VPRS 14432 Register of Mortgage and Lien Payments, Koo-Wee-Rup

Full description

Part III of the Land Act 1898 was, apart from the Settlement on Land Act 1893, the first legislation for Closer Settlement. It gave the Board of Land and Works the power to acquire land from private persons for the purpose of closer settlement. The land was to be utilised and disposed of firstly as a township in the district and then as farm allotments not exceeding one thousand pounds in value.

Applicants were able to apply for these conditional purchase leases under Section 170 of the Act or under Section 103. This latter Section related to swamp lands such as the Koo-Wee-Rup and Moe Swamps where allotments could be applied for as a conditional purchase lease as set out in Part III but with modifications. These Sections continued as Sections 130 - 131 and Section 383 of the Land Act 1901.

Both the Closer Settlement Acts and the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act 1917 (and its successors) allowed for the payment of advances to settlers to allow for the erection of buildings, for fencing, for the purchase of implements and stock and for other defined purposes. The amount able to be obtained and the terms of repayment were set forth in the Acts with the Board (or Commission) able to take a lien or mortgage or other security to ensure repayment of the advance.

This series records liens taken on the produce of occupants of land in the Koo-Wee-Rup area or mortgages taken out to finance farming activities. Details are given of the name of the debtor, the location and extent of the land and the date of the lien or mortgage and where it was dealt with. It is apparent that advances were given in the form of orders for specific things as details are given of orders given for grass seed or for fencing materials or building materials with the amount. Further details are of the amount of interest, the yearly instalment due, of repayments of principal and interest and of any fees and of the discharge of the mortgage or lien.