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Land Records and Parish Maps Research Guide

This guide provides information about researching land and property records in Victoria, Australia. It explains that the state is divided into counties, parishes, and townships. Parish and township plans show original land grants and transfers. The Goldfields Research Centre offers resources like maps, directories, and indexes to help with research. These include parish and township plans, as well as rates records. The guide provides instructions for locating relevant records online through libraries and archives.

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Ben Saunders
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47 views

Land Records and Parish Maps Research Guide

This guide provides information about researching land and property records in Victoria, Australia. It explains that the state is divided into counties, parishes, and townships. Parish and township plans show original land grants and transfers. The Goldfields Research Centre offers resources like maps, directories, and indexes to help with research. These include parish and township plans, as well as rates records. The guide provides instructions for locating relevant records online through libraries and archives.

Uploaded by

Ben Saunders
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Goldfields Library Corporation

Land Records and Parish Maps Research Guide

Researching land and property records can be a complex task. There are many records, held in different
locations which will help you in your research. This guide can be used as starting point.

Land settlement records in Victoria are divided in 37 Counties, which are made up of 2004 Parishes and
909 Townships. Parish and Township Plans show freehold land dealings or land occupancy up to the date
of the original Crown Grant.

Resources at the Goldfields Research Centre

 Land Record Guides and publications


 Parish Plans
 Township Plans
 Maps of Bendigo covering a range of years
 Street and business directories
 Access to Australian Electoral Rolls
 Access to Bendigo and Eaglehawk Rates index – Bendigo Rates now available online

Parish and Township Plans


Parish plans record the first transfer of government (crown) portions of land to named individuals.

Using Parish Plans

 Locate the parish the property is situated in


You can use the guide “Lists of Counties, Parishes and Townships”
 Parish plans are available online (see the Parish Plans ‘How To’ Guide) or on microfiche
 To understand the details on the parish plan use the guide “Historical Inquiries on Land Occupation
and Land Tenure in Victoria” or the “Lands Guide” in print or online at
http://prov.vic.gov.au/publications/lands-guide
 To find subsequent changes in ownership, the parish maps can provide information to help you find
records kept at the Land’s Department or at the Public Records Office of Victoria
 Council Rate Records
The Goldfields Research Centre has the Bendigo and Eaglehawk Rates on a searchable database.
Bendigo Rates from 1856 – 1903
Eaglehawk Rates from 1855 – 1899

The Bendigo Regional Archives Centre


The Bendigo Regional Archives Centre has available the original Council Rates books from

 City of Greater Bendigo


 Eaglehawk
 Marong
 Strathfieldsaye Shire
 Boroughs of Raywood and Heathcote
 Some rates from the McIvor Shire

BRAC also has available other Bendigo Council records which may be of interest.
Print Resources at the Goldfields Research Centre

Lands Guide / Public Records Office of Victoria


R-GEN 333.1 NEL (borrowing copy also available)

Lists of Counties, Parishes and Townships / Department of Property and Services


R-GEN 929.342 VIC

Historical Inquiries on Land Occupation and Land Tenure in Victoria / Survey and Mapping
R-GEN 912.945 VIC

Assorted business and street directories for the Bendigo area


R-GEN 919.45…

Searching for Parish Land Maps via the State Library of Victoria

Go to www.slv.vic.gov.au

Search for Parish Map and [the name of the parish]

Scroll through the results or refine using the options on the left of the screen

Searching Parish Land Maps via the Public Records Office of Victoria

(For a step by step visual guide see the Goldfields Library Parish Plan How To Guide)

 Go to www.prov.vic.gov.au (use Internet Explorer)


 Click on Online Indexes and Digitsed Records
 Scroll down to Land and Property
 Select VPRS 16171
 Choose the parish plan you need
 Select PDF and wait for the map to download (this may take a while depending on your Internet
connection)

Online Resources

www.ncgrl.vic.gov.au – Goldfields Library

www.ncgrl.vic.gov.au/e-resources/familyhistory - Historic Rates Index

www.ncgrl.vic.gov.au/content/researchguides - Research Guides

www.brac.vic.gov.au – Bendigo Regional Archive Centre

www.slv.vic.gov.au – State Library of Victoria

www.prov.vic.gov.au – Public Records Office of Victoria

www.landata.vic.gov.au – Purchase property information

www.trove.nla.gov.au – Digitised newspapers, photos, maps, archives and more

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