VPRS 22 Customs, Shipping and Immigration Records

This series comprises an accumulation of various records relating to the functions of immigration and customs control, particularly with respect to the movement of ships in and out of Victorian portsPrior to 1851 the Superintendent of the Port Phillip District (VA 473) was responsible for trade and customs control, ports and harbours and the immigration function. Operational responsibilities rested with the Sub-Collector of Customs for Port Phillip District, the Harbour Master and the Immigration Agent.The Department of Trade and Customs (VA 606) was established in 1851 and comprised Collectors and Sub-Collectors of Customs (located at Melbourne, Geelong, Portland, Port Fairy, and Port Albert) and Harbour Masters (located at Melbourne, Portland). Immigration and Assistant Immigration Agents (located at Melbourne, Geelong) became part of the Department from 1855. The Harbour Masters and Immigration Agents were part of what became known as the Ports and Harbours Branch of the Department. In 1877 the ports and harbours responsibilities of the Department which related to the Port of Melbourne were transferred to the newly established Melbourne Harbour Trust Commissioners (VA 2799).The records in this series were originally accessioned as books by the Public Library of Victoria. The records were transferred in two consignments, the first from the Ports and Harbours Branch of the Public Works Department (VA 669) in 1928 (refer to E.R.Pitts report dated 4 April 1928) and the second from the Commonwealth Department of Trade and Customs, Customs and Excise Office, Geelong in 1954. The records were retrospectively accessioned as records against Accession Numbers 28/1 and 55/34. It is not known when the various records comprising the series were grouped together.The records mostly date from 1839 to 1898 although there is one record that ends in 1948. The records include:Shipping RegistersShipping registers were created to document the arrival and departure of vessels arriving at Victorian ports. Some of the registers can be identified as having been maintained at specific ports such as Williamstown, Geelong, Portland and Port Fairy. For many of the registers it is not known where they were maintained.In many cases it is not certain whether the registers were maintained by customs officers, immigration officials or harbour masters. All of these officials were concerned with monitoring the movement of ships for different purposes. Further research is required to determine the precise purpose and context of the various records.Passenger Arrivals and DeparturesRecords of the arrival and departure of passenger ships which appear to have been maintained for statistical purposes (numbers of passengers only are recorded). Records relating to the administration of assisted immigration including immigrants remittances and payments to immigrants from the Immigration Officer.Shipping Masters and SeamenRecords of the engagement of seamen, monthly salaries and wages and a shipping master's diary.CustomsCorrespondence and cash books of collectors and sub-collectors of customs.