Land Grants Guide, 1788-1856

NRS 1217

[4/1709]; Reel 1480

[7/497-502]; Reels 2561-2562

Indexes to registers of land grants and leases *ARK

Item list:

NRS 1215

Registers of land grants

These are the earliest grant registers which due to their very fragile condition are not issued.

Item list:

1792-30 Dec 1809

Registers of Land Grants and Leases

1792-c.1856

NRS 1216

[7/505-663]; Reels 2705-2714, 1727-1778, 1453-1455

Registers of land grants and leases

NRS 1230

Registers of notices of the intention to issue deed of grants of land

The registers record under the date of notice, the number, person's name, area and portion of land. After 1843 many of the grants are for churches and schools.

Item List:

NRS 1233

[2/1938]; Reel 1439

Index to applications for title deeds

This is an index to applications received for title deeds to grants of land and town allotments in NSW. The lists give the number allocated to the allotment when it was advertised in the NSW Government Gazette, the name of the person claiming, area of land, date of receipt and application.

NRS 1236

[2/2146]; COD 68

Register of notices of intention to grant land

The registers give the following information: place, parish and area. In many cases it will show the reason that the grant was given and the date the deed was executed and despatched.

NRS 1213

1. [9/2731 pp. 2-189]
2. [9/2731 pp.190-243]

Reel 1999, Fiche 3267-3268, COD 211

Lists of all grants and leases of land and town allotments registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office *ARK (Fiche)

The list is indexed in the published Index to the Colonial Secretary's papers, 1788-1825 and in the facsimile edition (COD 211) published by Genealogical Publications of Australia.

1. The list of grants and leases of land (which is arranged chronologically) covers the period 22 Feb 1792 to 3 Oct 1809. It notes number, date, name of grantee or lessee, situation, number of acres, term of years if lease, grant, annual quit rent, by whom granted, number of register and page, and remarks (usually relating to cancellation). 
2. The list of all grants and leases of town allotments covers 8 Dec 1792 to 1 Jan 1814. This list records number, date, grantee or lessee, situation, extent, term of years, annual quit rent, by whom granted, number of register and page, and remarks (usually as to cancellation, renewal or extension). 

This record is primarily of grants up to 30 Dec 1809 (pp.190-241). There is also a list of eighteen reissued grants, 1 Jan 1810 to 1 Jan 1814 (pp.242-243) which are not included in the facsimile edition but are included on the fiche.

22 Feb 1792-1 Jan 1814

NRS 1223

(COD 67)

NRS 1224

(COD 125, Fiche 3263)

Certificates of entitlement to land grants for veteran pensioners *ARK

Indexed in the published Index to the Colonial Secretary's papers, 1788-1825.

NRS 1226

(COD 69; Fiche 3269)

Nominal list of land granted and reserved by Sir Thomas Brisbane *ARK

Indexed in the published Index to the Colonial Secretary's papers, 1788-1825.

Registers of notices of the intention to issue deeds of grant for town allotments

Item List:

Copies of Deeds to Land Grants and Leases

Item List:

Copies of Deeds of Grant to land alienated by Grant

Item List:

NRS 1219

[4/438]; Fiche 3262

Index to land grants, Van Diemen's Land *ARK

The index notes name of grantee, number of acres, district and quit rent. 

Index to copies of land grants issued, Van Diemen's Land

Original record in Archives Office of Tasmania, series no. LSD404. The index is a typescript so was obviously copied from an earlier record.

(Reels 1986-1988)

Copies of land grants issued, Van Diemen's Land

Original records in Archives Office of Tasmania, series no. LSD354. The first volume contains typescript extracts of the entries in the New South Wales Grant Registers relating to land in Tasmania (pp. 1-51).

Item list:

Registers giving descriptions of land granted in Van Diemen's Land

Original record in Archives Office of Tasmania, series no. LSD405

NRS 13902

(Reel 1434, COD 240)

Description book, Van Diemen's Land

The volume records number, name, district and description of land.

NRS 1220

(Reel 2654, Fiche 3266)

Returns of free settlers and other free persons to receive land grants *ARK (Fiche)

The returns for 1811-25 are indexed in the published Index to the Colonial Secretary's papers, 1788-1825.

NRS 1222

(Reel 2646, Fiche 3270)

Nominal list of persons owing Quit-Rent in Van Diemen's Land

The list is indexed in the published Index to the Colonial Secretary's papers, 1788-1825.

1811-1813

Port Phillip District - Land and Immigration Receipts

This list and index was compiled by Mr Ian A. Hughes. The receipts are listed in chronological order, 16 May 1849 - 20 June 1851, and this list notes date, name, place and amount pages 1-9. There is also an index to the list on pages 10-15.

Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1825 *ARK

These records are a most valuable source of information relating to land in the Colony and the State of New South Wales.

NRS 899

[4/1821-1845]; Reels 1066-1080, Fiche 3001-3162

Memorials received relating to land *ARK (Fiche)

A memorial is a letter of request from an individual for a grant of land. It may provide personal particulars to justify this request for land such as the length of time in the colony, marital status, numbers of children, occupation and livestock numbers.

The memorials are indexed, 1810-25, in the Index to the Colonial Secretary's papers, 1788-1825 (above) and a copy on Reels 1250-1251 covering the full date range, 1810-1826.

NRS 907

[2/7787-8013]; Reels 1081-1200

Letters received relating to land

These papers include letters from individuals as well as memoranda, reports, applications and petitions relating to a land grant, purchase, rent or lease of land in the colony.

An online index to the letters is available »

NRS 944

Copies of letters sent to individuals and organisations re land

These are copies of letters relating to requests for land, refusals, grants, intrusion complaints, petitions to survey, licence fees, forfeiture of runs and so on.

From 13 January 1849 to 26 May 1855 letters re land outside the settled districts are in next series below.

Item list:

NRS 945

(Reel 2313)

Copies of letters sent re land outside the settled districts

Copies of letters to individuals relating to the occupation of crown lands. From June 1855 letters of this type are entered in the series above.

(PRO Reel 3554 T1/703) available in the reading room and at Mitchell Library

Return of land granted in NSW

The return records name of settler, status, if married etc., time of becoming settler, number of acres granted, where, and ground in cultivation.

An Accurate List of the Names of the Land-Holders in the colony of New South Wales, pointing out the number of acres in each district, as Granted from the Crown, corrected to 1813 [Printed in London, 1814]

Photocopy at COD 270 of copy in Lands Department; additional photocopy at COD 271 of copy in Mitchell Library at 991/A

The Lands Department copy is numbered A.288A and accompanied plan A.288. A copy of this plan is held by NSW State Archives and is numbered Reference Sheet No. 22.

1813

NRS 5604

Registers of Assignments and Other Legal Instruments (the 'Old Register')

The register was proclaimed in 1802 but allowed people to register assignments and other legal instruments which dated back to 1794.

The nine registers record land and other transactions from 22 January 1794 to 15 May 1824 and show registration number, names of parties and nature of agreement.

NRS 13736

[2/1509-96]; Reels 3051-3098

Letters received from Surveyors

The letters are particularly useful when used in conjunction with the following series

Crown plans

These contain the earliest surveys of New South Wales including those of towns and villages, squatting districts, counties and parishes, roads, rivers, mountain ranges and explorers' expeditions.

Search the online index »

NRS 13886

[X751-778]; Reels 2778-2782

Sketch books

These consist of tracings and sketches of towns and villages. They can also give information relating to allotments sold or granted to a person or on the ownership of land that is in dispute.

The Sketch books are indexed at [X750A] on Reel 2778 and COD 206 and [X750B].

1828-1890

NRS 13889

Field books

These are the diaries of surveying expeditions, descriptions of natural features, and sketches of farms, town allotments and roads.

Search the Index to Surveyors' fieldbooks, 1794-1860 »