VPRS 7601 Licensing Register - Metropolitan

This series comprises an amalgamation of records of proceedings concerning liquor licence applications between 1886 and 1982. Some of the common types of applications and common types of licences are listed below.Common Types Of ApplicationsNew Licence - Initial application for issue of an annual licenceRenewal - Subsequent application for annual renewal of an existing licenceTransfer - Application for the transfer of a licence, other than a temporary licence, for the residue of the term of the licenceDuplicate - Application for a duplicate licence on proof of loss of originalExtension - Application for an extension to the times liquor can be soldAlterations - Application for approval of rebuilding or alteration of licensed premises.Common Types of Liquor LicencesVictuallers - Licence to sell liquor on a specified premises.Temporary - Licence to sell liquor at irregular events and places of public amusement for a specified period of days. Only available to licensed victuallers.Grocers - Licence to sell liquor in bottles/cans for consumption elsewhere than on the premises.Billiard Table - Licence to keep and maintain billiard or bagatelle tables.Packet - Licence to master of vessel to sell liquor during passage of shipColonial Wine - Licence to sell wine or cider produced by Australian grown fruit on premises.Vigneron - Licence to sell wine grown from own produce.Railway Refreshment - Licence to sell liquor at railway refreshment rooms.RoomBrewers - Licence to sell beer, ale, port or wine.Spirit Merchants - Licence to sell spirits.Club - Licence to serve liquor at the premises of a non-profit body of membersLiquor licensing has had a complex history which has yet to be fully researched. The sale of liquor has been subject to regulation since the beginnings of settlement in Victoria. Following proclamation of the Licensing Act 1885 (40 Vic.,No.857) jurisdiction over liquor licensing has been vested in distinct judicial and administrative bodies. The records in this series have been created by four successive licensing authorities.Licensing Court Registers (Melbourne District) 1886-1917Under the Licensing Act 1885 (40 Vic.,No.857) Victoria was divided into Licensing Districts, each one comprising a division of an electoral district. Licensing Courts were formally established for each Licensing District. For its annual sittings each Licensing Court was to be constituted by three licensing magistrates, which could be police magistrates except in the (Melbourne) Metropolitan, Ballarat and Sandhurst (Bendigo) groups of Licensing Districts where one of the licensing magistrates was to be a county court judge. Outside of the annual sittings applications could be heard and determined by any one member of the Licensing Court.The registers in this series comprise a record of proceedings of the Licensing Court held for the Melbourne metropolitan group of Licensing Districts.Registers for the period 1897 to 1906 are not extant (as at 1996).Licensing Court of Victoria Registers (Metropolitan) 1917-1954The Licensing Act 1916 (No.2855) established the Licensing Court of Victoria, constituted by three licensing magistrates. This Court held hearings for each Licensing District in Victoria on a circuit basis. The Licensing Amendment Act 1922 (No.3259) reduced the number of licensing districts from two hundred and seventeen (one for each division of an electoral district) to sixty-five (one for each electoral district).The registers in this series comprise a record of proceedings held in the metropolitan circuit of the Licensing Court of Victoria.Victorian Licensing Court Registers (Metropolitan) 1954-1968The Victorian Licensing Court was established under the Licensing Amendment Act 1953 (No.5767).The Court was constituted by two magistrates under the chairmanship of a judge of the county court. Under the 1953 Act the division of the State into licensing districts effectively ceased. The Court, nevertheless, continued to conduct hearings throughout the State.The registers in this series comprise a record of proceedings at metropolitan hearings of the Victorian Licensing Court.Liquor Control Commission Registers (Metropolitan) 1968-1982The Liquor Control Commission was established under the Liquor Control Act 1968 (No.7695) which came into operation on 1 July 1968. The Liquor Control Commission was constituted by four members, the chairman being a county court Judge. From 1975 the chairman could be any "judicial member". The Commission continued the practice of holding sittings at country and metropolitan locations.The registers in this series comprise a record of proceedings at metropolitan sittings of the Liquor Control Commission.