VPRS 10203 Correspondence Files

Full description

This series comprises 4 consignments:

10203 P Municipal Files 1915-1969
10203 P1 CRB correspondence files 1913-1945
10203 P2 CRB correspondence files 1946-58, 1970
10203 P3 CRB correspondence files 1959-1963

This series comprises correspondence files controlled by the Secretary's Branch of the Country Roads Board (CRB). The files relate to the administrative, construction and maintenance work undertaken by the CRB in regard to public roads (ie state highways, national highways, developmental roads, freeways, tourist roads, forest roads, main roads and rural roads).

Until transfer no 1982/44, VPRS 10203 only contained municipal files. Municipal files relate to the construction and maintenance of roads (including main roads, tourist roads, developmental roads). While state highways, bypass roads and tourist roads were the sole responsibility of the CRB, the making and maintenance of roads and bridges has always been a key function of municipalities, the responsibility for which continues to be shared with state authorities. The construction and maintenance costs of main roads are partly borne by local municipal councils. The municipal files in this series contain correspondence concerning costs of construction and maintenance between local councils and the CRB in addition to memoranda, minute sheets, maps and plans, land titles and construction/maintenance orders.

On many of the files there is correspondence from residents affected by CRB road projects, such as ratepayers whose property is affected by a deviation of a main road. The CRB had authority to take land under s.20 of the Country Roads Act 1915. Documents on these files provide evidence of this core function of the CRB and provide evidence of individuals entitlement to compensation from the CRB.

The CRB notified the municipality of upcoming projects, and were advised by the council of the names and addresses of owners/lessees of properties affected. The CRB notified the ratepayers of the project, including maps and plans, and of the CRBs intention to take the land. Ratepayers completed a Schedule of Claim, setting out their interest in the property and compensation sought from the CRB. Files involving negotiations with affected persons for property also contain correspondence with the Crown Solicitor, Titles Office and solicitors. The CRB arranged for independent estimates of the value of the land to be prepared. As well as compensation for transferring their land, affected parties could negotiate for services to be provided at CRBs expenses, for example, erecting fencing.

(The records in files relating to CRB acquisition of land are very similar to those in VPRS 10204 Land Acquisition Files. It is not clear why some land acquisition files came into PROV custody as VPRS 10203, and why some were transferred as VPRS 10204. It is possibly related to the time when the files were closed. As is discussed below, files in VPRS 10203 and 10204 are controlled by the same numbering system, which would allow the controlling agency to manage and access these files, as long as it knew with which consignment the file was transferred to Public Record Office Victoria (PROV).)

Other types of records which appear on municipal files include correspondence relating to tenders and contracts for works to be carried out on Victorian roads, correspondence from the public about the need for the construction or upgrade of roads, and Orders approving new roads, highways or deviations.

The municipal files also contain records relating to Defence Roads (c.1942) in Victorian shires, and Unemployment Relief Works being carried out with funding from Federal Grants.

With transfer no. 1982/44, additional types/groups of files in addition to the municipal files were transferred to PROV. The files in VPRS 10203, P1-P3 include:
- National and State Highway Files
- Explosives
- Crown Solicitor opinions
- Bridges
- Accounts
- Valuations
- Conferences
- Specifications
- Bushfires
- Tree planting
- Questions in Parliament
- Road construction in other States
- Surface treatment of roads
- Signs and deviation posts.