VPRS 16753 Soldier Settlement and Land Settlement Other Agency Plans

As part of its operations managing the different estates, Soldier Settlement Commission received a diverse selection of plans from other agencies. This series is an artificial collection which documents to the services provided to Solder Settlement and Land Settlement Estates.The majority of these plans were produced by the State Rivers & Water Supply Commission (VA 723), although some were from the Department of Crown Lands and Survey (VA 538) and other agencies. The plans are all lithographic copies, some of which have been coloured and annotated.This series comprises different types of plans including: topographical maps; contour drawings; technical drawing for infrastructure such as pipeline systems; longitudinal sections. The State Rivers & Water Supply Commission plans mainly relate to irrigation and water infrastructure. Some of the plans which show land parcel boundaries for each settler's block also have other details like the parish and county boundaries, date of grant, grantee, land dimensions and related file references (subject to further research).BACKGROUND TO SOLDIER SETTLEMENT SCHEMEIn December 1943 the Land Settlement (Acquisition) Act was passed in Victoria, providing for the setting apart of Crown land and the acquisition of privately owned land for ex-servicemen. Victoria's Crown lands had been assessed for post-war settlement by Lands Department officers and staff from the CSIRO and Department of Agriculture as early as 1941. Throughout 1944-45 Lands Department inspectors formally checked the suitability of rural properties all over Victoria, and their valuations and reports were eventually handed across when the Soldier Settlement Commission (SSC) started work in February 1946.The 1945 War Service Land Settlement (WSLS) Agreement (Commonwealth legislation) established the broad outlines for World War II settlement in Victoria. The Soldier Settlement Act 1945 (No. 5107) ratified the terms of this agreement, authorised the setting up of the Soldier Settlement Commission (SSC) and provided the framework for the State scheme. In December 1946 the Soldier Settlement Act 1946 (No. 5179) was passed, authorising the SSC to advance money for Single Unit Farms (SUFs). SUFs were not controlled by the terms of the WSLS Agreement but SUF settlers still had to go through the initial selection process to be classified as eligible and suitable.In February 1946 the Commission began acquiring portions of land, referred to as 'estates', which were then subdivided into blocks of various sizes within each rural industry. The preliminary development of the blocks was handled by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (VA 723) in consultation with the SSC.Potential settlers could submit applications for farms within five years of the scheme's inception and Classification Committees were set up to assess applicants' suitability. The selection process began with an interview and then classification into one of four grades:- Suitable for farm ownership immediately- Suitable for farm ownership after a short specialised course- Suitable for farm employment but needing further experience for ownership- Unlikely to reach the standard for ownershipLess tangible attributes such as aptitude, energy, physical capacity and mental alertness were also taken into consideration.In 1947 the first settlement estates were advertised, with classified applicants required to put their names forwards for blocks on particular estates. A second, more detailed, interview was then run by special SSC Land Boards. Applicants were graded using a 100 point system, broken down as follows:- War service (20 points)- Farming experience (30 points)- Personal attributes (30 points)- Evidence of thrift and financial responsibility (10 points)- Marital status (10 points)Other factors were also taken into account and personal references from several people in rural industries were requested. After ratings were given, a process of elimination was applied and an allocation plan drawn up.The three commissioners of the Soldier Settlement Commission assessed the proposed plan before making a final decision.Leases were granted using a two-tier system, leading to freehold. An Interim Lease covered the establishment period of the farm and could be held for up to seven years. Settlers were only required to pay rent during this period. This was followed by a Purchase Lease that allowed the settler a period of at least six years to consolidate before becoming eligible to obtain freehold title to his farm. The issuing of Interim Leases was delayed due to disagreements between Commonwealth and State over valuations. By the middle of 1950 the Commonwealth agreed to fund living allowances for 752 Temporary Lease settlers. Once they were through an initial assistance period, the terms of the Temporary Lease allowed them to contribute part of their farm proceeds towards a credit account.The last group settlement was on the 24-block Warrowie estate near Colac, which was advertised in the Government Gazette on 30 November 1960. It wasn't until 1970 that the last settler obtained his purchase lease.

在管理各类安置地产的运营过程中，士兵安置委员会（Soldier Settlement Commission）从各机构处接收了一批品类丰富的图纸资料。本系列为人工整合的档案藏品，旨在记录为士兵安置与土地安置地产提供的各项服务。其中绝大多数图纸由州水利与供水委员会（State Rivers & Water Supply Commission，档案编号VA 723）绘制，少数来自王室土地与勘测部（Department of Crown Lands and Survey，档案编号VA 538）及其他机构。所有图纸均为石印复制品，部分带有上色标注与手写批注。

本系列图纸涵盖多种类型，包括地形图、等高线图、管道系统等基础设施技术图纸以及纵断面图。州水利与供水委员会的图纸主要涉及灌溉与水利基础设施。部分标注了每位安置者地块宗地界址的图纸，还附带教区与郡县界址、授地日期、受让人信息、土地面积以及相关档案索引等细节（需进一步研究考证）。

### 士兵安置计划背景
1943年12月，维多利亚州通过《土地安置（征收）法案》，规定划拨王室土地并征收私有土地用于退役军人安置。早在1941年，土地部官员及联邦科学与工业研究组织（Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation，简称CSIRO）、农业部的工作人员就已对维多利亚州王室土地开展战后安置适宜性评估。1944至1945年间，土地部督察员对维多利亚州全境的农村地产开展正式适宜性核查，相关估值与报告最终在士兵安置委员会（简称SSC）于1946年2月履职时移交完毕。

1945年《战时服务土地安置（WSLS）协议》（联邦立法）确立了维多利亚州第二次世界大战战后安置计划的大体框架。1945年《士兵安置法案》（第5107号）批准了该协议条款，授权成立士兵安置委员会（SSC），并为州级安置计划提供制度支撑。1946年12月，维多利亚州通过1946年《士兵安置法案》（第5179号），授权SSC为单一单元农场（Single Unit Farms，简称SUFs）提供贷款。单一单元农场不受《战时服务土地安置协议》条款约束，但申请单一单元农场的安置者仍需通过初始遴选流程，以获得资格认定与适宜性评级。

1946年2月，委员会开始收购被称为“安置地产”的连片土地，随后将其按各农村产业类型划分为不同规模的地块。地块的前期开发工作由州水利与供水委员会（VA 723）与SSC协商后负责推进。潜在安置者可在计划启动后的五年内提交农场申请，委员会设立了评级委员会以评估申请者的安置适宜性。遴选流程首先为面谈，随后将申请者划分为四个评级等级：
- 可直接获得农场所有权
- 完成短期专项培训后可获得农场所有权
- 适合从事农场工作，但需积累更多经验后方可获得所有权
- 暂未达到所有权授予标准

申请者的能力、干劲、身体状况与思维敏锐度等软性素质也会纳入考量范畴。1947年，首批安置地产对外公示，已获得评级的申请者需针对特定地产的地块提交意向申请。随后，SSC特设土地委员会开展第二轮更细致的面谈。申请者采用百分制进行评级，评分细则如下：
- 战时服役经历（20分）
- 农业劳作经验（30分）
- 个人素质（30分）
- 节俭习惯与财务责任感证明（10分）
- 婚姻状况（10分）

此外还会考量其他因素，并要求申请者提供来自农业领域多位人士的个人推荐信。评级完成后，将通过淘汰制筛选申请者，并拟定地块分配方案。士兵安置委员会的三名委员将对拟定的分配方案进行审核，最终作出决策。

安置采用两级租赁制度，最终可转为永久产权。临时租赁协议覆盖农场筹建阶段，租期最长可达七年，安置者在此期间仅需支付租金。随后为购置租赁协议，安置者可享有至少六年的巩固期，期满后方可申请获得农场的永久产权。由于联邦与州政府在土地估值方面存在分歧，临时租赁协议的发放工作一度延误。至1950年中期，联邦政府同意为752名临时租赁安置者提供生活补贴。安置者度过初始帮扶期后，可根据临时租赁协议条款，将部分农场收益存入信贷账户。

最后一批安置地块位于科拉克附近的沃罗威（Warrowie）地产，共包含24个地块，该安置计划于1960年11月30日在《政府公报》上公示。直至1970年，最后一名安置者才获得其购置租赁协议。