VPRS 242 Crown Reserves Correspondence

This series primarily contains files relating to the proclamation and management of Crown reserves. Many of these files are those for reserves whose status has since been revoked by legislation or by Order-in-Council. Contained in the files are correspondence relating to the management of the reserve, maps or plans of the reserve and copies of documents relating to proclamation, alteration of extent or revocation.Also included in this series are a number of general correspondence files from the 'X' series. These are files to do with departmental policy and administration, created primarily by the Department of Crown Lands and Survey, from 1960 to 1984. For the remainder of this series in PROV custody, researchers should consult VPRS 11796 General Correspondence Files, 'X' Series.The first Land Act passed by the Victorian Parliament (the Sale of Crown Lands Act 1860) provided that the Governor-in-Council was able to reserve lands permanently or temporarily for a wide variety of public purposes. This meant that the land was reserved from sale, leasing or licensing and from the provisions of the Mines Act. Legislation relating to Crown reserves remained under the Land Act until the passing of the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978. Proclamation of, alterations to and any revocations of reserves were to be published in the Government Gazette. Revocation of permanent reserves was by legislation whilst revocation of temporary reserves was by Order-in-Council.For permanent reserves, grants were able to be made, in trust, for public purposes such as churches and associated schools and facilities, municipal buildings and facilities such as abattoirs and markets, for recreational uses such as cricket grounds and racecourses and for such uses as cemeteries. Examples of these and pre 1860 grants for special purposes may be found in VPRS 81 Land Grants for Special Purposes. Records may also be found in a number of series to do with grants for special purposes, most particularly VPRS 12706 Alphabetical Index to Crown Grants for Public Purposes.Management of the provisions of the Land Act relating to reserves was done, from at least 1876 (and possibly prior to that) until c 1920 by the Correspondence Branch of the Department of Crown Lands and Survey (VA 538). In 1917, it was reported that the Correspondence Branch was also known as the Reserves and Commons Room. From c1920, it would appear that that management passed to the Occupation Branch. In 1978, due to Ministerial dissatisfaction with the management of Crown lands, the Crown Land Management Division was created and was responsible for the broad management of Crown lands including reserves until 1985.