VPRS 1084 Despatches from the Governor to the Secretary of State

Full description

This series consists of copies of despatches, forming the official channel of communication from the Governor of Victoria to the British Secretary of State responsible for the administration of Colonial (later Commonwealth) Office. The Secretary's official title has changed over time, these being Secretary of State for War and the Colonies (to 1854), for the Colonies (to 1925), for Dominion Affairs (to 1947) and for Commonwealth Affairs.

The series consists of an original transfer of 15 volumes and a P1 consignment of four volumes spanning the period 1906 - 1910. Item 14 of the original transfer was originally listed as missing but was transferred with the P1 consignment. The remaining volumes in the series were transferred in 2024 and form consignment C1.

The series initially consists of transcribed copies of the despatch. The format changes with the commencement of Volume 12 (September 1898) when press copies of the despatch were simply bound together. In almost all instances these despatches do not contain any enclosures referred to. A series of duplicate despatches (VPRS 1095), however, does contain these enclosures but this series only spans the years 1851 - 1856. Copies of telegrams sent have also been included. Confidential despatches were transcribed into VPRS 4818 until at least 1877, but are also included in this series by 1900.