VPRS 8044 Public Building Plans

This series comprises plans which originally formed a part of Public Building Files (VPRS 7882/P1) and were apparently maintained separately as unattached plan folios on account of their size. Some documents which were small enough remained attached to the Public Building Files. Public Building Files document the regulation of certain health and safety standards in public buildings used for the purpose of education, entertainment, amusement and recreation.Public buildings include:hospitals or benevolent or other asylums (including ones not wholly supported by the State);theatres, opera houses, concert rooms, cinema halls, skating rinks, tents or amusement structures, churches;schools;any class of building or any particular building declared by a proclamation to be a "Public Building";hotels, clubs.Under the provisions of the various Health Acts, the plans and specifications of public buildings including those for subsequent extensions and modifications were to be examined with a view to establishing minimum safety and health standards. Approval for such plans was required before construction could begin. The completed building was also subject to inspection before approval could be granted for opening.The plans are a unique record of the physical aspect of the building including electrical installations, mechanical services, structural details, furnishings and fittings, lifts and fire services.The name of the building, its location and site, name of the suburb and the city, Plan Number and PB file number are recorded on the plan.The agencies historically responsible for granting approval were:1867-1890 Central Board of Health (operating as part of the Chief Secretary's Department VA 475)1890-1944 Department of Public Health VA 29041944-1978 Department of Health (I) VA 6951978-1985 Health Commission of Victoria VA 6521985-1988 Health Department of Victoria VA 2695