VPRS 12666 Index to Inward and Outward Correspondence (Colonial Architect 1854- 1855); Index to Inward Correspondence (1862)

Full description

Prior to the establishment of the Department of Public Works (VA 669), the Colonial Architect and latterly, the Colonial Engineer were responsible for the construction and maintenance of public buildings throughout the Colony of Victoria.

This series comprises an index to inward and outward correspondence regarding public buildings believed to be created by the office of the Colonial Architect. The inward correspondence was registered in VPRS 963 Register of Inward Correspondence. Details recorded are the date of receipt or dispatch, the name or office of the addressee and a summary of the subject of the correspondence. Inward correspondence is recorded on the left and outward on the right. The inward correspondence registration number is recorded from 1855 when numbering commenced in VPRS 963.

The series was created between 1854-1855, and than a handful of entries were made in 1862. In 1862, the volume was used briefly for subject indexing, possibly of outwards correspondence as found in VPRS 975 Outward Correspondence.

The 1928 Pitt Report indicates that most of the inward correspondence to 1905 was destroyed by 1923 with the exception of special files. VPRS 967 Inwards Correspondence Files comprises the only extant correspondence files from the Colonial Architect (possibly) and the Public Works Department for the period covered by this series. The files are subject-based and are listed in alphabetical order and hence are no longer controlled by the register.

VPRS 12666/P1 was previously registered as Unit 1 of VPRS 966 Index to Inwards Correspondence. It was reserialised in 2001 as part of the ARAD Project.