VPRS 14836 General Correspondence Files (General Health Branch ?1944-1978; Public Health Division 1978-1986)

Full description

The records in this series were created to administer policies, procedures and correspondence relating to the public health function in Victoria. The record keeping system comprises inward and outward general correspondence and internally generated records of the General Health Branch (Public Health).

Prior to 1944, public health functions were overseen by a Central Board of Health, established in 1855, followed by the Board of Public Health established in 1890, and the Commission of Public Health from 1919.

In 1944, with the proclamation of the Ministry of Health Act 1943 (No.4988), there was a reorganisation of the administration of health functions in Victoria. Responsibility for all health services was transferred to the Minister of Health, and a Department of Health (VA 695) was established. The General Health Branch (known as Public Health prior to 1944) was established as the administrative arm of the Department of Health I (VA 695).

The Commission of Public Health answered directly to the Minister and Permanent Head of the Health Department and administered the Health Act of 1958, a consolidated Act outlining the legislative requirements for general health in the State of Victoria over such areas as clear air, sewerage, garbage, infectious disease control, and school hygiene.

In 1978 the Commission became a division of the Health Commission of Victoria (VA 652). The Health Commission assumed responsibility for all functions previously administered by the Department of Health I (VA 695), the Mental Health Authority (VA 692), the Commission of Public Health (VA 694) and the Hospitals and Charities Commission (VA 693). In 1986 it became a division of the Health Department, Victoria.

The records in this series comprise the entire central records of the public health function in Victoria. The series dates from 1944 to 1986 with the contents date range going back to 1840's, in the case of cemeteries records. It is apparent that when the series was established, the contents of some files were top numbered (i.e incorporated) into this series from one or more previous filing systems, the contents of which included documents made or received by the range of agencies historically responsible for these functions. These agencies include the:

- Central Board of Health, Chief Secretary's Department (VA 475)
- Department of Public Health (VA 2904)
- Board of Public Health, and
- Commission of Public Health (VA 694).


The subject of individual files range across many of the functions exercised by the Branch/Division. Included among the wide variety of files within the series are files containing:

- annual reports submitted by municipal health officers
- health by laws to be adopted by municipalities
- correspondence pertaining to health complaints received
- general information regarding specific diseases
- correspondence pertaining to the appointment of health inspectors
- correspondence between individual hospitals and the Branch/Division
- correspondence relating to the management of cemeteries
- reports of inspections under the Meat Supervision Regulations
- approvals for the construction of septic tanks, and
- reports of water quality inspections.

This series does not include files pertaining to the establishment of standards and approvals for the construction of public buildings. These were maintained in separate series (VPRS 7882).

Many of the files document the first instances of inspections and reporting for functions and activities relating to public health in Victoria, and illustrate the movement over time towards establishment of formalised regulations and regular programmed inspections of sites and practises relating to public health and food safety. Examples of files which document the origins of what are now routine and regular activities have been retained as evidence of the progress from recognition of the need to formalise a process, through to regulated and formalised practice and monitoring activities.

Many of the activities previously administered by the General Health Branch of the Department of Health are now managed by local government and other statutory or commercial organisations.

There appears to have been a partial audit of the collection in 1951, although it is not clear whether this audit covered the entire collection or only selected groupings based on the subject areas. A number of files contain a sheet of paper inside the back cover, dating from the year 1951, noting that no previous file exists.