VPRS 17025 Register of Lessees, Stawell, Section 19 Land Act 1869

Under section 19 of the Land Act 1869 selectors could apply for a three-year licence to occupy Crown land. The rent was set at two shillings per acre and a maximum of 320 acres per selector was allowed. On application, a deposit of half a year's rent was paid. If the application were refused, the deposit was refunded. Section 20 of the Act placed conditions on the three-year licence with selectors required to improve their allotment by the erection of fencing and a dwelling, cultivation of their land and the destruction of vermin and noxious weeds. After the licence term had expired, the selector was eligible to apply for a seven-year lease or a Crown Grant to purchase their allotment. Grants or leases were only approved if improvement conditions had been met. If a selector opted for a seven-year lease, the yearly rent was used to pay off the purchase price of the land.Records of rent payments were kept in Registers of Lessees which gave the date of the lease, the name of the lessee, the location and the extent of the land. Financial details included were the amount previously paid in licenses fees and the half-yearly instalments paid. In the column for remarks are notations regarding such matters as forfeiture, revocation and transfers of leases, where the lease was included with another, purchase of the land and any relevant references to correspondence or entries in the Government Gazette.Unit 1 of the P1 consignment of this series was originally registered as VPRS 4925/P0, unit 2 and was reprocessed during 2014.