VPRS 13310 Register of Applications for Lease and Grant, All Districts, Section 20 Land Act 1869

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.This series consists of registers showing those who applied for the lease or the Crown grant allowed under Section 20 at the expiration of the license period prior to the establishment of the Occupation Branch c1874. Details given are the name of the applicant, the location (parish and allotment) and area of the land, the date of the application for the lease or Grant and whether it was recommended, reference numbers (being the file number allocated in VPRS 12026 / P1 Register of Applications, Sections 19 and 20 Land Act 1869 and any other references made. Most applicants were seeking a lease rather than an immediate Crown grant.

根据《1869年土地法》（Land Act 1869）第19条，土地申请人可申请为期三年的王室土地（Crown land）占用许可。租金标准为每英亩2先令，每位申请人最多可获批320英亩用地。提交申请时需预缴半年租金作为押金；若申请被驳回，押金将全额退还。

该法第20条对三年期占用许可设置了约束义务：申请人需通过修建围栏与住宅、开垦地块、灭杀害虫及有害杂草等方式改良其所分配的土地。许可期限届满后，申请人可申请七年期租约，或申请王室土地授予（Crown Grant）以购买其所占用的地块。仅当申请人满足全部改良条件时，租约或土地授予申请方可获批。若申请人选择七年期租约，其每年缴纳的租金将用于抵扣土地购买价款；此前依据第19条已支付的租金，亦可计入抵扣范围。

本档案系列包含相关登记册，记录了1874年左右占地分支（Occupation Branch）成立前，许可期限届满后依据第20条申请租约或王室土地授予的申请人信息。登记详情包括：申请人姓名、土地位置（教区及地块编号）与面积、租约或土地授予申请的提交日期、申请是否获得推荐，以及参考编号（即VPRS 12026 / P1《1869年土地法第19与20条申请登记册》中分配的档案编号，及其他相关参考标识）。多数申请人倾向于申请租约，而非直接获取王室土地授予。