VPRS 13311 Index of Applications, Ballarat, Sections 19 and 49 Land Act 1869 (Ballarat District Office)

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 years rent was paid. If the application was 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 for 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. Rent previously paid under Section 19 was credited against the purchase price.Under section 49 of the Land Act 1869 selectors could apply for a licence to occupy and cultivate auriferous (gold field) land. The licence was for one year and the size of the land occupied was not to exceed 20 acres. The licence was renewable each year with the payment of a licence fee. A selector could not hold more than one licence under section 49 of the Land Act 1869.This series, designated as a Stock Book and from the contents the successor to a previous one, appears to heve been created in the Ballarat local office of the Department of Crown lands and Survey to index applications with which that office was dealing. It may have been a summary of lands for which the office had the responsibility of completing surveys.The application number is noted (as allocated in VPRS 12026 Register of Applications, sections 19 and 20 Land Act 1869 and VPRS 13128 Register of Applications, Section 49 Land Act 1869) as is the number given in the Old Stock Book. other details are the name and address of the applicant, the location (parish, allotment and section) and area of the land, the Local Land Board schedule and the decision of that Board, the date and date of issue of the license of occupation and any references and remarks.