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Series VPRS 2876
Register of Inward Correspondence [Immigration Branch]
About this Series Related Series Accessing the records in this Series
Date Range: Series 1849 - 1852
  Series in Custody 1849 - 1852
  Contents 1849 - 1852
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
1849 - 1851 Superintendent, Port Phillip District VA 473
1851 - 1852 Colonial Secretary's Office VA 856
Agency currently responsible for this SeriesAgency currently responsible for this Series
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Date Range Agency Title Agency Number
1979 - 1992 Ministry for Police and Emergency Services VA 421
Description of this SeriesDescription of this Series
  • How to use the Records
    Function/Contents

    This series consists of a register of inward correspondence received by the Immigration Branch of the Superintendent's and later, the Colonial Secretary's Office. This branch registered letters concerning immigration matters including correspondence from persons nominating immigrants for free passages and paying remittances as well as correspondence from Sydney and Melbourne officials such as the Colonial Secretary; the Colonial Treasurer; the Immigration Agents; Emigration Boards reporting on immigrant ships; the Surgeon Superintendent of immigrant ships reporting arrivals and discussing special inquiries; and from the Health Board.

    These registers were used to record summary details and allocate unique identification numbers (registration numbers) to each letter received. Each inward letter was, on receipt and registration allocated a number from the registers for identification. This consisted of an annual single number, that is a sequential number prefixed by the last two figures of the year, with the numbering sequence recommencing at 1 at the start of each year.

    eg. the one-hundred and twenty-third letter received in 1849 was given the number 49/123.

    The inward correspondence appears to have been filed in annual single number order in pigeon-hole cabinets/presses.

    The registers record in a column format
    annual single number (registration number allocated to each letter)
    "When Received"
    "From Whom"
    "Residence"
    "Date"
    "Subject" (a brief summary of the letter)
    "Referred/To Whom/Date"
    "When Returned"

    System of Arrangement/Control

    Each register was identified by the year of use. Entries for each letter were made chronologically by date of receipt, being allocated a sequential registration number in this order.

    Previous/Subsequent and Controlled Series

    Until March 1849 inward correspondence regarding immigration matters was registered by the Land Branch, therefore pre March 1849 immigration correspondence was registered in VPRS 47 Registers of Inward Correspondence I [Land Branch]. During March 1849 a separate Immigration registry system was established and a new annual single number sequence commenced specifically for immigration correspondence. This correspondence is located in VPRS 115.

    After the establishment of the new Colonial Secretary's Office in June 1851 a new sequence of annual single numbers for immigration correspondence was commenced. This correspondence is located in VPRS 116. VPRS 2876 also controls this second sequence of correspondence.

    In April 1852 immigration correspondence was again registered within the Land Branch registry system, see VPRS 2879 Registers of Inward Correspondence II [Land Branch].

    Range of Control Symbols

    Series in Custody : 1849 - 1852
    Contents in Custody : 1849/1 - 1851/343
    1851/1 - 1852/98

  • Function / Content


  • Recordkeeping System
More research resourcesMore research resources
    PROVguide052 Immigration Records
Indexes and RegistersIndexes and Registers
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Date Range Series Title Series Number
Controlled SeriesControlled Series
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Date Range Series Title Series Number
1849 - 1851 Inward Registered Correspondence I [Immigration Branch] VPRS 115
1851 - 1852 Inward Registered Correspondence II [Immigration Branch] VPRS 116
Previous SeriesPrevious Series
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Transfer Date Series Title Series Number
- 1849 Registers of Inward Correspondence I [Land Branch] VPRS 47
Subsequent SeriesSubsequent Series
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Transfer Date Series Title Series Number
- 1852 Registers of Inward Correspondence II [Land Branch] VPRS 2879
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 1849 - 1852 Open 1
Indexes and RegistersIndexes and Registers
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Date Range Series Title Series Number
More research resourcesMore research resources
    PROVguide052 Immigration Records

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