Archives In Brief 109 - Valuation records

Filed under: finding aids, publications

A brief overview of the major sources held by State Records that relate to valuation records. Other records may be identified in Archives Investigator. Researchers should also consult: Archives in Brief 6: Local history research and Archives in Brief 106: Local government records.

Background
A select list of sources
Legal and Estates Branch (Chief Commissioner of Railways)
Local Government - Rate and valuation books
Select list of related records
Further reading
Access

Background

Valuation records The Department of Lands is responsible for determining land values on behalf of the Valuer General. Land value refers to the monetary value of the land only and does not include the value of the home or other structures on the land. Land value is used by local councils and the State Government to calculate rates and taxes.

Valuations undertaken by the Department of Lands on behalf of the Valuer General, for rating and taxing purposes are made under the Valuation of Land Act 1916. Prior to this act, land valuation was not confined to the Land Valuation Branch with valuers of land appointed under the Real Property Act 1862, valuers employed by local councils after 1906 and a valuation unit in the State Land Tax Office. Many land valuations made by these newer agencies were inconsistent and inequitable and by 1916 there was a desire to reduce the overlapping and duplication of land valuation work by appointing a single authority. The Valuation of Land Act 1916 provided for the appointment of a Valuer General and for the establishment of the Department of Valuer General to bring uniformity to valuation activity. The valuations to be determined would become the basis of rating, stamp duties, death duties and land resumption.

A select list of sources

Valuer General

NRS 14466, Valuation cards, 1916-27 [13/7443-934]
Canterbury [13/7563 (pt)-549] Fiche 2355-2475 [13/7550-557] Fiche 2505-2577
These cards provide information on the valuation of properties in the Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong urban areas and many other urban areas throughout the State. The cards are arranged alphabetically by valuation district and within that by wards or localities.
Details are arranged by street name or valuation number. Information covers title details, descriptions of land, locality and improvements, owners' names and changes of ownership. On the back of the card is information concerning the valuation.

NRS 14465, Valuation rolls, c.1928+
[3/9603-12472 3/14383-789 3/16371-559 3/17479-623 3/17770-933 19/8587-884 19/9233-490 19/10790-11117 19/12718-928 19/13250-434 19/13450-14973 19/15935-16125]Information contained in these rolls includes owner's name, address and occupation; lessee's name; address of property to be valued; nature of improvements; lot; area; value and remarks.
This series covers most areas of New South Wales. The rolls are arranged by valuation district and within that by wards or ridings and then alphabetically by street.
A detailed listing is available in the reading room.

NRS 14467, Field books relating to property valuations (and cancelled Field book entries), c.1920-1978 [11/12011-13994 6/12450-55 10/41660-714 10/41312-30 6/11171-429]
The Field books contain entries for property valuations which give the original and subsequent valuations of a particular property. Cancelled Field book entries were extracted from the original Field books and placed in separate volumes. Entries were cancelled when a particular property was subdivided. These Field books relate to valuation districts throughout the State.
A detailed listing is available in the reading room.

Legal and Estates Branch (Chief Commissioner of Railways)

NRS 16411, Land and Property Valuation Files, 1942–80
This series contains files relating to the valuation of railway land, property and residences. They include applications by employees (and their position in the railways) to purchase land, build or extend residences and requests for financial assistance.
The following information may be included in this series: maps; floor plans; correspondence; photographs; photographic negatives; memoranda; valuation reports; Government Gazette extracts; deputations requesting housing; and plans of towns or streets where residences are to be erected.

Local Government - Rate and valuation books

State Records holds rate and valuation books for some councils. These are listed in Archives Investigator.

To locate rate and valuation records in Archives Investigator

Select Advanced Search
Select Record series
Enter the keyword 'rate' or 'valuation' in the Series Title field and click on the Search button.

The majority of council records still reside with the creating or successor council. Researchers will need to contact the council concerned to access to these records. Check with State Records staff before visiting as some records may be held at regional repositories.

Select list of related records

Land Appeal Court

NRS 7921, Register of appeal cases (Court of Appeals under the Crown Lands Act of 1884), 1885-90 [9/739]
This volume records: registration number of papers; Land District; Board District; name of appellant; nature of appeal; date of court; name of Minister hearing appeal; decision of Minister; and remarks.

NRS 7923, Registers of cases heard by the Land (Appeal) Court, 1890-1921
3 Mar 1890-29 Jun 1920 [X2268-84], 29 Jun 1920-20 Sep 1921 [3/891 part]
Information recorded in these volumes includes: number of case; registered number of papers; Land District and Board District; name and address of applicant; grounds of appeal or reference; date of appeal; date of Court and place of holding; decision of the Court; and remarks.

Land and Valuation Court

NRS 7913, Registers of cases heard by the Land and Valuation Court, 14 Feb 1922-4 Dec 1935 [3/891 part-892]
Information recorded in these volumes includes: number of case; Land District and Board District; name and address of appellant; grounds of appeal or reference; date of appeal; date of Court and place of holding; decision of the Court; and remarks.

NRS 7914, Register of lists of objections against land valuations by Shire and Municipal Councils for hearing in the Land and Valuation Court of New South Wales, 1922-57 3/890]
This shows shire or municipality, name of appellant, situation of property, valuation appealed against, appellant's valuation and determination of appeal.

NRS 7916, Register of Valuer General's lists, c.1944-63 [3/893]
This register, which is alphabetically arranged according to valuation districts, records date of receipt of lists, number of sheets and objections, place and date of hearing, date lists returned to Valuer General, and remarks.

Access

Researchers should consult the Register of Access Directions, to confirm the public availability of records. State Records' staff can advise you on the availability of records if they are not listed on the register.

Individual Councils are required to make an access direction (to determine whether the records are open or closed to public access) for all their records which are over 30 years of age. An access direction is a direction that a series, group or class of records is open to public access (OPA) or closed to public access (CPA).

A list of Councils that have made access directions is available on the Register of Access Directions.

For more information about your rights of access to State records see Archives in Brief 9:Your rights of access.

© State of New South Wales through the State Records Authority, 2003.
This work may be freely reproduced and distributed for most purposes, however some restrictions apply. See our copyright notice or contact us.

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