VPRS 919 Certificates of Valuation of Land Improvements

Where a purchase (as with pre-emptive right purchases) or lease or purchase after lease was contingent upon the making of improvements to the land a valuation of those improvements had to be made. The same was necessary where compensation for improvements was to be paid when leases or occupancy transferred to another person or the land reverted to the Crown. The Sale of Land Act 1860 (Section 7) and subsequent Land Acts provided for the appointment of at least two valuators to appraise and value the improvements and certify this valuation. These provisions were repealed in the Land Act 1900 (No 2) (No 1720). It would appear that prior to the 1860 Act either two valuers were appointed or the District Surveyor was responsible for the valuation of improvements and the transmission of the information.This series contains the Certificates of Valuation returned to the central office. This certification is for both country and for town lands. In the P consignment, early certifications may simply consist of a letter or a simple pro forma or a presentation in table form from the District Surveyor. Included are some registered correspondence files relating to this matter. After 1860, a standard pro forma appears to have been developed and used .Details given are the location of the property, the name of the occupant, a description of the improvements giving their nature (house, other buildings or fencing), the materials used and value, the valuation of the assessors and their certification of examination and that value.