Author Topic: Eight Easy Steps to locate a Coin Cache! Victorian Parish Maps! (Read 5588 times)

Balf · « **on:** July 14, 2009, 21:16 »

A few weeks ago I promised that I would write up a full article on Victorian Parish Maps. Due to work & family constraints & illness I have not been able to complete the task within the required timeframe. My apologies! My intention was ( and still is) to do series of scans, weblinks and simple instructions on how to find, interpret and use the original Record plans ( recently scanned and generously put on-line for FREE! by the Victorian State Government).
After 31 years of collecting Antique Bottles and chasing "treasure" with Metal Detectors, you learn a few tricks. Record Plans or original Victorian Parish plans helped me identify and locate old rubbish tips, abandoned school sites, racetracks, sports grounds , picnic areas, camping grounds, hotels, etc, etc. ( the list is almost endless) and it vastly increased my finds. In the early days ( from 1978 to 2006) , Parish Maps were held at the Original Central Plan Room near the old Treasury Building ( odd coincidence!) and you had to tediously request them one by one ( meaning a long trip to Melbourne, only 4 hours search time per day, etc) , some local Historical societies and Councils held Microfiche copies, but access to them was often like "extracting teeth".
Finally, the State Government acted and scanned the bulk of the Original Record Plans onto the DSE ( old Lands Department ) website www.land.vic.gov.au This means that you can sit in the comfort of your own home and locate sites for your weekend treasure hunting! I have only just located this website recently ( the Dept. had promised to do this 20 years ago, and quite frankly I had given up checking!)
Anyway, as someone who likes to honour their commitments, I have decided to give everyone , the link so that they can go and have a "play" with the site. Over the coming weeks I will detail exactly what to look for and how to interpret the maps ( this is relatively simple if you know how, and opens all sorts of opportunities for would be treasure hunters. So go and have a play, and watch for learning updates ( scans & simple explanations of how to interpret data, Volume & Folio numbers, how to find building plans, entire histories of a land parcel , correspondence to the Dept in relation to the block, Government Gazettes , etc)

Here are the Eight Easy steps to start off:

Step No. 1.........Logon to the above web address www.land.vic.gov.au
Step No. 2.........Select the "Titles, Property,Certificates & Crown Land" option ( right hand side of page).
Step No. 3.........Select the "Central Plan Office Records" icon ( middle of page).
Step No. 4.........Register as a user ( this is free, as is viewing the plans)
Step No. 5.........Login with your new Username & Password.
Step No. 6.........Select "Record Plan".
Step No. 7.........Select the Township or Parish plan of your choice.
Step No. 8.........Select "View"

Then use the tool bars to move around the maps, increase its size , take copies, etc. ( have a play)

* A tip........ all areas in Victoria ( and other States are broken up into what are called Counties ( originally referred to as an area under control of a Count of the Crown, strangely enough! ) You may need to know which County your town or area is situated in , if you are having trouble with this , refer to the following website .........http://services.land.vic.gov.au/CountyPlans/........ this will give you the correct County.

Anyway, feel free to have a browse around the site and I hope you get lucky! If anyone is stuck or unsure I am happy to answer any questions ( please be patient with my response though, at the moment I am working 60 hour weeks ( and trying to wave the wand in the gaps!)

P.S .........To all my interstate friends out here , I have found some similar new databases for you guys ( & girls ) and will gradually document them as time permits. Please be patient , spending most work days 8-10 hours on a PC , so by this time of night I feel like I have five scoops of gravel behind my eyes! lol

P.P.S...... If anyone finds a large cash of Sovereigns after using this info, I want one! lol

Uncle Buck · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2009, 23:45 »

Thanks mate.... This a great little guide. I have put a teaser on the home page on www.kimbucktwo.com which may get a couple more people interested in the site.

Balf · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2009, 19:58 »

Has anyone found this useful? Has anyone had any problems accessing the data? or want some help with accessing it? Some feedback would help me determine if I should continue the learning's in this area.......Thanks.............

DRAGON · « **Reply #3 on:** July 18, 2009, 12:28 »

Great information Balf but i think it is a lot easier just to follow you lol. THANKS FOR THE HARD WORK REGARDS DRAGON

Reverend · « **Reply #4 on:** July 18, 2009, 14:04 »

Fantastic info Balf. You've condensed years of learning into moments for those who don't know how to access these maps.

Of late I've been accessing the Parish maps via the National Archives Australia. It's not a bad resource but probably not near as good as what you have listed above.

Balf · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2009, 21:17 »

Thanks guys, ( and you're welcome to follow me any time Dragon! LOL ) , happy to post this stuff (& more!) Just as long as you guys ( & girls!) are are finding it useful.

NewSouthCroweater · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2009, 13:29 »

Hi Balf,

Just wanted to tell you that you inspired me to do some research in the hope of finding pre decimal coins.
After the research and driving 10 -15 minutes from home, on a 2 hour hunt the other day I found 2 pennys 1943 & 1958, as well as modern coin.
I am stoked, and there is heaps more m.d. to do at that site.
Thanks for spurring me on and passing on to us all your experience.

NSC

Balf · « **Reply #7 on:** July 25, 2009, 19:31 »

Stoked to hear that Crow, got some SA archive stuff coming up, and NSW , bogged down at minute trying to get screenshots from the Vic stuff for more articles, gotta wait for my "Tech-boy" mate as I call him!

viewfinder · « **Reply #8 on:** August 17, 2009, 08:48 »

Check out the Nation Library of Australia's online Archives, loads of old maps and more...

Uncle Buck · « **Reply #9 on:** August 29, 2009, 09:03 »

Decided to make this a sticky topic as it was heading down the list a bit and I didn't want Balf's work to get lost in all the postings.

Balf · « **Reply #10 on:** August 29, 2009, 09:40 »

Thanks Buck..........still more to come ( when I get some time!) Put another site out here this week Government Gazettes............Balf

Balf · « **Reply #11 on:** August 29, 2009, 20:11 »

When you are comfortable with the Parish maps site , have a look at the "Government Gazettes" site that I posted this week ( they go hand in hand), if anyone needs any help with these sites or how to interpret them, don't hesitate to contact me, my aim is to provide as much archival help to our members as possible , so that the finds keep rolling in. I think this is a great site and it will only get better if our members are successful in the field. I also think that we have some great people out here and it will make my day if they find some amazing stuff with the information I have posted. I have 25 years of experience searching archives and if anyone needs any help to research a site I am only to happy to help............Balf

diggertrev · « **Reply #12 on:** October 07, 2009, 20:38 »

Hi balf great thread mate and thanks for the info .
I just thought i would throw in a couple of tips that i use .
i have local maps of the area were i live that were made by the defence forces aquired these from the local council .
These maps have houses marked on them were as now they dont due to privacy issues .
another great sorce are the older firebrigade maps they are also very detailed .
Now i use my maps in conjunction with google earth ,i just locate it on the map zoom in there on google earth and if there is no longer a house there i have myself a potential detecting site just a matter of aproaching the owners of the farm and getting permision .
another great place to get info is at your local historical society ,and the other great place is just ask the older people in your area they are always happy to have a yarn and talk of the old days places etc .
thats it for now have more to tell you all another time if you want .
hope this helps .
if we all chip in we will have that much info the finds will never stop

cheers diggertrev

Balf · « **Reply #13 on:** October 08, 2009, 22:30 »

Great advice Trev, doing the research definately increases the finds. Google earth is terrific for locating sites, i have used it extensively when trying to find township sites in the Divide.....................Balf

Sskim · « **Reply #14 on:** October 20, 2009, 21:27 »

Wow what a thing. I wish we had this sort of information available for Brisbane. I tried to do some digging at the John Oxley museum but I found it very time consuming and since I am time poor I stopped after a while. I ahve also been buying publications from the local historical societies which are quite good The other benefit is it gave me a better idea of the lcoal history and can be a talking topic at the BBQ. If u know of any itneresting sites that have information about Brisbane please let me know..

the following sites are also interesting and will keep folks busin for hours and hours:

http://www.pictureaustralia.org/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/statelibraryqueensland/

http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on/exhibit/online/timewalks/bris/1870/jpg

Have fun

I am keen to ehar about any sites that cover old properties and the like, old bridges, swimming holes, ferry crossings, old race tracks etc.

Red · « **Reply #15 on:** October 20, 2009, 22:28 »

Here's a good one Sskim - http://www.heritageaustralia.com.au/search.php?state=QLD
I have posted it before as it's not limited to Qld

Sskim · « **Reply #16 on:** October 21, 2009, 19:54 »

Very professionaly layed out that site Red. Tanks heaps

Roger · « **Reply #17 on:** October 24, 2009, 16:53 »

Hi barf , i am a new member and are trying to get through the Eight easy steps , i get to the part where it tells me to enter County/Parish/ Township
I enter either the county or township , but doesn t give me a list underneath to choose from or view, $:-\$ any ideas what i am doing wrong
Thanks Roger

Balf · « **Reply #18 on:** October 24, 2009, 20:30 »

Roger, unfortunately the digital list is not 100% complete. Just use the link on the website to contact Landata and give them your detailed request, they are very prompt repliers and generally go out of their way to help. If you have trouble, let me know.................Balf

manifestmktg · « **Reply #19 on:** May 08, 2010, 11:52 »

Great information Balf. Thanks for the guide

TopCat · « **Reply #20 on:** September 26, 2011, 15:32 »

The county link is no longer working, in which I can't sem to find any updates (new link) form the main "land,vic,gov,au" website:

* A tip........ all areas in Victoria ( and other States are broken up into what are called Counties ( originally referred to as an area under control of a Count of the Crown, strangely enough! ) You may need to know which County your town or area is situated in , if you are having trouble with this , refer to the following website .........http://services.land.vic.gov.au/CountyPlans/........ this will give you the correct County.

Austacker · « **Reply #21 on:** October 04, 2011, 21:33 »

Does anyone know if there's anything like this for NSW yet?

Rwork · « **Reply #22 on:** October 05, 2011, 14:07 »

I just copied the Vic shortcut and sustituted nsw and this came up but i havn't looked at it.

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBsQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.records.nsw.gov.au%2Fstate-archives%2Fguides-and-finding-aids%2Farchives-in-brief%2Farchives-in-brief-80&ei=EMmLTrycHsnmmAWLsNSPBA&usg=AFQjCNG-5uZsVoIdk3vEl9i8Kv0iW23W4w

Austacker · « **Reply #23 on:** October 05, 2011, 14:27 »

Quote from: Rwork on October 05, 2011, 14:07

I just copied the Vic shortcut and sustituted nsw and this came up but i havn't looked at it.

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBsQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.records.nsw.gov.au%2Fstate-archives%2Fguides-and-finding-aids%2Farchives-in-brief%2Farchives-in-brief-80&ei=EMmLTrycHsnmmAWLsNSPBA&usg=AFQjCNG-5uZsVoIdk3vEl9i8Kv0iW23W4w

Thanks Rwork, I'll take a look tonight.

garrettguy · « **Reply #24 on:** December 16, 2011, 10:43 »

What are the treicks for detecting old tips? Wouldnt you find alot of
iron and rubbish? How do you find antique bottles and anything good in these areas?
Im very interested in detecting a few old dump sites in my area but I dont know how
to do it correctly. Im using an at pro international and mostly detect the beach and just thought old dumps would be a hard area to detect due to junk.
Thanks if any one can give some good pointers

Author Topic: Eight Easy Steps to locate a Coin Cache! Victorian Parish Maps! (Read 5588 times)

DRAGON

Reverend

viewfinder

Roger

manifestmktg