VPRS 1698 Wages Payment Book, Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp Drainage Scheme

The Public Works Department (VA 669) had wide-ranging responsibilities for all public works and buildings, including construction, maintenance and fitting out of these buildings. Other major responsibilities included roads and bridges, ports and harbours, local government and water supply. The Department was also involved with land reclamation schemes such as the Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp.The Koo-Wee-Rup scheme was described by the Public Works Department Engineer in charge of reclamation schemes as being part of a Village Settlement Scheme"that was principally intended to help the unemployed of Melbourne to establish homes in the country and to become accustomed to country life" with the reclamation work able to "provide employment for a certain number of men" and an estimate that "66% of the men sent to the swamp from the city (to) remain permanently and are enabled to make a comfortable living." (VPRS Outwards Letter Book, Supervising Engineer Reclamation Works, Memo to the Inspector-General 15 May, 1897, page 165)This series consists of a wages register. Details are given of the drain on which the person was employed, the extent of the work done by them and at what rate with the final remuneration. Some details regarding marital status and whether they had selected land are given about the person with notes regarding the tools and equipment issued to the person.At the back of the volume is a list of dates and of equipment or tools for that date. This may have been a notation of those received or of the total of those issued.