VPRS 5708 Rate Books

Municipalities were required to make and levy a general rate on all rateable properties in the municipality annually. The level of the rate was set after an estimate of the councils expenditure for the coming year had been made and approved by Council. The amount of rate payable by each property owner was also dependent on the valuation of their property. At least until 1952 valuations within the City of Melbourne were undertaken on an annual basis. The City of Melbourne Rate Books recorded the levying and payment of the general rate. Each rate book is signed by the Mayor and sealed with the corporation seal. The information present in the rate books altered over time. In 1853 the details were fairly rudimentary and included: - Number in Ward - Name of Ratepayer - Situation of Tenement (i.e., address) - Description of Tenement - Assessed Annual Value - City Rate due March/August By 1887 the rate books contain more information: - Number in Ward - Name of the Owner/Ratepayer - Address of the Property being Rated - Description and Situation of the Property (may include number of rooms and measurements) - the Propertys Annual Value - Net Annual Value as Adopted by Council - Total Rate - Moeity (total rate split into two halves due in April and September) - Lighting Rate. By 1960 the information in the rate book had been refined further: - Number in Ward - Occupier of Property - Owner of Property - Situation (i.e address) - Description of Property - Measurements of the Property - Valuers Assessment - Net Annual Value as Adopted by the Council - Town Rate.