VPRS 14443 Register of Applications, Advances, Section 86 Closer Settlement Acts 1912 and 1915

This series consists of registers of applications by settlers for advances under Section 86 of the Closer Settlement Acts of 1912 and 1915.Details given in the applications register are the number allocated, the date received, the amount applied for and the valuation. Other details give the district, the allotment and section, parish and the area of the land. Provision was made for reference to the Crown Lands Bailiff for a valuation and recommendation with the Closer Settlement Board decision regarding the granting of the application, the amount granted, any special conditions and details of previous applications with a note of the total advances made to the settler. The markings column was then used for notations regarding correspondence and file management matters. Most of the applicants were from the Mallee division. Files relating to these applications might be able to be found in VPRS 749 Advances Files - Mallee Division or other series of advances files for relevant districts.Tenants on closer settlement land lots were able to lease the land for at first a period of six years with residence and improvements conditions. The terms of this conditional purchase lease required the lessee to fence the land, destroy vermin and noxious weeds and make substantial and permanent improvements as well as keeping the property in good repair. After six years, lessees could mortgage, transfer or sub-let their land. They could also apply for a Crown Grant to purchase the land if the balance of the purchase monies had been paid.The Closer Settlement Acts allowed for the payment of advances to settlers to allow for the erection of buildings, for fencing, for the purchase of implements and stock and for other defined purposes. The amount able to be obtained and the terms of repayment were set forth in the Acts with the Board (or Commission) able to take a lien or mortgage or other security to ensure repayment of the advance. Details of these may be found in VPRS 11923 Register of Securities, Closer Settlement Acts.