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Series VPRS 5708
Rate Books
About this Series Related Series Accessing the records in this Series
Date Range: Series ? 1845 - Circa 1975
  Series in Custody 1845 - ? 1984
  Contents 1845 - 1984
Public Access: Part Open
Location: Other
Format of Records: Physical
 
Agency which created this SeriesAgency which created this Series
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Date Range Agency Title Agency Number
1845 - 1975 Melbourne (Town 1842-1847; City 1847-ct) VA 511
Agency currently responsible for this SeriesAgency currently responsible for this Series
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Date Range Agency Title Agency Number
1845 - cont Melbourne (Town 1842-1847; City 1847-ct) VA 511
Description of this SeriesDescription of this Series
  • How to use the Records
    PLEASE NOTE:
    *1845 to 1900: Researchers are advised to use the microfiche copy VPRS 5708/P2 for rate books up to and including 1900.

    *1901 to 1975: Researchers should use the microfilm copy VPRS 5708/P4 for rate books from 1901 to 1975. Film for 1904 is missing; use VPRS 5708/P0, unit 40, for this year only.

    It will assist if researchers know the ward in which the property they are interested was located. Information in the rate books was arranged according to wards and within each ward by the ward/assessment number. Researchers can find the relevant ward in one of three ways.

    1. Background to the formation of wards in the nineteenth century and a map can be viewed on the Introductory fiche to the P2 consignment of the series. (Ward Maps for the City of Melbourne have yet to be transferred.)

    2. Index to Streets. Every rate book from 1866 to 1975 includes an index to streets at the beginning of each section containing rate information for a particular ward. The numbers next to the street name correspond to the ward number where entries for that street begins.

    3. VPRS 4029 Citizens Lists/Rolls. Researchers interested in a particular persons property may consult this series to ascertain the ward in which a particular person resided and/or owned property. A list or roll exists for each year.

    In mid 1975 the rate books were computerised and consist of a computer printout rather than the previous handwritten format. Numerical codes were used to denote the ward and street. These records were in the custody of the Council as at 1999.

    The earliest known records concerning rates exist as part of VPRS 9297 Cash Journal which includes information such as the name of the ward, ward number, the amount of town rate, how paid and by whom.

    Rate books for Hotham/North Melbourne and Flemington and Kesington up to 1905 may be seen on microfilm in the P7 consignment.

  • Function / Content
    Municipalities were required to make and levy a general rate on all rateable properties in the municipality annually. The level of the rate was set after an estimate of the councils expenditure for the coming year had been made and approved by Council. The amount of rate payable by each property owner was also dependent on the valuation of their property. At least until 1952 valuations within the City of Melbourne were undertaken on an annual basis.

    The City of Melbourne Rate Books recorded the levying and payment of the general rate. Each rate book is signed by the Mayor and sealed with the corporation seal.

    The information present in the rate books altered over time. In 1853 the details were fairly rudimentary and included:

    - Number in Ward
    - Name of Ratepayer
    - Situation of Tenement (i.e., address)
    - Description of Tenement
    - Assessed Annual Value
    - City Rate due March/August

    By 1887 the rate books contain more information:

    - Number in Ward
    - Name of the Owner/Ratepayer
    - Address of the Property being Rated
    - Description and Situation of the Property (may include number of rooms and measurements)
    - the Propertys Annual Value
    - Net Annual Value as Adopted by Council
    - Total Rate
    - Moeity (total rate split into two halves due in April and September)
    - Lighting Rate.

    By 1960 the information in the rate book had been refined further:

    - Number in Ward
    - Occupier of Property
    - Owner of Property
    - Situation (i.e address)
    - Description of Property
    - Measurements of the Property
    - Valuers Assessment
    - Net Annual Value as Adopted by the Council
    - Town Rate.

  • Recordkeeping System
    Originally rate books were bound according to each particular ward. In 1861 the rate books for each ward were first bound together to form one volume, although separate rate books were also maintained until 1864. Rate books for each ward continued to be bound together until the financial year 1974/75. In mid 1975 the rate books became computer generated. Instead of binding the individual ward rate books together to form one volume the Council decided to maintain separate rate books for each ward.

    Each section of the rate book pertains to a particular ward. Within each ward entries are arranged by the ward number. The ward number generally corresponds to the order in which the properties were valued. This number was a sequential number for each ward (ie the numbering sequence for each ward begins at 1).

    Rates for each ward were bound separately prior to 1861 and duplicate copies for each ward exist between 1862 and 1864.

    An index to streets based on the rate number begins in 1866 and is included within the volumes after that date.

    Related Series

    This series is closely related to VPRS 8915 Valuation Field Books. The information contained in the field books is used to generate this series. In many cases the information is the same although post 1952 field books contain information regarding sale of property that is not reflected in the rate book.

    The earliest known records concerning rates exist as part of VPRS 9297 Cash Journal which includes information such as the name of the ward, ward number, the amount of town rate, how paid and by whom.

    Series Consignments:

    * The P consignment of this series comprises rate books from the period 1861 to 1975.
    * The P1 consignment of this series constitutes the individual ward rate books produced from 1845 to 1864.
    * The P2 consignment consists of a copy of the rate books from 1845 to 1900 on microfiche.
    * The P3 consignment constists of the microfilm, rate books date range 1847-1900. (Not available for use.)
    * The P4 consignment consists of a copy of the rate books from 1900 to 1975 on microfilm.
    * The P5 consignment consists of a copy of the rate books from 1845 to 1975 on microfilm. (Not available for use.)
    * The P6 consignment consists of a copy of the rate books from 1863 to 1950 on microfilm. (Not available for use.)
    * The P7 consignment consists of a copy of the rate books from 1845 to 1975 on microfilm. (For reference use at Ballarat Archives Centre.)
More research resourcesMore research resources
    PROVguide064 City of Melbourne
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Controlled SeriesControlled Series
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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 1861 - 1975 Closed 149
P0001 1845 - 1845 Closed 1
P0002 1845 - 1900 Closed 0
P0003 1847 - 1900 Closed 39
Indexes and RegistersIndexes and Registers
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More research resourcesMore research resources
    PROVguide064 City of Melbourne

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