VPRS 12454 Register of Special Grants to Municipalities

The Public Works Department had wide-ranging responsibilities for all public works and buildings, including construction, maintenance and fitting out of these buildings. From 1900 to 1983, the Department had responsibility for all ports and harbours not administered by area specific Harbour Trusts (such as Melbourne and Geelong), until 1956, for metropolitan foreshores and for marina permits until 1987. As well, until 1958 and the establishment of the Department of Local Government, the Public Works Local Government Branch was responsible for the determination of municipal boundaries, the administration of the legislation, the allocation of funds to local government authorities and the consideration of municipal by-laws.The volume in this series was used to record certain aspects of the function of allocating funds to local government bodies. These included the Country Roads Board Act Rivers and Streams Fund, for Trench Shelters and Showgrounds and from the Municipal Subsidies and the Unemployment Relief Taxation Fund. It may be seen that some of these payments were made without being matched by municipal contributions whilst others were.