VPRS 1133 Outward Letter Book, Road Engineer Sale and Melbourne

Full description

The Central Roads Board, the first agency concerned with the construction and maintenance of main roads and bridges, was abolished on 1 January 1858 and succeeded by the Department of Roads and Bridges (VA 2964) which operated under the statutory control of the Board of Land and Works (VA 744). The Department of Railways and Roads (VA 2875) succeeded the Department of Roads and Bridges (VA 2694) in 1872 when the Secretary of the Department of the Railways also became the Secretary of the Department of Roads and Bridges. From 1877, the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges was separated from that of railways and became the responsibility of the Roads and bridges Branch of the Department of Public Works (VA 669), Department of Land and Works (VA 744).

All of these agencies had Road Engineers located in provincial centres responsible for the execution of contracts, supervision of contractors, and the forwarding of payments, specifications, estimates and plans. This series contains copies of the correspondence, memoranda, reports and financial claims from the Road Engineers stationed at Melbourne to officers of the central agency, contractors and members of the workforce. The series also includes copies of accounts pertaining to the construction and maintenance of roads between Melbourne and Sale.

For portion of this period (c1874 1875) it is apparent that the Melbourne officer was also responsible for roads and bridges in Gippsland with VPRS 1138P1 containing a considerable amount of correspondence pertaining to Gippsland. The outwards correspondence for 1874 1875 for Melbourne may be found in VPRS 1133 Outwards Letter Book, Road Engineer Sale and Melbourne. It would seem that the Road Engineer Charles Rowand may have been based in Melbourne at this time, but also had oversight of operations in Gippsland. Correspondence from Sale has often been signed by the overseer and is directed to the Road Engineer in Melbourne.