How To Find Out Who Built A House

Finding out more most where you live is an intriguing thought for many. People are fascinated about what occurred in the house they ain, and the information is more accessible than yous might remember.

Australia holds public records dating back hundreds of years and these records give an insight into the history of our homes. From the towns we alive in and the suburbs around us to the properties themselves, and even what was there earlier the properties were built.

Realestate.com.au spoke to Charlie Farrugia, Senior Collections Counselor at the Public Record Office Victoria, about the purpose of public records and how we can make use of them to uncover heady facts about our homes.

What is the public record role?

Charlie: Public Record Office Victoria holds the archives of the State Regime of Victoria. To date, there are almost 100kms of records, ranging from the mid 1830s to today.

Each country has its own part and people tin speak to their councils for some guidance.

ACT: Archives ACT

NSW: Country Records NSW

NT: Northern Territory Archives Service

QLD: Queensland State Archives

SA: State Records of Due south Australia

TAS: Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office

WA: State Records Part WA

VIC: Public Tape Part Victoria

What's the purpose of the public record office?

Charlie: Our aim is to preserve and intendance for the records of the state government and provide those records to the public. Considering we are the athenaeum of the state government, we take a part in ensuring accountability, as nosotros're identifying records to give an accurate view of what happened and what didn't.

How does belongings come up into this?

Charlie: Property enquiry has exploded in popularity with shows like the ABC's Who's Been Sleeping in My House?,[which has] prompted people to uncover the hidden histories of their homes.

Nosotros have diverse documents on file that can aid people do this, including drawings of houses and plans, Parish and township plans, land records, rate books, and valuation records.

How can I get started looking into my property?

Charlie: The more information you have to start your search, the improve. Bring any documents that brand reference to the holding and its surrounds. Government documents ofttimes take information written on them, which means something to an archivist – they can exist very insightful.

Victorians tin can so visit the Researching your house page on our website to run into what records we have and what they may reveal near their holding.

When practise people tend to be interested in finding out more about their property?

Charlie: People await into their houses once they've bought them. The curiosity is there for owners: when was the business firm congenital? What was in that location before information technology? Often people find things in their back yard, sometime foundations for example, and it sparks intrigue.

Read more: Couple strike information technology rich in the lawn

What are the principal things property owners expect for?

Charlie: People are genuinely curious about what their home was earlier it was a business firm, as many homes in Australia started off every bit something quite unlike. Even in reality TV this is apparent. Look at The Block: They've turned hotels into modernistic apartments and an old theatre into townhouses. Those buildings would take needed government approval to exist transformed and we would have the original edifice drawings on file.

Who can access the records?

Charlie: Anyone – although it's important to note that not everything has a tape, and access to some records, such as personal or private records, is restricted.

Kickoff with the website of your relevant state archive in the kickoff instance. Some records accept been digitised and tin can be viewed straight from the relevant website. For other records, y'all'll demand to go into the archives and view them in the reading room. Anyone can come up in and request to see any record that is public.