What’s new in 2024: July

Records recently added to the PROV collection include Vicmap photo mosaics, certified plans of subdivision, Bendigo and Geelong divorce case files, Glenelg Shire Council minutes, Mildura rate books, Goulburn-Murray Water correspondence records, Phillip Island rate books and valuation records.   

Aerial state map photo mosaics

Aerial state map photo mosaics created by the Department of Crown Lands and Survey have been transferred to our collection by Land Use Victoria. The initial aerial photography itself was undertaken by various bodies over time, commencing with the Royal Australian Air Force during WWII. These mosaics were then created by overlapping the aerial photographs to form a map sheet, providing detailed features of the landscape including roads, rivers and built-up areas. Around 500 photographs were used to create each map sheet through an intricate process of cutting and feathering to remove overlaps. On some maps, features such as rivers, suburbs/towns, roads and landmarks such as train stations and hospitals have been identified and labelled.

You can order the records to view in our North Melbourne reading room by searching through the series VPRS 19574. 

Certified plans of subdivision

Our collection of certified plans of subdivision – lodge plans (LP) from Land Use Victoria has been expanded to include additional plans of subdivision ranging from 1986 to 1997. The records are original certified plans that have been sealed or certified by the relevant council in relation to applications for subdivision of freehold land. 

You can order the records to view in our North Melbourne reading room by searching through the series VPRS 17865. Find the new plans in consignments C5, C6 and C7.

Divorce case files

Bendigo divorce and matrimonial causes book 1920-1948 and case files 1920-1947, as well as case files from Geelong 1936-1948, have been transferred to our collection from the Supreme Court of Victoria. 

The causes book recorded general information about divorce cases being heard including the case number, names of petitioner, respondent, date of hearing, name of judge, and the names of any other parties and solicitors involved in each case. The volumes are arranged by year. 

Divorce case files from both Bendigo and Geelong comprise petitions for marriage dissolution, affidavits, copies of proceedings, notices to produce, among other documents. Cases can be searched by surname and year. 

• Order the causes book at VPRS 19134.
• Order the Bendigo case files at VPRS 19541.
• Order the Geelong case files at VPRS 19542. 

Glenelg Shire Council minutes

Council meeting minutes and agenda papers from Glenelg Shire dated 1994 through to 2021 can now be ordered. Council meetings are held monthly, and the minutes of these include records of what decisions were made, who was in attendance and other consequential events that occurred during the meeting.

You can now access these records within VPRS 19553.

Mildura rate books

Mildura rate books from 1890 through to 1934 are now available to order and view in our North Melbourne reading room. 

A useful resource for family history and local history researchers, rate books contain details such as name, address, occupation of occupier and/or owner, property valuations and brief descriptions of properties.

You can now access Mildura rate books within VPRS 19789 and 19790.

Phillip Island rate and valuation records

Bass Coast has also recently transferred Phillip Island rate books and valuation records to our collection, with records ranging from 1953 to 1994 and spanning seven series, listed below.

Goulburn-Murray Water correspondence

General correspondence and subject files from Goulburn-Murray Water and its predecessor agencies the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, Rural Water Commission and Rural Water Corporation, have been added to our collection. These records deal primarily with administrative and engineering matters related to supplying and managing bulk water entitlements, headworks and infrastructure, irrigation and water entitlements, and water supply matters.  

You can find general correspondence from 1906-1995 at VPRS 6008 (records recently added range from 1931 to 1995, with files dating back to 1906 already in our collection) and general correspondence and subject files from 1995, at VPRS 12795.