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Series VPRS 1084
Despatches from the Governor to the Secretary of State
About this Series Related Series Accessing the records in this Series
Date Range: Series 1851 - ? 1949
  Series in Custody 1851 - 1910
  Contents 1851 - 1910
Public Access: Open
Location: North Melbourne
Format of Records: Physical
 
Agency which created this SeriesAgency which created this Series
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Date Range Agency Title Agency Number
1851 - 1949 Governor (including Lieutenant Governor 1851-1855 and Governor's Office) VA 466
Agency currently responsible for this SeriesAgency currently responsible for this Series
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Date Range Agency Title Agency Number
Description of this SeriesDescription of this Series
  • How to use the Records
    Refer to the Consignment Details to retrieve the despatches for the appropriate year.

  • Function / Content
    This series consists of copies of despatches, forming the official channel of communication from the Governor of Victoria to the British Secretary of State responsible for the administration of Colonial (later Commonwealth) Office. The Secretary's official title has changed over time, these being Secretary of State for War and the Colonies (to 1854), for the Colonies (to 1925), for Dominion Affairs (to 1947) and for Commonwealth Affairs. The series consists of an original transfer of 15 volumes and a P1 consignment of four volumes spanning the period 1906 - 1910. Item 14 of the original transfer was originally listed as missing but was transferred with the P1 consignment.

    The series initially consists of transcribed copies of the despatch. The format changes with the commencement of Volume 12 (September 1898) when press copies of the despatch were simply bound together. In almost all instances these despatches do not contain any enclosures referred to. A series of duplicate despatches (VPRS 1095), however, does contain these enclosures but this series only spans the years 1851 - 1856. Copies of telegrams sent have also been included. Confidential despatches were transcribed into VPRS 4818 until at least 1877, but are also included in this series by 1900.

    It is unclear when this series concludes. Although the contents of this series presently end at 1910, registers and indexes extend to 1917. A note on the final page of the last register implies that further self indexing bound despatches were created from 1918. It should also be noted that bound volumes of despatches from the Secretary of State to the Governor (VPRS 1087) extend to 1926. The series may have concluded in 1949 because from 1950 copies of despatches (numbered through an annual single number system and minus enclosures) are included within VPRS 7578 Outward Correspondence 1912 - 1962. This series is in turn controlled by VPRS 7579 Index to Outward Correspondence. In 1966 unbound copies of despatches (once again minus enclosures) were being placed in letter boxes and controlled by a single number system.These despatches are located in VPRS 14578 P1, Despatches from the Governor to the Secretary of State.




  • Recordkeeping System
    Despatches are arranged in chronological order. Each individual despatch (excepting telegrams) was also allocated an annual single despatch number. Details regarding the transmission of the despatch and any replies received are to be found in VPRS 1083 Register of Despatches 1851 - 1917. Registers to 1887 contain subject indexes whilst VPRS 7574 Indexes to Register of Despatches covered subsequent ones.
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Indexes and RegistersIndexes and Registers
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Date Range Series Title Series Number
1851 - 1917 Register of Despatches from the Governor to the Secretary of State VPRS 1083
1888 - 1917 Index to Register of Despatches from the Governor to the Secretary of State VPRS 7574
Controlled SeriesControlled Series
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Date Range Series Title Series Number
Previous SeriesPrevious Series
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Transfer Date Series Title Series Number
1888 - 1918 Register of Despatches from the Governor to the Secretary of State VPRS 1083
Subsequent SeriesSubsequent Series
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Transfer Date Series Title Series Number
- 1950 Outward Correspondence VPRS 7578
List/s of records in this seriesList/s of records in this series
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Consignment Number Contents Date Range Public Access No. of Units
P0000 1851 - 1906 Open 15
P0001 1906 - 1910 Open 4
Indexes and RegistersIndexes and Registers
Display entries per page
Date Range Series Title Series Number
1851 - 1917 Register of Despatches from the Governor to the Secretary of State VPRS 1083
1888 - 1917 Index to Register of Despatches from the Governor to the Secretary of State VPRS 7574
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