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
