NRS-4351 | Building construction and maintenance files - [B files]

Building construction and maintenance files are records which deal with architectural and engineering matters relating to the construction and maintenance of buildings provided for NSW government agencies.The files comprise of planning and construction documentation and the provision of services to government offices, police stations, corrective services and juvenile institutions, court houses, prisons, tertiary institutions, Aboriginal stations, cultural institutions, including the Sydney Opera House, tourist facilities and vice-regal residences. The series also contains records of associated electrical and mechanical engineering services provided by branches of the Engineering Division of the Department of Public Works.Although a separate registry was established for school buildings records in 1937, as well as an register for hospital buildings in 1950, the system continued to include schools and hospitals.Until 1954, records were registered with an annual prefix and consecutive numbering. From 1954, the subject, content and information of the material remained the same, although a new numbering system was applied where a building or site was given a specific base number with consecutive numbers for related files. For example, Circular Quay was given a base number of B.7248.ReferenceThe Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales (3rd Edition).