VPRS 15669 Register of Files, Licenses Held Section 19 and Section 49 Land Act 1869, Ballarat District Survey Office

Labelled as a 'Stock Book' this series appears to be part of the recordkeeping system at the Ballarat District Survey Office or a nearby office in the Ballarat District. Reference is made to a previous volume of the Stock Book from which some of the data had been transferred. Files relate to those kept for licenses issued under Section 19 and Section 49 of the Land Act 1869.Details given are the file number, the page upon which the entry occurred in the previous volume, the name of the person, the location and extent of the land held, the decision of the Local Land Board in relation to the issuing of the license and the file management details.Other details relating to the same files may be found in VPRS 13301 Register of Applications and Decisions, Ballarat, Section 19 Land Act 1869 (District Surveyor). Further research is required into the recordkeeping system.Sections 19 and 20 provided that the selector could peg out no more than 320 acres and then apply to have the land surveyed. Occupation was under licence for three years. During that time, a rental of two shillings per acre per annum was payable with the selector being required to cultivate ten per cent of the land, enclose it and prove residence for two and a quarter years.Section 49 of the Land Act 1869 allowed the licensing of the occupation of land on the goldfields. Under the original Section 49, selectors could apply for a licence to occupy and cultivate auriferous (i.e gold bearing) land. The licence was for one year and the size of the land occupied was not to exceed 20 acres. The licence was renewable each year with the payment of a licence fee. A selector could not hold more than one licence. From 1880 land held under Section 49 could be purchased.