VPRS 13982 Applications and File Management Cards, Closer Settlement

Full description

Part III Land Act 1898 was the first substantial legislation for Closer Settlement allowing the Board of Land and Works to purchase land which then could be divided and leased, by conditional purchase lease for farm allotments or as allotments in urban areas (which became the Workmen's Homes scheme).

The Closer Settlement Act 1904 brought together all legislation relating to Closer Settlement including the Land Act 1898 and amendments made in the consolidated Land Act of 1901 with new provisions. All activities to do with Closer Settlement were placed under the control of the Land Purchase and Management Board (VA 2266) and its successor agencies. It should be noted that, although the Boards were responsible for the development of closer (and soldier) settlement and the implementation of policy regarding it, administration was done within the Department of Crown Lands and Survey.

Application and file management cards replaced Registers of Applications in content and function. Details given are the application number either as a single number or as the fraction where the denominator indicates the section of the Act and the numerator is the file number, the name of applicant, the area and location of the land (section, allotment, parish and/or estate), whether the land was irrigable and relevant dates. Other details are notations regarding file movements and management. Later versions of the cards have two sections. One section is headed as Financial where details regarding applications for advances and Crown grants were placed and the other headed Land where all correspondence and file management references were placed. Unsuccessful applications did not have a card made up. These were listed at the Department and papers were filed there. Details of active files which were initially registered in the volume registers of applications were gradually transferred onto the cards.

Files relating to these applications might be able to be found in VPRS 5714 Closer [and Soldier] Settlement Files by using the application numbers given on the cards. Other details may be able to be found and clarified in VPRS 11875 Register of Leases, Land Acts, Closer and Soldier Settlement Acts and Mallee Lands Acts.