VPRS 16290 Soldier Settlement Estates Development Files

Full description

This series comprises a variety of files relating to post World War II soldier settlement estate development, including a large number of purchase lease files for individual settlers. The files include information on housing, fencing, irrigation, drainage and water supply and are most likely the remnants of several filing systems.

There are multiple runs of files within the series including:

Valuation - Purchase Lease files [1947-1970, arranged by settler / estate]
These files represent suitable applicants for Purchase Leases and document the eligibility process. When a Purchase Lease was granted, the settlement value, on which the settler's liability was assessed, could be revised. These files appear to contain documents supporting these revised valuations and the subsequent determination of lease liabilities. They include calculations, field check reports, summary statements, details of improvements made and materials on hand, correspondence and claims on the Commission made by settlers for reimbursement. A file for Interim Lease documents is attached to each Purchase Lease file. It contains similar review documentation that could have been used to support the granting of an interim lease. These files were the preliminary record to VPRS 16540 Purchase Lease Preparation Files; the official record of the settler paying off the Purchase Lease and achieving ownership of the land (issuing of a Crown grant). An example of a settler in both series is Clifford Albert Wiseman who paid off his Purchase Lease for blocks in Fawcetts Estate. There are also General Valuation Purchase Lease files for individual estates, which contain similar information to the Purchase Lease files and possibly copies of material held in the settler files.

Statements for the Commonwealth files [undated, arranged by estate]
Clause 6 of the War Service Land Settlement agreement stated that the Commonwealth would contribute 50% of the excess costs of acquiring and developing a farm. These files appear to include documentation to be used in support of claims on the Commonwealth such as cost breakdowns, lease liability statements and correspondence.

Costs files [1950-1968, arranged by estate]
Cost files were generated for each estate in addition to the Purchase Lease file and Statements for Commonwealth file. These files appear to contain similar content to the Statements for Commonwealth files - documentation supporting the transition from interim to purchase leases. Information includes statements of account, statements of costs and disposals and a statement for final claims on the Commonwealth.

Survey and Subdivision files [1946-1997, arranged by estate]
These files document the subdivision of land acquired for the Soldier Settlement Scheme. Content includes plans, correspondence, field notes and information relating to water supply and easements. The correspondence relates to interaction between the Soldier Settlement Commission and the Department of Lands and Survey. The contents of the majority of these files date from the late 1940s to the mid to late 1960s.

There is some uncertainty about the origins of this series. Some files may have been maintained separately when in active use and rearranged over time. The current grouping may reflect an attempt at some time to arrange files by subject. Not all files relating to the development process have survived and there is some overlap in content with VPRS 16291 Soldier Settlement Property Acquisition Files.

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. A series start date of 1946 has been chosen as this was the year that the Soldier Settlement Commission activities formally commenced. The end date of 1970 has been chosen as this is the year the last valuation purchase lease was granted.

Some records predate 1946. Some of these originated from the Department of Crown Land and Survey (VA 538), which had been involved in identifying land for soldier settlement prior to the formal establishment of the Soldier Settlement Commission and the Soldier Settlement Scheme. There are only a few isolated incidents of documents being placed on files after 1970.

VPRS 16289 Land Settlement Estates Development Files is a related series which documents the development of similar land 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.

The first file in this series which relates to the Robinvale Irrigation Area has an alphanumeric file number, D35857 General Development (Part 2). This D prefix filing system is represented extensively in VPRS 16289 Land Settlement Estates Development Files and included in VPRS 16760 General Subject Correspondence and Reference Material. All of these files would have originally been part of the same filing system.

BACKGROUND TO SOLDIER SETTLEMENT SCHEME

In December 1943 the Land Settlement (Acquisition) Act was passed in Victoria, providing for the setting apart of Crown land and the acquisition of privately owned land for ex-servicemen. Victoria's Crown lands had been assessed for post-war settlement by Lands Department officers and staff from the CSIRO and Department of Agriculture as early as 1941. Throughout 1944-45 Lands Department inspectors formally checked the suitability of rural properties all over Victoria, and their valuations and reports were eventually handed across when the Soldier Settlement Commission (SSC) started work in February 1946.

The 1945 War Service Land Settlement (WSLS) Agreement (Commonwealth legislation) established the broad outlines for World War II settlement in Victoria. The Soldier Settlement Act 1945 (No. 5107) ratified the terms of this agreement, authorised the setting up of the Soldier Settlement Commission (SSC) and provided the framework for the State scheme. In December 1946 the Soldier Settlement Act 1946 (No. 5179) was passed, authorising the SSC to advance money for Single Unit Farms (SUFs). SUFs were not controlled by the terms of the WSLS Agreement but SUF settlers still had to go through the initial selection process to be classified as eligible and suitable.

In February 1946 the Commission began acquiring portions of land, referred to as 'estates', which were then subdivided into blocks of various sizes within each rural industry. The preliminary development of the blocks was handled by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (VA 723) in consultation with the SSC.

Potential settlers could submit applications for farms within five years of the scheme's inception and Classification Committees were set up to assess applicants' suitability. The selection process began with an interview and then classification into one of four grades:
- Suitable for farm ownership immediately
- Suitable for farm ownership after a short specialised course
- Suitable for farm employment but needing further experience for ownership
- Unlikely to reach the standard for ownership

Less tangible attributes such as aptitude, energy, physical capacity and mental alertness were also taken into consideration.

In 1947 the first settlement estates were advertised, with classified applicants required to put their names forwards for blocks on particular estates. A second, more detailed, interview was then run by special SSC Land Boards. Applicants were graded using a 100 point system, broken down as follows:
- War service (20 points)
- Farming experience (30 points)
- Personal attributes (30 points)
- Evidence of thrift and financial responsibility (10 points)
- Marital status (10 points)

Other factors were also taken into account and personal references from several people in rural industries were requested. After ratings were given, a process of elimination was applied and an allocation plan drawn up. The three commissioners of the Soldier Settlement Commission assessed the proposed plan before making a final decision.

Leases were granted using a two-tier system, leading to freehold. An Interim Lease covered the establishment period of the farm and could be held for up to seven years. Settlers were only required to pay rent during this period. This was followed by a Purchase Lease that allowed the settler a period of at least six years to consolidate before becoming eligible to obtain freehold title to his farm. The issuing of Interim Leases was delayed due to disagreements between Commonwealth and State over valuations. By the middle of 1950 the Commonwealth agreed to fund living allowances for 752 Temporary Lease settlers. Once they were through an initial assistance period, the terms of the Temporary Lease allowed them to contribute part of their farm proceeds towards a credit account.

The last group settlement was on the 24-block Warrowie estate near Colac, which was advertised in the Government Gazette on 30 November 1960. It wasn't until 1970 that the last settler obtained his purchase lease.