Public Record Office Victoria

About

Public Record Office Victoria is the archives of the State Government of Victoria. We hold historical Victorian government records dating back to 1836 including wills & probate records, passenger lists, inquest records, rate books and land records.

Story

We hold approximately 100kms of records from the mid 1830s to today, which we manage for use by the government and people of Victoria.

The collection includes memories of events and decisions great and small that have shaped the history of the Colony and State of Victoria, as well as records of immigration and shipping, criminal trials and prisons, premiers and governors, royal commissions, boards of inquiry, wills and probates and more.

Established under the Public Records Act 1973, Public Record Office Victoria’s objectives as set out in the Act are to:

- issue standards regulating the creation, maintenance and security of public records including the selection and disposal of public records not worthy of preservation
- advise and assist agencies in achieving compliance with issued standards
- preserve public records of permanent value as the state archives
- ensure that the archives are accessible to the government and the people of Victoria.

The Public Records Act 1973 also established the Public Records Advisory Council to advise the Minister on administration of the Act and to promote co-operation between Public Record Office Victoria and other government agencies.

Public Record Office Victoria is an agency of Arts Victoria in the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Mission

"Public Records; Publicly Available"

Products

https://www.prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/publications-0