At the start of every year, PROV opens up a range of fascinating public records. Some have never seen by the general public. Many records are closed to safeguard the privacy of people named in them. After sufficient time has passed, these records are progressively made available.

New Records Revealed

Registers of Voluntary Boarders in Hospitals for the Insane, VPRS 7515
Voluntary boarders were those patients who made and signed a request to be cared for as a patient in a Hospital for the Insane or a Licensed House. Hospitals included in this series are: Yarra Bend, Kew, Ararat, Beechworth, Sunbury, Ballarat, Royal Park, Mont Park and Janefield.

Records relating to the Appointment of the Chairman of the Health Commission of Victoria (1975-1978), VPRS 9711
The Victorian Government called for applications for the position of Chairman of the newly created Health Commission in January 1977. The series documents the process of selection of the first Chairman of the Health Commission of Victoria, Dr. Gad Trevaks.

Further information made available

Inquest Deposition Files (1998), VPRS 24
Files in this series may contain an “Inquisition Form”, the official record of the inquest that includes the Coroner’s verdict, names of the jurors if a jury was summoned; depositions of evidence, copies of Victoria Police reports. Files may include exhibits, photographs, copies of autopsy reports and other medical reports.

Body Cards (State Coroner's Office) 1998, VPRS 10010
The files contain documentation created in the progress of a coronial investigation (not inquests), and may include photographs.

Criminal Trial Briefs (1924-33), VPRS 30
This series comprises the documentation created in the course of the prosecution of individuals committed for trial in either the Supreme or County Court on indictable and capital offences. A capital offence differed from an indictable offence in that it carried a mandatory death sentence.

Criminal Trial Briefs Register II (1933), VPRS 3524
These registers were created to control the criminal trial briefs in VPRS 30 for the period 1892 - 1961.

Capital Case Files (1930-33), VPRS 264
This series consist of files compiled to assist the Governor in deciding whether the royal prerogative of mercy should be applied to persons convicted of a capital offence and sentenced to death..

Central Register of Male Prisoners (1932-33), VPRS 515
These registers contain information on prisoners who passed through or were in custody in Pentridge Prison. They contain information about each prisoner and about their period in custody.

Register of Names, Particulars and Personal Descriptions of Prisoners Received (1932-33), VPRS 516
This series comprises registers created by the Penal and Gaols Branch to record the registration number, name and personal details of female prisoners in custody in Victorian gaols.

Ward Registers (1908-09), VPRS 4527
Ward Registers were used to register wards of the State and to maintain information about them during the period of their wardship such as personal details, family relationships, placements in work or foster homes, and discharged from wardship.

Head Attendant's Daily Report Books – Male Department (Kew Asylum) (1932-33), VPRS 7440
This series records the daily reports by the Head Attendant of the Ward. Reports list significant events relating to the administration of the ward, with particular emphasis on patient welfare. Names of admissions and discharges for the day are included.

Head Nurse's Daily Report Book – Female Wards (Kew Asylum) (1932-33), VPRS 7692
The series recorded the daily report by the Head Nurse of the Female Wards. Details include the number of patients in each ward, the type and amount of drugs administered, details of medical treatment, the number of patients usefully employed or out on walks, details of accidents or injuries incurred.

Correspondence Files (Ballarat Asylum) (1931-33), VPRS 7523
This series comprises inward and copies of outward correspondence and memoranda relating to the general administrative activities of the Ballarat Hospital for the Insane and includes matters such as daily activities and employment details.

Correspondence (Royal Park Hospital for the Insane) (1931-33), VPRS 7539
This series contains inwards and copies of outwards replies to general correspondence to Royal Park and its Receiving House, especially from the Lunacy Department. Correspondence relates largely to staffing matters but also includes some notice of enquiries and actual enquiry reports into deaths of patients or attendants.

Patient Clinical Notes (Kew Asylum) (1932-33), VPRS 7693
These records are essentially the case files for individual patients of the Kew Asylum. They are arranged alphabetically and by date of death or discharge of the patients.

Bound Circulated Photographs and Criminal Offences of Convicted Persons (SA Police) (1932-33), VPRS 7856
The series includes: original photographs of convicted persons; listed offences and prior convictions; place and date of birth; details of arrival in Australia (if applicable) education details; distinguishing physical features.

Dockets [Offender Histories] (Victoria Police) 1933, VPRS 9303
Dockets are files in which are stored a number of different types of papers which document an individual's contact with police resulting from criminal activities.

Tramway Employees Record Cards (Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board) (1952-53), VPRS 12739
The series summarised the employment history of tramway employees including drivers, conductors, and clerical staff for the period 1924 to 1995.

Teacher Record Books [refer to microfilm copy, VPRS 13718] (Education Department) (1957-58), VPRS 13579
These records were created to provide a summary of the working history of each teacher in government service in Victoria.

Examination Results (Swinburne Technical College) (1928-1933), VPRS 14019
This series consists of examination results for both Higher Education and TAFE students from the first examinations held at the school in 1909 until an administration change separated the two divisions in 1975.

Back to top