VPRS 16289 Land Settlement Estates Development Files

Full description

The files in this series document the processes undertaken by the Soldier Settlement Commission (VA 2270) and the Rural Finance and Settlement Commission (VA 2273) primarily, along with their successors, in developing estates for civilian land settlement. Six Land Settlement Estates were developed - Heytesbury, East Goulburn Irrigation Area, Yanakie, Rochester, Palpara and Dartmoor.

VPRS 16290 Soldier Settlement Estates Development Files is a related series for the development of soldier settlement estates. There was an extensive overlap in the classifications of files developed for both types of estates e.g. Valuation-Purchase Lease, Subdivision, Statements for Commonwealth etc.

BACKGROUND TO THE LAND SETTLEMENT SCHEME

By the beginning of 1951 the Soldier Settlement Commission (SSC) (VA 2270) had decided to consider developing three major areas of Crown land - Heytesbury, Yanakie and Nyora. At a conference held on 8 February 1951, the feasibility of settlement in these areas was discussed and the Minister of Lands expressed interest in settlement opportunities for not only ex-servicemen but also for civilians who had not been in the war service.

In December 1953, the Land Settlement Act 1953 (No. 5768) was passed, which opened up settlement opportunities for young civilian men without previous war service. The Land Settlement Act adopted the main provisions of the Soldier Settlement Act (no. 5107) for acquiring and setting apart land, although settlers could choose whether to finance their own farm development or accept assistance from the SSC. The enterprise was an initiative of the Victorian Government alone, whilst funded and administered through the SSC.

The Soldier Settlement Commission's 1952-3 Annual Report outlined experimental work that was undertaken in various Crown areas, including Heytesbury, which led to a confident prediction of successful dairying in the area. Preparation of undeveloped Crown land began at Heytesbury in 1956, by which time Victoria's World War II Soldier Settlement program was starting to wind down. By 1958, land funded and developed under the Soldier Settlement Act at Heytesbury, Yanakie and East Goulburn was ready for transfer for civilian settlement. The land was officially transferred in 1959 under the Land Settlement Act (No. 6534). The first section of the Heytesbury settlement was opened in late 1959. By 1961 Civilian and Soldier Settlement schemes operated side by side at Yanakie, the first civilian settlers having been allocated blocks during that year. Yanakie's second-stage development was completed by 1965.

Dairy farm development at Heytesbury ceased in the 1970s and during the 1980s the remaining land was gradually sold publicly in various-sized lots. In March 1988 an area of 1,039 hectares was transferred to the Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands for softwood production. The Rural Finance Corporation (II) (VA 2985) held a final clearing sale on 24 May 1989, which included the sale of vehicles, horses, hay and office furniture and equipment. All activities were finalised on 1 June 1989.

The true series date range is uncertain as it was not possible to determine precisely when the recordkeeping activities underpinning the estate development process began and ended. The series appears to contain material from a number of recordkeeping systems, although the majority of files are unnumbered. A series start date of 1956 has been chosen as this was the year that major development began on the Heytesbury estate. Some documents predate 1956, including reports and correspondence of the Virgin Land Investigation Committee, established in 1949, to recommend Crown land which appeared most suitable for the SSC to investigate in detail. The committee visited Yanakie early in 1950, an area that would eventually be occupied by both soldier and civilian settlers. However, the majority of files in the series date from 1956 to 1976 - the most intensive period of land development. Documents were added to files after this date but only a small number of new files were created.

A series end date of 1989 has been chosen as this was the year that the Rural Finance Corporation II (VA 2985) conducted its final clearing sale for the Heytesbury project. The last file of the series was generated during this year.

Many files from this series were destroyed at some time in the past. This series constitutes those files that survived.