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Land, Places and Local History - Public Works Department - Building Services Agency Plans

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The Public Works Department (VA 669) was responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of Victorian Government buildings such as schools, mental hospitals, government offices and other public buildings. PROV holds the plans created by the Public Works Department and its successor agency, the Building Services Agency (BSA). The drawings date from 1853 to 1998 and are a valuable resource for researching a range of properties in Victoria.

Information on Drawings

Drawing categories include Architectural, Civil and Hydraulic Services, Electrical Services, Landscape, Mechanical Services, Structural, Standard drawings and Survey. Details show site plans, elevations, sections, floor plans, fitments, structural works, roof plans and site survey plans. Service drawings include water supply, sewerage, stormwater, drainage, gas supply, civil works, electrical services including power and lighting, fire services, and mechanical services including equipment, boilers, fuel tanks, heating, air conditioning and ventilation.

Accessing the Records

Plans are available on microfilm cards, also known as aperture cards, at the Victorian Archives Centre (VAC) Reading Room.  They can only be ordered manually, using the steps below.  

 

Please note: Authorisation to view or copy plans for Prisons, Youth Training Centres, Police Stations, Courts and Parliament must be obtained from the government department responsible for those buildings (Corrections Victoria, Department of Human Services, Victoria Police, individual Courts, and Parliament, respectively).  See the Accessing Restricted Plans section in this PROVguide for details.

 

Step 1	Set up a user account on PROV's online catalogue.  See PROVguide 19 for information on registering a Public User Account if you do not already have one.
Step 2	Collect an application for Microfilm BSA drawings from the VAC copy desk or the Ballarat Archives Centre (BAC) enquiries desk.  You can also download an application form.
Step 3	Search the Building Services Agency database index online or at the VAC or BAC Reading Room to identify relevant plans and obtain drawing registration numbers.  Enter these numbers on the back of the application form (maximum 20 cards each delivery) and complete the form.  If you require more than 20 cards urgently, please contact the PROV Information Desk on 1800 657 452 (toll free in Australia) who can advise on a timeframe.  Please Note: See steps below for accessing restricted plans.
Step 4	Email or fax your order form to the PROV Helpdesk: to enquiries@prov.vic.gov.au or 03 9348 5656, or give your order form to reference staff at the VAC Copy desk.  At BAC staff can fax the order to VAC.   Please leave two working days for faxed and email orders to be placed.
	Ordering and Collection times at VAC: Order before 8.00 am collection time 10.00 am Order before 11.30 am collection time 2.00 pm
Step 5	Collect your records order from the Collections desk at VAC.
Step 6	At VAC view microfilm cards on the Canon reader printer in the microform area and print if required. Copies can be reproduced at A3 size.
Step 7	Prints cost $0.95 each (includes GST) and are paid for at the copy desk.

 

Accessing Restricted Plans

Step 1	Set up a user account on PROV's online catalogue.  See PROVguide 19 for information on registering a Public User Account if you do not already have one.
Step 2	Obtain written authorisation to view plans relating to the building of interest on departmental letterhead from the government department responsible for the building you are researching.  For courts, contact the court directly, or the Melbourne Magistrates Court for a magistrate's court.  For all other buildings contact the branch in the department that manages properties.
Step 3	Collect an Application for Microfilm BSA drawings from the VAC Copy desk or the BAC enquiries desk.  You can also download an application form.
Step 4	Complete the Contact Details and Restricted Plans sections on the application form.  Email or fax your order form, and a copy of the written authorisation to the PROV Information Desk to enquiries@prov.vic.gov.au or 03 9348 5656, or give your order form to reference staff at the VAC copy desk.  At BAC staff can fax the order to VAC.
Step 5	A PROV staff member will search the BSA index and order relevant plans on your behalf, and contact you to confirm your order.
Step 6	Bring the original letter of authorisation and photo ID to the Collections desk of the VAC Reading Room and collect your records order.  Please note: records will only be issued to the person who has obtained authorisation, and who has ordered the records.
Step 7	At VAC view microfilm cards on the Canon reader printer in the microform area and print if required. Copies can be reproduced at A3 size.
Step 8	Prints cost $0.95 each (includes GST) and are paid for at the VAC Copy desk.

Registration of Drawings - Understanding the BSA Database

The information below will assist you to search the registration numbers you will find in the BSA plan database.  For detailed searching tips see the advice provided online with the database.  A list of drawing registration prefix letters and numbers are listed below on pages 3 - 7.   

 

Imperial Section 1853 - 1972

Drawings created from 1853 to 1972 were controlled by a number of different registration systems.  

 

Metric Series 1973 - 1998

After the metric system was introduced in 1973 drawing registration used the following format:

95 769 A1B

 

95 is the year in which the project was registered

769 is the number related to the project

A1 is the discipline code letter and the sheet number within that discipline.

Discipline Code letters are as follows: A Architectural, C Civil, Com Communications, E Electrical Services, F Fitment, FS Fire Service, FPS Fire Protection Services, H Hydraulic Services, K Equipment, L Landscape, LV Lifts, M Mechanical Services, R Relocatable, S Structural, Sec Security, Sd Standard Drawings, Su Survey

B is the amendments letter, used to indicate that a plan had been amended. When first amended the letter A was added, when a second amendment occurred the letter changed to B, and so on.

 

Standard Drawings

A Standard Drawing could be used for a number of different projects, for example, a classroom or a toilet block. Standard drawings exist in most disciplines, and were prefixed by Sd. The year was not included in the drawing number.

 

Survey Drawings

Survey drawings document surveys conducted by the Public Works Department and subsequent agencies as part of the design and construction of various buildings. The series prefix is Su. Plans are of feature surveys or detail surveys of building sites including levels and features, eg. Buildings, pavements and pits. This series also contains plans of contour surveys.

Drawings Registration: Imperial Series 1853 to 1972

 

Drawings created from 1853 to 1972 were controlled by a number of different drawing registration systems.  The following is a list of drawing prefix letters and numbers that forms part of the drawing registration number.

 

Drawing Prefix Letters and numbers

Plan Description

 

Bridges and Roads

B CB	Bridges, Country Bridges
B CB & C	Bridges, Country Bridges and Culverts
B MRB	Bridges, Murray River Bridges
B P	Bridges, Punts
B TB	Bridges, Town Bridges
B TB & C	Bridges, Town Bridges and Culverts
H J W	Harbour Works, Jetty
HW RW	Harbour Works, Retaining Wall
M	Miscellaneous
M BLB	Miscellaneous, Beacon Lights and Buoys
M CP	Miscellaneous, Contour Plans
M M	Miscellaneous, Machinery
M M & S	Miscellaneous, Melbourne and Suburbs
M P & G	Miscellaneous, Parks and Gardens
M SC	Miscellaneous, Survey Channels
M WS	Miscellaneous, Water Supply
R B	Reclamations, Beautifications
R D	Reclamations, Drainage
R FCL	Reclamations, Filling Crown Lands
R L	Reclamations, Levees
R RCL	Reclamations, River Crown Lands
R RI	Reclamations, River Improvements
R R	Reclamations, Rivers
R CR	Roads, Country Roads
R CR & T	Roads, Country Roads and Tracks
R CSR	Roads, Closer Settlement Roads
R SD	Reclamations, Swamp Drainage
R T	Roads, Tracks
R TR	Roads, Town Roads
R TR & T	Roads, Tourist Roads and Tracks

Schools – Note: SSO are the oldest School Plans

SSO	State Schools - Old
SSN	State Schools - New
SS	State Schools
SS Sd	State Schools - Standards
SSSO	State Schools Secondary - Old
SSSN	State Schools Secondary - New
TS	Technical Schools
HS	High Schools
UC	Universities and Colleges

 

Mental Hospitals

MH	Mental Hospitals
MH Sd	Mental Hospitals - Standards

 

Government Buildings

AD	Agricultural Department
AR	Aboriginal Reserves
B	Bridges
BC	Buchan Caves
CE	Crematorium
CR	Country Roads
CS	Cool Stores
EB	Exhibition Buildings
F&W	Fisheries and Wildlife
Fa	Factories
FO	Forest Commission Offices
G	Gardens
GH	Government House
H	Hospitals
Ha	Hatchery
HT	Harbour Trust
HO	Hostels
I	Immigration
L	Libraries and National Galleries
LS	Lands and Survey
MB	Milkboard
MD	Mines Department
NP	National Parks
OB	Observatories

 

P	Government Pavilions
PB	Public Buildings
P&H	Ports and Harbours
PM	Powder Magazines
PO	Government Printing Office
Q	Quarries
R	Residences
RM	Royal Mint
RO	Records Office
RS	Research Stations
RT	Road Traffic
SC	Soil Conservation Authority
SG	Sports Grounds
SI	State Accident and Insurance
SL	State Laboratories
SR	State Rivers
SW	Social Welfare
TB	Tourist Bureau
TO	Titles/Registry Office
TP	Government Treasury Place Buildings
WM	War Memorials

 

Civil and Drainage

36/ to 85/	Civil Plans
S	Drainage, Sewerage

 

Electrical and Mechanical

50P to 76 P	Electrical
P 10 to P11	Electrical
PB	Mechanical
PD	Mechanical - Design Manual
PE	Mechanical - Equipment
PH	Mechanical - Heating
PK	Mechanical - Preliminary Drawings
PM	Mechanical - Mechanical Handling
PP	Mechanical - Pumps
PR	Mechanical - Equipment Rating Sheets
PS	Mechanical - Steam
PV	Mechanical - Ventilation
PW	Mechanical - Hot Water Services
PX	Mechanical - Miscellaneous

 

50B, 50C, 50D, 50E	Electrical - Technical Schools
51B, 51C, 51D, 51E	Electrical - Primary, Secondary & Consolidated Schools, Universities
52B, 52C, 52D, 52E,	Electrical - Mental Hospitals and Children’s Welfare Dept.
53B, 53C, 53D, 53E	Electrical - Public Hospitals
54B, 54C, 54D, 54E	Electrical -  Sanatoria
55B, 55C, 55D, 55E	Electrical - Agricultural Department
56B, 56C, 56D, 56E	Electrical - Public Offices
58B, 58C, 58D, 58E	Electrical - Residences
59B, 59C, 59D, 59E	Electrical - Standard and Miscellaneous
60B, 60C, 60D, 60E to 69B, 69C, 69D, 69E	Electrical - Switchboards
70B, 70C, 70D, 70E	Electrical - Reticulation and Block Plans
71B, 71C, 71D, 71E	Fire Alarms, Telephones and Watchman’s Clocks
72B, 72C, 72D, 72E	Bell, Call and Clock Systems
73B, 73C, 73D, 73E	Radio and Sound Systems
74B, 74C, 74D, 74E	Special Details
75B, 75C, 75D, 75E to 76B, 76C, 76D, 76E	General
BB, BC, BD, BE	Mechanical
EB, EC, ED, EE	Mechanical - Equipment
HB, HC, HD, HE	Mechanical - Heating
KB, KC, KD, KE	Mechanical - Preliminary Drawings
LB, LC, LD, LE	Mechanical - Lifts
MB, MC,MD, ME	Mechanical - Mechanical Handling
PB, PC, PD, PE	Mechanical - Pumps
SB, SC, SD, SE	Mechanical - Steam
WB, WC, WD, WE	Mechanical - Hot Water Services
XB, XC,XD, XE	Mechanical - Miscellaneous
10B, 10C, 10D,  to 12B, 12C, 12D	Mechanical
14B, 14C	Mechanical
19B, 19C	Mechanical
29B, 29C, 29E	Mechanical
VB, VC, VD, VE	Mechanical - Ventilation

 

Standards

Sd	Imperial Standards

 

A to F Series

A to F

Drawings registered by size of sheet - includes all disciplines

 

Drawing Registration: Metric Series 1973-1998

 

After metrics was introduced in 1973 drawing registration used the following format:  95 769A1B

 

95 is the year in which the project is registered

769 is the number related to the project

A1 is the discipline code letter and the sheet number within that discipline

B is the amendments letter, used to indicate that a plan had been amended. When first amended the letter A was added, when a second amendment occurred the letter changed to B, and so on.

 

NOTE:   Discipline Code letters are as follows:

A	-  Architectural
C	-  Civil
Com	-  Communications
E	-  Electrical
F	-  Fitment
FS	-  Fire Service
FPS	-  Fire Protection Services
H	-  Hydraulics
K	-  Equipment
L	-  Landscape
LV	-  Lifts
M	-  Mechanical
R	-  Relocatable
S	-  Structural
Sec	-  Security
Sd	-  Standard Drawings
Su	-  Survey

 

Sd - Standard Drawings

Standard drawings exist in most disciplines and are recorded with the prefix Sd the year is not included in the drawing number.

Sd – Standards

SdC – Standards Civil

SdCE – Standards Communications

SdE – Standards Electrical

SdF – Standards Fitments

SdM – Standards Mechanical

 

Su - Survey Drawings

Standard drawings document surveys conducted by the Public Works Department and subsequent agencies as part of the design and construction of various buildings.  The series prefix is Su.

 

Drawing Registration: Metric Series 1973 - 1998

 

Drawing Prefix Letters and numbers

Plan Description

 

73 to 98

1973 to 1998

 

Survey

Su	Metric Survey

 

Standards

Sd

Standards