VPRS 10442 Rent Roll, Advances and Liens

This series consists of records of payments made to farmers as advances for the sowing and cultivation of wheat crops in the Mallee. Details given are the number of the advances file of the farmer, the name of the person and the location of the land and details of the payments made and from whom these might be reclaimed once the crop had been harvested and sold.Both the Closer Settlement Acts and the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act 1917 (and its successors) 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. Although this seeking of advances was used primarily by settlers under these acts, other Crown lessees were able to access advances to enable the cultivation of crops through a series of Seed Advances Acts and Cultivation Advances Acts.