VPRS 4381 Daily Provisions Account, Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp Drainage Scheme

The Public Works Department (VA 669) had wide-ranging responsibilities for all public works and buildings, including construction, maintenance and fitting out of these buildings. Other major responsibilities included roads and bridges, ports and harbours, local government and water supply. The Department was also involved with land reclamation schemes such as the Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp.The Koo-Wee-Rup scheme was described by the Public Works Department Engineer in charge of reclamation schemes as being part of a Village Settlement Scheme"that was principally intended to help the unemployed of Melbourne to establish homes in the country and to become accustomed to country life" with the reclamation work able to "provide employment for a certain number of men" and an estimate that "66% of the men sent to the swamp from the city (to) remain permanently and are enabled to make a comfortable living." (VPRS Outwards Letter Book, Supervising Engineer Reclamation Works, Memo to the Inspector-General 15 May, 1897, page 165)This series contains a record of the issue of provisions such as tea, flour, salt, bread and jam to the people working on the scheme. Details of the person to whom the provisions were issued, the actual provisions issued and their value are given.