VPRS 19381 Register of Boreholes

Full description

This series contains a number of different registers and indexes regarding the management of bores and boring activity by the Geological Survey of Victoria (GSV) (VA 4118). While subject to further research, the registers are thought to have been created during a period when borehole numbering systems were being updated and moving to an electronic management system.   

From the 1880s to 1990s, a bore was identified by the Parish in which it was drilled followed by a sequential number. As some earlier bores were identified by a project name and due to changes in parish boundaries, some early bores were subsequently renumbered to match that system.

The bore numbering changed again with the introduction of electronic databases in the mid-1980s. At this time, bore numbers became encoded as a 10-digit bore number, comprised of single digit for the State (Victoria = 3), the four-digit Parish code, and a five-digit sequential number within each parish. The series of bores numbered 08000 to 09999 (referred to as 8000 series bores) were private groundwater bores drilled before the Groundwater Act 1969, and the bores numbered 10000 to 14999 (the 10000 series bores) were private groundwater bores drilled after the Groundwater Act 1969.

The register Boreholes in Selected Parishes, Generation 65 (09/09/1989) is a register of bores by parish and lists parish name and number, bore number, owner (e.g. ‘Private’, ‘Government department’, ‘Company’), AMG map reference/coordinates, coordinates method (e.g. ‘Scaled’, ‘digit’, ‘survey’), completed date, bore depth, bore-use (e.g. ‘Groundwater’, ‘Unknown’, Water-ABN, Water-Stock’) and drill method (e.g. Cable, Rotary).

The registers Summary of Geophysical Logs Held by GSV Geophysics Section and Index of Electric Logs list bore, parish, date run, company, log type and information available, quality and number of logs.

The register Index of Government Bore Numbers lists the first to last number (bore ID) and parish, the specific reference (e.g. ‘D arill 7 1974 (7/74/2)), authority (e.g. Government agency) and year drilled.

The register Core Data is a guide to physical bore samples and lists bore number, construction number, interval from-to, type of sample (e.g. cutting, core), bay, row, tray (possibly location of sample at GSV Drill Core Library) and local bore name (e.g. c/5337, or locality).

The registers 8000 Series Register and 10 000 Series Register list parish, bore number, property owner, drilling contractor, military sheet (map reference), descriptive location, bore identification (e.g. ‘EL 663 CD 01’), bore usage (e.g. Water, brown coal) and completed date.

The register Aquifer and Pump Test Descriptions lists parish name and number, bore number, lithology, casing, screened interval, pump, pump test rate/time draw down and test date.

The register Composite of Water Quality and Aquifer Details - Latest Analysis Only Per Bore lists, aquifer description, date of drill, lithology, pump details, latest chemical analysis of water and sample,

The register Chemical File Listing lists parish name and number, sample type and method for determination etc.