VPRS 14417 Estates Registers, Closer Settlement

Under the Closer Settlement Acts (commencing with the Closer Settlement Act 1904) leases for farms could be obtained and, if specific conditions with respect to improvements, fencing and vermin eradication were met a Crown grant could be obtained for the land by payment of the full purchase price either directly or through a long-term conditional purchase lease. Settlers could also obtain re-payable advances from the Closer Settlement Board for buildings, fencing, the purchase of stock and implements and other purposes.Regular inspections were carried out to ensure that conditions of leases were being met, to report on applications for advances and relief from rent payments or to advise the settler. This series consists of registers which provided a double page pro forma for entering the details of the yearly inspection on a number of estates throughout Victoria. Details were given of the names of the estate and the lessee, the date of the lease, the area and location of the land, the capital value of the land and the half yearly instalments and the amounts of any advances and the payments due for them.The remainder of the report was divided into sections. One section allowed for progressive reporting on improvements such as the house, other buildings, fencing and clearing of the land. Details were able to be given of the residence available on the allotment and the yearly population, both adults and children. Each year, details were able to be entered of the implements owned by the lessee and the numbers and type of stock owned. Finally, remarks could be made on the lessees yearly gains and losses.