NRS-1286 | Returns of the Colony

These volumes record the progress of the Colony from 1822-57 and comprise a wealth of statistical information, including revenue and expenditure, taxes and duties, military and public works, population, imports and exports, exchanges, weights and measures, churches, schools and scholars, agriculture and manufactures, grants of land, gaols and prisoners, pensions and legislation. One of the most useful sections is the annual return of public officials which provides details of situation and service. 1822-23, 1825-57 (4/251-90). 40 volumes.Note also the existence of: * Public Service lists, 1858-70 (microfiche copy SR Fiche 807-819). This is a continuation of the relevant part of the previous series. From 1858 to 1861 the statistical Returns of the Colony (Blue Books), contained a section listing members of the Executive Council, Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly; officers of the Civil Establishments, by department; an Ecclesiastical Return arranged by church; a return of pensions paid; and a list of foreign consuls. This section has been extracted from the Returns of the Colony and filmed in this series under the title Public Service lists. There is an index to the officers of the Civil Establishments only at the beginning of each year. From 1862 to 1870 the Public Service lists were published separately from the statistical Returns of the Colony, with an alphabetical index to contents and an index to officers of the Civil Establishments included in the front of each annual volume. See NRS-1286, Returns of the Colony, 1822-1870 for an item list which also includes the Public Service Lists, 1858-1870. See also pages 87-89 of the printed Guide to Using the Archives Resources Kit for further details as well as an item list of the contents of the microfiche.Public Service Lists, 1871-1960 are available in the State Records' Western Sydney reading room only on Reels 3609-3620.Note:This description is extracted from Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.