuracy and completeness.

The series commences from the time the Torrens title system was introduced to NSW on 1 January 1863, with the commencement of the Real Property Act of 1862 (26 Vic. No.9). Since then all land granted by the Crown is subject to the provisions of that Act. (1)

In earlier years, Examining Surveys were more commonly investigations or audits of survey details contained in registered Deposited Plans. However, Examining Surveys can also be made to investigate and review Boundary Determination matters. These Examining Surveys are generally done in response to a Boundary Determination Application that has been made by an owner of land. In this case, the plan will be created as an Examining Survey but allocated a Deposited Plan number to ensure that the information is available to the public.

Notations are made over the original details as part of the examination. The information contained on the Examining Surveys relates to the function of investigation or audit although this does not mean that the survey details alone indicate the outcome of the survey investigation.

Examining Surveys available for public viewing were allocated Deposited Plan numbers from the 400000 series. Examining Surveys from the 900000 series required the permission of the Examining or Principal Surveyor or nominated staff member.

The first year of Examining Surveys to be allocated a Deposited Plan number was 1925. It is not necessary for an Examining Survey to be allocated a Deposited Plan number and since 1997, fewer Examining Survey plans have been allocated Deposited Plan numbers to protect privacy and better manage access to the plans.

The Examining Surveys are drawn maps which relate to the written Examining Survey Reports (see NRS 20387). The reports contain the original instruction or notes as to why the report was required, along with related correspondence.

The classification for the maps and reports is prefaced ‘ES’ (Examining Survey) and ‘ESR’ (Examining Survey Report), respectively, followed by the year and a sequential number which allows the map and corresponding report to be cross-referenced.

The Examining Surveys were produced on linen, paper and polyester foil and are arranged in chronological and numerical order.

Examining Surveys produced prior to 6 September 2002, have been imaged and are available digitally from the Spatial Information eXchange (SIX). (2)

From 2002, Examining Surveys have been recorded on the Cadastral Record Viewer (CRV) which can be accessed from the Land and Property Information website. (3)

Endnotes
1. Land & Property Information, Torrens Title http://www.lpi.nsw.gov.au/land_titles/land_ownership/torrens_title (accessed 22/6/2015)
2. SIX Spatial Information Exchange, https://six.nsw.gov.au/wps/portal/ (accessed 22/6/2015)
3. Land and Property Information, Cadastral Data http://www.lpi.nsw.gov.au/mapping_and_imagery/cadastral_data (accessed 22/6/2015)