VPRS 10380 Workman's Homes and Farm Allotments Files

Full description

This series consists primarily of files relating to the leasing and purchase of Workman's Homes and Farm Allotments. Files include completed applications, plans of the site, correspondence between the lessee and the Closer Settlement Board (and later, Commission), details of any transfer of lease, reports of inspections and in some, documentation of the application for and obtaining of the Crown grant for the land. In one file are details of advances which could be made for improvements and maintenance.

Under the Closer Settlement Act 1904 (Section 50) Workman's Homes could be applied for under a conditional purchase lease. Rents were to be paid in half-yearly instalments, including interest on the unpaid portion of the purchase money, and were to continue for at least six years before it could be assigned to another person. After twelve years, if the Board was satisfied, application could be made for a Crown grant of the land. Conditions for continuance of the lease were set and observance of them determined by inspectors under the authority of the Land Purchase and Management Board.

Conditions included those that, within one year of the date of the lease, fence the allotment and erect a substantial dwelling upon it, within two years make additional substantial improvements and not allow more than one residence or business on the allotment.

By 1912, a number of estates either exclusively or partially devoted to Workmen's Homes had been developed. Crown land was utilised for them at Dowling Forest, Maddingley (near Bacchus Marsh), Geelong, Warrnambool and Werribee. Repurchased estates were used at Brunswick, Cadman's, Dal Campbell, Footscray, Glen Huntly, Pender's Grove, Phoenix and Tooronga.

Farm allotments, were to be conditional purchase leases with no person being able to hold more than one. A lengthy list of conditions set out in Section 49 of the Act were part of the lease for farm allotments. These included compulsory residence requirements, compulsory fencing requirements, the destruction of vermin and noxious weeds, the making of substantial improvements to a specified value (subject to inspection and certification by the Board) and the condition of not alienating the land in the first six years of the lease.

Instalments of the purchase price were to be paid half-yearly with fines for late payments, the first instalment accompanying the application. Interest was to be paid on the purchase price with payments in 63 equal instalments or otherwise as negotiated with the Board. After twelve years, if all conditions had been met and the full purchase price paid, application could be made for a Crown grant. Detailed files for the repurchase of estates and for individual allotments for workman's homes and may be found in VPRS 5714 / P Closer [and Soldier] Settlement Files using the denominator 50 (Section 50 Closer Settlement Act 1904). Further files relating to farm allotments may be found using the denominator 49 (Section 49, Closer Settlement Act 1904).