VPRS 16291 Soldier Settlement and Land Settlement Property Acquisition Files

Full description

The files in this series document the processes involved in identifying suitable land and property, valuing it and acquiring it from owners, either compulsorily or by agreement under the Land Settlement (Acquisition) Act 1943. The land was acquired for subdivision and allocation to applicants under the Soldier Settlement Scheme, which was established under the Soldier Settlement Act 1945 (No. 5107), and the Land Settlement Scheme, which was established under the Land Settlement Act 1953 (No. 5768).

The original filing system was created by the Department of Crown Lands and Survey. Under Section 2 of the Land Settlement (Acquisition) Act 1943, the Department's Officers inspected privately owned land and reported on its suitability to be acquired for land settlement. The earliest records on the files which cover the period 1943 to 1946, document the preliminary research and valuation of properties deemed eligible for government acquisition. These records include the Report on Property, State Land Tax Valuation and the Search Report for land folio information. The files relating to properties found to be unsuitable may have been retained by the Department of Crown Lands and Survey. Whether these records still exist is subject to further research.

In 1946 the eligible property files were handed over to the Soldier Settlement Commission, who managed negotiations with the owners. The Commission's negotiations included an agreed valuation of the land and improvements, documents relating to compulsory acquisition of land, purchasing part of a subdivided property, issuing temporary leases back to the vendors. There are files in this series where properties initially deemed eligible did not end up being acquired for land settlement. The files also include documents relating to the proposed subdivisions and development of acquired land into settlement estates. There will be some overlap in content to VPRS 16289 and VPRS 16290 with the subdivision and survey files. Besides a few instances of inquiries from interested people to when estates would become available, there seems to be no overlap of documentation relating to the actual clients of the Soldier Settlement and Land Settlement schemes.

The files can contain the following records: survey plans, property inspection reports, correspondence relating to the acquisition process, title search information, valuation reports, copies of Commission resolutions, and details of agreements and copies of compulsory acquisition orders, correspondence and receipt of payments for temporary leases.

This series date-range reflects the two stage process and recording agencies who contributed to these files. The Department of Crown Lands and Survey established the files in 1943 to hold the property valuations and reports on the suitability of land for acquisition under section 2 of the Land Settlement (Acquisition) Act. The Department's involvement from 1943 to 1946 is recorded in the following documents on the files: Report on Property, State Land Tax Valuation and Search Report. In 1946 the files were handed over to the Soldier Settlement Commission, to manage the negotiations property owners and the issuing of settler leases.

A series end date of circa 1970 has been chosen as this appears to be the year in which the last file in the numbering sequence was raised. Documents continued to be added to files by successor agencies but 1970 reflects the end date of the majority of the series content (the last major Soldier Settlement estate was purchased in 1961 and the scheme considered effectively over by 1962, while the majority of Land Settlement activity occurred during the 1960s and early to mid 1970s).

Not all files relating to the valuation and acquisition process have survived.

BACKGROUND TO SCHEME

In December 1943 the Land Settlement (Acquisition) Act was passed in Victoria, providing for the setting apart of Crown land and the acquisition of privately owned land for ex-servicemen. Victoria's Crown lands had been assessed for post-war settlement by Lands Department officers and staff from the CSIRO and Department of Agriculture as early as 1941. Throughout 1944-45 Lands Department inspectors formally checked the suitability of rural properties all over Victoria, and their valuations and reports were eventually handed across when the Soldier Settlement Commission (SSC) started work in February 1946.

The 1945 War Service Land Settlement (WSLS) Agreement (Commonwealth legislation) established the broad outlines for World War II settlement in Victoria. The Soldier Settlement Act 1945 (No. 5107) ratified the terms of this agreement, authorised the setting up of the Soldier Settlement Commission (SSC) and provided the framework for the State scheme. In December 1946 the Soldier Settlement Act 1946 (No. 5179) was passed, authorising the SSC to advance money for Single Unit Farms (SUFs). SUFs were not controlled by the terms of the WSLS Agreement but SUF settlers still had to go through the initial selection process to be classified as eligible and suitable.

In February 1946 the Commission began acquiring portions of land, referred to as 'estates', which were then subdivided into blocks of various sizes within each rural industry. The preliminary development of the blocks was handled by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (VA 723) in consultation with the SSC.

Potential settlers could submit applications for farms within five years of the scheme's inception and Classification Committees were set up to assess applicants' suitability. The selection process began with an interview and then classification into one of four grades:
- Suitable for farm ownership immediately
- Suitable for farm ownership after a short specialised course
- Suitable for farm employment but needing further experience for ownership
- Unlikely to reach the standard for ownership

Less tangible attributes such as aptitude, energy, physical capacity and mental alertness were also taken into consideration.

In 1947 the first settlement estates were advertised, with classified applicants required to put their names forwards for blocks on particular estates. A second, more detailed, interview was then run by special SSC Land Boards. Applicants were graded using a 100 point system, broken down as follows:
- War service (20 points)
- Farming experience (30 points)
- Personal attributes (30 points)
- Evidence of thrift and financial responsibility (10 points)
- Marital status (10 points)

Other factors were also taken into account and personal references from several people in rural industries were requested. After ratings were given, a process of elimination was applied and an allocation plan drawn up. The three commissioners of the Soldier Settlement Commission assessed the proposed plan before making a final decision.

Leases were granted using a two-tier system, leading to freehold. An Interim Lease covered the establishment period of the farm and could be held for up to seven years. Settlers were only required to pay rent during this period. This was followed by a Purchase Lease that allowed the settler a period of at least six years to consolidate before becoming eligible to obtain freehold title to his farm. The issuing of Interim Leases was delayed due to disagreements between Commonwealth and State over valuations. By the middle of 1950 the Commonwealth agreed to fund living allowances for 752 Temporary Lease settlers. Once they were through an initial assistance period, the terms of the Temporary Lease allowed them to contribute part of their farm proceeds towards a credit account.

The last group settlement was on the 24-block Warrowie estate near Colac, which was advertised in the Government Gazette on 30 November 1960. It wasn't until 1970 that the last settler obtained his purchase lease.