VPRS 961 Expenditure Vouchers

The Central Roads Board (VA 2803) was established circa March 1853 with responsibility for the formation, construction, improvement, management and maintenance of proclaimed main roads and bridges and for the co-ordination of the works undertaken by the District Road Boards. The primary officers were the Secretary, Treasurer and an Inspector-General of Roads. The Central Roads Board was abolished on 1 January 1858 and succeeded by the Department of Roads and Bridges (VA 2964) which operated under the statutory control of the Board of Land and Works (VA 744).Volumes in this series are ordered according to special projects or main roads (e.g. Johnston St Bridge or Mt Alexander Road) or district (e.g. Geelong) or special category such as District Roads Boards. Other roads and bridges which did not fall into a major category are organised in alphabetical order as Other Roads. Volumes contain the vouchers which record the invoice and receipt for charges related to the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges. Vouchers set out the location of the claim, the claimant, the particulars of the claim and the amount. The claim is verified by the Central Road Board Inspecting Engineer. There is space at the bottom of the voucher for the claimant to acknowledge receipt of the amount claimed. Claims were for progressive payments on contracts, for wages for overseers and labourers, for goods supplied and for compensation for land claimed for road construction purposes. A summary of these voucher claims may be found in VPRS 4675 Cost Book for the total expenditure made on these projects and their sources of funds.