VPRS 18455 Building Permit Registers

Full description

This series consists of building permit registers created by the Borough of Wonthaggi (VA 2539). Details in the registers include some or all of the following:

• Permit number
• Description of property
• Date of issue
• Owner name
• Builder name
• Description of work
• Estimated value
• Building permit fee
• Scaffolding permit fee
• Sanitary fee
• Crossing fee
• Fee total
• Crossing deposit
• Date of commencement
• Date of completion
• Certificate
• Area, floor, roof and wall details

Under the provisions of the Local Government Act, councils were given wide-ranging powers for the making of by-laws to regulate the erection and construction of buildings and such other structures as advertising signs within the municipality. Councils were able to regulate the type of materials used and the manner in which they were used. This led to the development of the system whereby permits had to be obtained and plans and specifications submitted before any works could commence. The execution of this work was monitored by the Council Building Inspector.

This register was part of the building permit/approval process. Applications for building construction were received and assigned an application number for the proposed building works and alterations. After the application was examined, and if the application was approved, an approval number was assigned.

Applications were mainly for the building or alteration of dwelling places and domestic garages, but could include those for factory buildings, offices and administration buildings, public accommodation buildings such as motels, shops and public purpose buildings such as churches and hostels.