VPRS 15135 Rate Books

This series contains records of rates charged on properties in the municipality, and also includes estimates of receipts and expenditure, and summaries of rates struck and paid. From 1945/46 onwards, the volumes may include records of water rates in addition to general rates.The records are organised chronologically, at first by calendar year and later by financial year (1 October - 30 September). The date on which Council approved the rate in any year varied, but was generally in the last few months of one calendar year or the first few months of the next.Up to 1915/16, the entries within each year are organised numerically by the rate number, and also alphabetically by surname of ratepayer (although some names are out of alphabetical order so the records should be searched carefully).In 1915 the Shire of Templestowe united with the Shire of Doncaster. The Shire of Doncaster rate book covering 1915/16 contains records of properties within the Doncaster Division of the Shire only; records of the Templestowe area for this year can be found in the final two volumes of a separate series of rate books formerly maintained by the Shire of Templestowe.From 1916/17 to 1925/26, separate books were compiled each year for the Doncaster and Templestowe ridings. In 1922/23, the Templestowe Riding books began to contain separate alphabetical listings for the Templestowe and Warrandyte divisions of the riding. In 1926, the Shire of Doncaster was renamed the Shire of Doncaster and Templestowe, and soon afterwards a third riding Warrandyte was created, so there are three volumes for each year from 1926/27 onwards.From 1916/17 to 1944/45, the entries within each book are organised numerically by rate number (occasionally the numbers continue from one volume to the next) and usually alphabetically. An exception is the Templestowe Riding book for 1921/22 where the arrangement is not alphabetical: the entries appear to be grouped roughly by street or other property location.From 1945/46 onwards, the entries in each book are organised numerically by rate number or assessment number. The numbers may commence from 1 in each book, or continue from one volume to the next within a year. The entries are not alphabetical during this later period, but are roughly grouped according to street or other property location.