VPRS 19359 Mining Registrar's Register Of Water Races, Woolshed Mining Office/Subdivision

Full description

This series consists of registers of claims upon water races created by the Woolshed Mining Office/Subdivision within the Beechworth Mining District.

Background: Mining Districts

Between 1855 and 1975 the administration of mining in Victoria was partly carried out at a district level. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries district mining officials had extensive administrative and judicial responsibilities. Over time the role of district officials diminished as the function gradually became more centralised.

The boundaries of each Mining District were proclaimed by the Governor-in-Council. Each District was divided into several divisions which at times were further subdivided. It is important to note that the names and boundaries of the Districts, Divisions and Subdivisions changed over time as the scale of mining activity in various locations changed. Victorian Government Gazettes provide information about the boundaries of mining areas.

The first six Districts were established in 1858. They were: Ararat, Ballarat, Beechworth, Castlemaine, Maryborough and Sandhurst. In 1866 a seventh district - Gippsland - was proclaimed. These seven districts existed through to 1975, however, there were changes to their names (namely Sandhurst to Bendigo in 1898 and Ararat to Ararat and Stawell in 1899).

Administration of mining activity took place at both the District and Divisional level. The names of the Districts and Divisions do not necessarily indicate the location of the offices of the mining officials.

Mining Registrars

The Gold Fields Laws Amendment Act 1860 (24 Gippsland) empowered the Governor-in-Council to appoint Mining Registrars in the Mining Districts to carry out duties prescribed in the mining by-laws for their district. Mining Registrars were primarily concerned with claims or privileges held under miners rights. Responsibilities included the registration and transfer of various types of claims specified in the mining by-laws. Mining Registrars were also responsible for preparing reports and statistics showing the progress of mining within their district.

Mining Registrars Register of Claims

Under the mining by-laws the holder of a miners right was entitled to take up various claims. Each type of claim specified the nature of the mining activity which could be undertaken. The types of claims included:

- prospecting claims (along a reef),
- alluvial claims (for shallow sinking)
- tunnelling claims
- sluicing and puddling claims
- water right or water race claims
- sites for machinery
- sites for a dam
- sites for residence (to 1936).

Registers of Claims may be specific to a particular type of claim (eg. Register of Water Races, Register of Residence Areas) or may include a mixture of claims. In circumstances where claims were taken up by partnerships the Register of Claims will usually include a record of the agreed percentage of shares of each of the partners.

A Register of Claims will often include:

- number and date of claim
- name of holder or owner
- number of Miners Right and date of Miners Right
- particulars of the claim
- locality, and
- details of transfers or amalgamations of claims.