VPRS 857 Schedules of Approved Applications, Section 19 Land Act 1869

This series consists of copies of schedules listing those persons approved for the issuing of licenses to occupy land under Section 19 Land Act 1869. Once the conditions met and fees and rents paid for the issue of a license, lists (or Schedules) were prepared. These schedules then had to be approved by the Board of Land and Works (VA 744) and by the Governor-in-Council. Once approvals were granted these details were printed in the Government Gazette.Each schedule gives the name of the applicant for the license, the number and date of the license, the amounts due and payable, the location and extent of the land and to which Receiver of Revenue money was to be paid.Under Section 19 of the Land Act 1869 selectors could apply for a three-year licence to occupy Crown land. The rent was set at two shillings per acre and a maximum of 320 acres per selector was allowed. On application, a deposit of half a years rent was paid. If the application was refused, the deposit was refunded. Section 20 of the Act placed conditions on the three-year licence with selectors required to improve their allotment by the erection of fencing and a dwelling, cultivation of their land and the destruction of vermin and noxious weeds. After the licence term had expired, the selector was eligible to apply for a seven-year lease or for a Crown Grant to purchase their allotment. Grants or leases were only approved if improvement conditions had been met. If a selector opted for a seven-year lease, the yearly rent was used to pay off the purchase price of the land. Rent previously paid under Section 19 was credited against the purchase price.