Public Record Office Victoria  
Home Contact Us Site Map
About PROV
Access to the Collection
Records Management
Events & Programs
Publications
Exhibitions
Education
 
Terms of use for accessing public records can be found on our Copyright statement.

Our addresses can be found on the Contact Us page.

Telephone:
+61 3 9348 5600
Freecall:
1800 657 452
Email:
ask.prov@prov.vic.gov.au

 
Series VPRS 8915
Valuation Field Books
About this Series Related Series Accessing the records in this Series
Date Range: Series 1864 - 1994
  Series in Custody 1864 - 1980
  Contents 1864 - 1980
Public Access: Open
Location: North Melbourne
Format of Records: Physical
 
Agency which created this SeriesAgency which created this Series
Display entries per page
Date Range Agency Title Agency Number
1864 - 1994 Melbourne (Town 1842-1847; City 1847-ct) VA 511
Agency currently responsible for this SeriesAgency currently responsible for this Series
Display entries per page
Date Range Agency Title Agency Number
1864 - cont Melbourne (Town 1842-1847; City 1847-ct) VA 511
Description of this SeriesDescription of this Series
  • How to use the Records
    How to Use This Series

    To access valuation information in this series researchers will need to know what ward the property they are interested in was located and the rate number of the property for a given year (if the field book is not indexed). Once researchers have ascertained the correct ward and year of interest they should find the information they require by one of two methods:

    Method 1 - If the Book is Indexed:

    If the book is indexed (i.e. the year of interest is between at least 1887 and 1951) consult the Records Description List and request the relevant book to be brought into the search room. Consult the index to streets at the front of the book and turn to the page number indicated. Scan the entries for the property required.

    Method 2 - If the Book is Not Indexed:

    If the book is not indexed (i.e. the year of interest is prior to 1887 or after 1951) then the Rate Book (VPRS 5708) for the period required should be consulted to ascertain the rate number. Once the rate number has been ascertained consult the Records Description List and request the relevant field book to be brought into the search room. Scan the entries until you find the entry required.

    Function/Contents

    Each ward had its own series of valuation field books beginning in at least 1864 which were used to generate the rate books of the City of Melbourne (VPRS 5708). The original four wards were Bourke, Gipps, LaTrobe and Lonsdale. Valuer's Office staff valued each rateable property within the ward on an annual basis (until 1952) and thereafter most properties were valued three times within a ten year period.

    Each valuation field book created prior to 1952 included information such as the building owner, building occupier, street name, number in street (property), description of property and valuation.

    In 1952 field books were replaced by a similar system using rate cards. Virtually the same information was provided as before, but with the addition of notes regarding sales of properties outlining sale price, etc.

    System of Arrangement/Control

    All valuation field books are arranged by rate number, which corresponds to the order in which properties were valued. Rate numbers are allocated sequentially within each ward. All valuation field books have for some period a handwritten index to streets within the ward at the front of the book. These indexes were created until 1951, when the books were replaced by rate cards. The rate cards have not been indexed. The commencement of street indexes at the beginning of a field book varies from ward to ward.
    Early (pre 1887) field books do not have headings and information can be difficult to decipher. Access to these books is via the rate number for the property which can be ascertained by using the Rate Book (VPRS 5708) for the ward and year you require. Researchers should note that because of factors such as sub-division the ward number frequently changed and the rate book for each particular year should be consulted.

    Access to the indexed field books can be by either the ward number or by using the street index at the front of the book. Once you have located the street you are interested in turn to the page number indicated and scan the page(s) until you locate the property you require.

    Below is a list of wards and an indication of when street indexes begin to appear in the field books:

    Bourke Ward - 1887

    Lonsdale Ward - 1919

    La Trobe Ward - 1917

    Hopetoun Ward - 1918

    Gipps Ward - 1900

    Smith Ward - 1908

    Victoria Ward - 1889

    Albert Ward North - 1908

    Albert Ward South - 1908

    From 1952 onwards printed cards were used for valuations. Access to these records was through the ward number only; they are not indexed. These cards are consolidated for ten year periods (ie 1951/52 to 1959/60; 1960/61 to 1969/70 and 1970/71 to 1979/80). During the 1950's valuations ceased to be performed on an annual basis, but most properties were valued three times within a ten year period.

    In the early 1980's redistribution of ward boundaries resulted in many streets changing wards. As a result of the ward boundary changes the Valuer's Office removed the cards of the streets affected that were dated from the 1970's and placed them with cards from the new ward. For example if in 1974 a particular street was part of Bourke Ward but in 1982 because of a redistribution of ward boundaries the street became part of Lonsdale Ward, then the rate cards for that street from the 1970's would be found amongst the rate cards for Lonsdale Ward.

    Researchers seeking information from the 1970's should consult the Ward Maps for the early 1980's to see if the street of interest was affected by boundary changes.

    Related Records

    Valuations of propeties within each ward began in 1843 and all wards were listed together in the same volume. It is not clear when separate books were used for each ward. The Rate Books (VPRS 5708) can be used to ascertain the rate number and are created from information contained in the valuation field books.

    The Ward Maps show which streets were within a certain ward at a given time.

    A valuation register which gives a total valuation for each street has been produced since 1975. Originally this information was produced from the field books, but since the computerisation of the system in 1984 the valuation database has been used to produce these registers.

    Previous/Subsequent Series

    VPRS 5709 and VPRS 3102 (Valuation Books) are probably the previous series to this series. In these records valuations are for all wards and similar information is present. Further research is required to establish the exact relationship as there is a gap of three years between the end of VPRS 5709 and the beginning of this series.

    This system was computerised in 1984. Until 1994 both the database and the cards were maintained concurrently, but since 1994 the cards have ceased to be created and only the database is updated.

  • Function / Content


  • Recordkeeping System
More research resourcesMore research resources
    PROVguide064 City of Melbourne
Indexes and RegistersIndexes and Registers
Display entries per page
Date Range Series Title Series Number
Controlled SeriesControlled Series
Display entries per page
Date Range Series Title Series Number
Previous SeriesPrevious Series
Display entries per page
Transfer Date Series Title Series Number
- 1864 Valuation Books VPRS 3102
- 1905 Valuation Field Books VPRS 8938
- 1905 Valuation Field Books VPRS 8939
Subsequent SeriesSubsequent Series
Display entries per page
Transfer Date Series Title Series Number
List/s of records in this seriesList/s of records in this series
Display entries per page
Consignment Number Contents Date Range Public Access No. of Units
P0001 1864 - 1980 Open 167
Indexes and RegistersIndexes and Registers
Display entries per page
Date Range Series Title Series Number
More research resourcesMore research resources
    PROVguide064 City of Melbourne

More Help
Help On This Page

A series is a group of records which are recorded or maintained by the same agency (or agencies)

Series information helps you to understand the context of records - why, when and by whom they were created.

To locate records use the "Accessing the records" tab.

More about series details pages

   
© Copyright 2005   Government of Victoria   Disclaimer    Accessibility   Privacy   Contact Us