VPRS 9288 Notices of Intention to Build

From 1 January 1850 all building in the City of Melbourne was regulated by An Act for regulating Buildings and Party Walls, and for preventing mischiefs by fire in the City of Melbourne 1849.Under Section 10 of this Act the builder of any new building or any addition or alteration was required to submit a notice of his intentions to build as set out in Schedule K annexed to the ActUnder subsequent legislation which came into effect in 1916 council changed its requirements and owners or occupiers had to apply for a permit to build or alter a building. The plans had to be approved by the council. (Further research of the legislation related into these matters is needed. See the Local Government Act 1915 (No.2686) Sections 197 and 198, and possibly Melbourne City Council by-laws. The Acts were subsequently amended and/or repealed over the years.)The notices were created to fulfill the requirements of the Section 10 of the Act 13 Vic. No.39 (1849).The notices consist of short letters and forms addressed to the Building Surveyor from owners or builders in which is expressed the intention to build in the City of Melbourne. Information included in the notice is the address or location, the nature of the works, the date work will commence, the name of the builder, the architect (if any), the name of the owner, and the date of the notice.The notices were registered according to the date of the notice, and given a single number (see VPRS 9289 Building Notices Registers).