VPRS 979 Contract Books

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.This series consists of the Contract Books in which were recorded the details of contracts let by the Public Works Department for the construction and maintenance of public buildings and for some equipment for same. Although there were changes in the format of the record over time, the details included were essentially the same.Entries in contract books were made in sequential number order, commencing with one each year. (These contract books might well be the contract register.) Details include: contract number, site of works (suburb and name of building) and the nature of the work, BN or Board Number, the name of departmental supervisor, the name and address of contractor, tender price of work, reference to advertisement of tender let in Government Gazette, and dates of progress and final payments for works. Please note that details recorded in contract books varied over the date range of the series.(Contracts advertised in the Government Gazette were given a sequential number starting at 1 (one) at the beginning of each financial year. It is thought that the sequential number was allocated by the Government Printing Office.)Fewer details were included for minor contracts.VPRS 979/P was reserialised in 2001 as part of the ARAD Project. The former unit 29 is now VPRS 995/P1 unit 1, and the former unit 44 is now VPRS 981/P1 unit 1. The remaining units have been renumbered to incorporate these changes.