VPRS 15 Surveyors Descriptions of Subdivisions and Allotments

This series consists of precise descriptions by surveyors of land being offered for sale by the Crown or land requested under the Special Survey provision in both urban and rural areas of Victoria. Also included are schedules of lands for sale at specific times in particular localities as well as lands applied for under pre-emptive right. Each description gives the area and designation of the land and the precise boundaries. Some descriptions include the upset price of the land.Land Sales were conducted in Victoria in accordance with the directions specified by various Land Acts and Regulations. From the 1842 Statute at Large (Vol. XXXIV), the Waste Lands Act, through to the Land Act 1869 (Act No. 360), Land Sale by Public Auction was the primary method of land alienation within the Colony of Victoria (or the Port Phillip District, as it was previously known). Lands were initially divided into three districts and classes. These districts were settled districts, intermediate districts and unsettled districts. First and second class lands were primarily located within the settled and intermediate districts, whilst third class lands tended to be within the unsettled districts.Prior to the passing of Section 42 Amending Land Act 1865, all land had to be surveyed before being alienated from the Crown or leased or licensed for occupation. Once the land had been surveyed and designated as being available for Public Auction, a notice was posted in the Government Gazette. This occurred between one to three months before the date of a sale. The notice contained the Sale Number, details of the date, time and location of the sale, the location and description of the land to be sold, the lot it was to be sold in, the upset price, and the acceptable amount of deposit required.Under pre-emptive right, granted by the Order-in-Council 1847 squatters could apply to purchase up to 640 acres of the land which they were licensed to occupy. Special Surveys was a scheme whereby large capitalists could apply to have large areas of land surveyed to allow them to purchase.