VPRS 6431 Certificates Of Registration For Mining Claims, Ballarat Central Mining Division

This series was created to record the receipt of applications for mining claims. These document the name of the applicant, type of claim, date claim was registered and miner's right number.. The Gold Fields Laws Amendment Act 1860 (24 Vic.,No.115) empowered the Governor-in-Council to appoint Mining Registrars in the Mining Districts to carry out duties prescribed in the mining by-laws for their district. Mining Registrars were primarily concerned with claims or priveleges held under miners rights. Responsibilities included the registration and transfer of various types of claims specified in the mining by-laws. Mining Registrars were also responsible for preparing reports and statistics showing the progress of mining within their district. Under the mining by-laws the holder of a miners right was entitled to take up various claims. Each type of claim specified the nature of the mining activity which could be undertaken. The types of claims included: - prospecting claims (along a reef) - alluvial claims (for shallow sinking) - tunnelling claims - sluicing and puddling claims - water right or water race claims - site for machinery, dam or (to 1936) site for residence. Details of applications will dopcumenetd within registers of claims. These may be specific to a particular type of claim (eg. Register of Water Races, Register of Residence Areas) or may include a mixture of claims. In circumstances where claims were taken up by partnerships the Register of Claims will usually include a record of the agreed percentage of shares of each of the partners.