VPRS 1132 Outwards Letter Book, Road Engineer, Portland and Ararat

The Central Roads Board, the first agency concerned with the construction and maintenance of main roads and bridges, was abolished on 1 January 1858 and succeeded by the Department of Roads and Bridges (VA 2964) which operated under the statutory control of the Board of Land and Works (VA 744).These agencies had Road Engineers located in provincial centres responsible for the execution of contracts, supervision of contractors, and the forwarding of payments, specifications, estimates and plans. This series contains copies of the correspondence, memoranda and reports from the Road Engineer stationed at Portland and later at Ararat to officers of the central agency, contractors and members of the workforce. It would appear that the Ararat office closed down at the end of 1863.

中央道路委员会（Central Roads Board）作为首个负责干线道路与桥梁建设及养护的官方机构，于1858年1月1日被撤销，其职能由道路与桥梁部（VA 2964）承接。该部门受土地与工程委员会（VA 744）的法定管辖。上述机构均在各地方中心派驻道路工程师，负责合同执行、承包商监管，以及款项、技术规范、概算与施工图纸的流转工作。本档案系列收录了派驻波特兰、后调任阿拉拉特的道路工程师致中央机构官员、承包商及劳工队伍的往来函件、备忘录与报告副本。据考证，阿拉拉特办事处于1863年底正式关停。