A brief overview of the major sources we hold that relate to the main records of the Commissioners of Crown lands and key related series.
This Guide provides an historical background on the conditional purchase scheme in NSW from 1862 to 1951, also known as 'free selection before survey' along with a list of the major record series and step-by-step guidance on how to access them.
An overview of county, parish and town/village maps created by the Department of Lands and its predecessors and a background to the Parish Map Preservation Project.
An overview of the Court of Claims and a list of the main records series in our collection. The Commissioners appointed in the court were empowered to hear the claims of all persons holding or claiming to hold lands where grants had been promised and claiming to have grants delivered to them.
This Guide provides a brief overview of the major sources in our collection that relate to the occupation of Crown lands in the period prior to 1856.
Goldmining can be a challenging field of research. The record series listed in this guide may assist.
This guide provides details about records in our collection relating to historical house and property research and includes a list of other organisations that may hold relevant material. Please note however, that property records can be complex and confusing without conveyancing training.
The records listed in Guide relate to the original alienation of land from the Crown. Parish maps are useful for research in this area, as they record original grants.
A joint initiative between NSW State Archives and Lands and Property Information (LPI) to provide online access to a number of historical land title records was announced in November 2010. Using the popular search tool PIXEL (now HLRV) researchers can now search and view Old Form Torrens Title Registers, Charting Maps and Crown Plans online. We offer free access to HLRV in the reading room: access high quality colour images of an ever growing digital collection of land title records. Please be aware copies, including printing, digital photography and screen dumps, cannot be made from these public terminals. Colour copies can be ordered through the NSW Land Registry Services network of approved information brokers.
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.
Preorder RecordsThe Real Property Act, 1862 established a system whereby owners could convert land granted prior to 1863 to Real Property Act title. This is done by what is called a Primary Application. These records are an important research resource as the supporting documentation lodged with the application often remains in the packet.
A list of the main land records in our collection that relate to returned soldier settlement, or closer settlement, after World War I. The passage of the Returned Soldiers Settlement Act 1916, (Act No 21 1916) allowed the settlement of returned soldiers on Crown and Closer Settlement lands.
The cartographic records of the Surveyor General provide some of the most detailed and comprehensive descriptions of the nature, agricultural potential and occupancy of land in the colony.