VPRS 16540 Soldier Settlement and Land Settlement Purchase Lease Preparation Files

Full description

The Soldier Settlement and Land Settlement Purchase Lease Preparation Files document the processes undertaken by the creating agencies in managing grants of settlement purchase leases to recipients, soldier settlers under Section 27 (67A) of the Soldier Settlement Act 1946, and land settlers under the Land Settlement Act 1959 (later files stamped over with Section 34 Rural Finance Act 1988).

This series comprises the official documentation of the various stages from the issuing of a settlement purchase lease through to granting the settler title to the property. A portion of the files represent settlers who took both types of leases available: the Interim Leases for the settler to rent the property for up to 7 years, the Purchase Lease for the settler to enter into a legal agreement of lease instalments to pay off the property and obtain a Crown grant.

The contents of these files include: survey plans and the legal conditions of payment for the lease, correspondence and other documentation relating to the process of the settler paying off the lease and the issuing of a Crown grant. The granting of freehold to the settler sometimes overlapped with the subsequent sale of the property and request for the Crown grant in the settler's name. In some instances the settler defaulted on the lease repayments and the grant was revoked.

Each file holds a two part file number: the first number is the correspondence number e.g. 2842, the second part number is the section of the act e.g. 61 relates to the Soldier Settlement Act 1958. An example of a settler is Clifford Albert Wiseman who was granted a Settlement Purchase Lease for Lots 8A and 9, Fawcetts' Estate, Parish of Eglinton, file number 2482/61.

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 forward 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.