1

LAUNCESTON PROPERTIES AND COUNTRY PROPERTIES

a guide to research

LAUNCESTON LINC CIVIC SQUARE

LAUNCESTON TAS 7250

Compiled by Launceston LINC staff

2014

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Contents

Brief history of the foundation and growth of the town and city of Launceston 2

Brief history of land ownership in Tasmania 3

Resources summary 4

Building periods and styles; Books 5-6

Directories and almanacs 7

Assessment Rolls 8-13

Trove Digitised newspapers 14

Census returns for Launceston 1842-1851 15

Maps 16-17

Photographs and pictures 18

Biography files, News clipping files and indexes, Launceston Local Studies Collection 19

Research hints and tips

Begin by establishing the exact location of the property using LISTmap http://maps.thelist.tas.gov.au/listmap/app/list/map or similar.

Start from the present and work back to make sure you have the right property.

Speak to previous owners or people who have lived near the property, especially older residents.

Once the names of the architects, builders and families linked with the property are known, use genealogical and general research tools to add

meaning and context to your research. Biography files held in the Launceston Local Studies Collection (LSC) are a good place to start.

We acknowledge and pay respect to the Tasmanian Aboriginal community as the traditional and original owners of the land.

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Brief History of the foundation and growth of the town and city of Launceston

The Convict Era, 1804-1853

Launceston was founded at the beginning of 1806, when most of the settlers,

soldiers and convicts from the initial settlement at York Town were transferred

to the area at the head of the River Tamar. It was then known as “Richings

Park”, but was renamed “Launceston” in 1807 in honour of the birthplace of

Governor King, in Cornwall, England.

However, in 1811 Governor Macquarie ordered that the main northern

settlement be re-located to a new town at George Town, and that Port

Dalrymple would no longer be a separate colony, but would be governed from

Hobart Town. Launceston languished. In 1821, the Bigge Report recommended

that Launceston be recognised as the main settlement in the north. The town

was surveyed and the street names and town boundaries were established. The

earliest map of the town is 1822. The area covered by the town of Launceston

at that time is evident from the maps. It was governed by a Police Magistrate

(sometimes called the Civil Commandment), who was responsible to the

Colonial Government in Hobart. This remained the case until the convict

transportation system finished in 1853. There was also a Military Commandant,

who had charge of the British Army troops stationed in the northern half of the

colony.

The Town and City of Launceston, 1853 to date

In 1853, Hobart and Launceston were made municipalities. Town councils were

set up, with responsibility for regulating building activities. The boundaries of the

town at this time can be seen on the map of 1858.

The first [rate] assessment and valuation rolls for Hobart and Launceston were

produced in 1853, and were printed annually (with a few exceptions) in the

Hobart Town (later the Tasmanian) Government Gazette.

The area surrounding the town of Launceston was first called the District

of Launceston (1858). Later it became the District of Selby (1866). It

comprised approximately the area later covered by the municipality of St

Leonards, and parts of the Evandale (Northern Midlands), Lilydale,

Westbury and Beaconsfield (West Tamar) municipalities.

The town boundaries remained largely unchanged until the 1890s, when

Galvin Town (South Launceston) was included in the City. (See maps dated

1890s.) New suburbs developed at Invermay and Trevallyn during the 1880s

and 1890s. Assessment rolls for these are found under “Invermay” and

“Trevallyn” until 1906.

The municipal boundaries were reorganised again in 1906, when the new

suburbs of Invermay, Mowbray and Trevallyn were included in the City of

Launceston boundaries. South Launceston was extended to the Sandhill.

Selby was divided up between George Town, St Leonards, Lilydale, Evandale,

Beaconsfield, Longford and Westbury municipalities.

The boundaries of Launceston then remained largely unchanged until 1984,

when Lilydale and St Leonards became part of the City of Launceston. For

changes after this date, see the Annual Reports of the state local government

authority and the Launceston City Council.

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Brief history of land ownership in Tasmania

1803-1827

Before 1827 most land transactions were not recorded. Land granted by the

Crown was described by survey. The original Crown Land surveys are filed in

the Central Plan Office, Land Titles Office, Level 1, Lands Building, 134

Macquarie Street, Hobart (formerly the Lands and Survey Department).

The Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office (TAHO) 91 Murray Street,

Hobart, holds some early records of the Lands and Surveys Department. [LSD1].

It also holds copies of Tasmanian land grants issued 1804-1823 by Governors

Macquarie and Brisbane [LSD354].

Launceston Local Studies Collection Books

Evans, Anne (ed) Journals of the Land Commissioners for VDL 1826-1828.

(compiled from AOT records) [INDEXES – LAND]

Evans, George William, A geographical, historical and topographical description of

VDL [INDEXES – LAND]

McKay, Thelma (ed.) Index to early land grants, VDL, 1804-1823 (compiled from

TAHO records) [INDEXES – LAND]

Ryan, R. J. Land grants 1788-1809: a record of registered grants and leases in

NSW, Van Diemen‟s Land and Norfolk Island [INDEXES – LAND]

1827-1862 General (‘Old Law’) Land Tenure

In November 1827 Governor Arthur established the Registry of Deeds. Under

this system, the owner of land controls a chain of deeds, which document the

circumstances under which successive owners bought and sold property.

Although some General Law land still exists, the vast majority of land in Tasmania

is now held under the Torrens system.

The Registry of Deeds (Land titles Office, Level 1, Lands Building, 134

Macquarie Street, Hobart) holds all general law records dating from 1827. The

books of general law land grants, dating from the early 1800s, are now held at the

Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office.

Note:

General Law Grant Book/page numbers need to be obtained from the Grants

Index Book in the Registry prior to ordering general law grants from either the

Land Titles Office public counter or from the Archives Office.

Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office (91 Murray Street, Hobart) holds

deeds of land grants Nov 1832 – Aug 1935 [RD1]. The records of the Caveat

Board held at TAHO are also a useful source of information [SC285: 1832-1858]

Launceston Local Studies Collection Books

McKay, Thelma (ed) Register of land grants VDL 1824-1832 (compiled from

TAHO LSD409] INDEXES LAND

Schaffer, Irene Discovery of the missing deeds, Tasmania 1827-1828 INDEXES

LAND

If searching prior to 1862, search in the Registry of Deeds. If searching

after that date, search both the Registry of Deeds and the Land Titles

Office.

1862- The Torrens System

Under this system land ownership is proved by registration in a title register

maintained by the Land Titles Office. The land owner is given a certificate of

title.

TheLIST http://www.thelist.tas.gov.au/ can be used to search for land title

information.

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Resources summary

Resource Dates Contents and internet links

Books Building style and approximate period. Reference Library and Local Studies Collection. http://www.linc.tas.gov.au/

LISTmap Online access to title and property boundary information. Once you have identified where the property is today you can start

to trace its history. Search for street address; add layer for cadastral parcels; add layer for cadastral plan points using LISTmap. (free)

http://maps.thelist.tas.gov.au/listmap/app/list/map.

Land Titles Office, DPIPWE

Level 1, 134 Macquarie Street,

Hobart TAS 7000

Ph: 03 6233 3659 or 1300 368 550

Email: Titles.Enquiries@dpipwe.tas.gov.au

A copy of a certificate of title can be obtained by creating an account then using using the search facility on TheLIST

https://security.thelist.tas.gov.au/cas/login?service=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thelist.tas.gov.au%2Fapp%2Fcontent%2Fproperty%2Fproperty-

search A typical search will give the current owner and owner of original title or deed. (fees apply)

Registry of Deeds, Macquarie Street: Search yourself or employ a researcher. Hours weekdays 9am - 4.30pm. (fees apply)

http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/land-property-titles/land-titles-office/general-information/how-to-search-for-land-information

Allhomes

1980s- Online access to sales history and title information. Click on the „Research‟ tab, then select „Tasmania‟ and „Property and past

sales information‟: http://www.allhomes.com.au/

Launceston City Council ph 03 6323

3000

Copies of building plans. Must be owner of property or have written permission from property owner. Basic charge $30.

Application form online:

http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/upfiles/lcc/cont/_services/development/building/building_plan_request_form.pdf

Not all plans have survived. If this is the case ask if there is a drainage plan. For old Lilydale Council Plans see TAHO series LCC26:

http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/default.aspx?detail=1&type=S&id=LCC26

Wise‟s Post Office Directory 1890-

1948

Names of property occupants. Printed, microfilm, CD-ROM and online copies available:

http://catalogue.statelibrary.tas.gov.au/item/?q=post+office+directories&avail=Online&i=1&id=981598

Assessment Rolls (from Government

Gazette)

1853-

1957

Names of property occupants and owners. Printed copies of rolls for Launceston/Selby; Deloraine, Evandale, Fingal, George

Town, Longford, St Leonards and Westbury held Launceston Local Studies Collection.

Valuation Rolls 1951-

1984

Names of property occupants and owners. TAHO series AE298 [Launceston AE298/1/423-AE2981/457] Held TAHO Hobart:

http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/default.aspx?detail=1&type=S&id=AE298

Trove digitised newspapers

Pre

1955

Early property information from sale and lease advertisements and Land Commissioners/Caveat Board notices:

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/search?adv=y

Census returns 1842-

1851

Names of property occupants and owners, construction material etc: Years available 1842,1843,1848,1852, incomplete

http://portal.archives.tas.gov.au/menu.aspx?search=10

Early maps including Land grant maps of

Launceston

Names of owners when title deeds first created. LSC map cabinet 1.

Fuller, George, Recollections of Launceston,

Tasmania from 1836 to 1847.

1836-

1847

Street by street descriptions of buildings and residents. Also hand-drawn map showing locations of Launceston Hotels in the

1830s. Local Studies Collection 994.611 FUL

LSC photograph and news clippings files,

also Library Catalogue image search

Photographs of buildings, streetscapes and townscapes:

http://www.linc.tas.gov.au/ Select „images‟ from the format menu in the left-hand panel.

LSC biography files, genealogical and

general research tools

Information about people and businesses linked with the property – architects, builders, families:

http://www.linc.tas.gov.au/research/browse-by-category/familyhistory2

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Building periods and styles

1820-1850: Georgian

1850-1880: Early Victorian

1888-1900: Late Victorian

1900-1920: Federation/Queen Anne (aka Edwardian)

1910-1930: Californian Bungalow

1930-1940: Early Modern (Spanish Mission, Art Deco etc)

1945-1980: Modern

Use books on Australian architectural styles and books on architecture in Tasmania shelved in the Reference and Local Studies collections at 728.

The following titles may also be helpful.

There are too many to provide a complete list, please see the library catalogue to find other relevant items.

Author Title Call no. Comments

Heritage Listings

Australian Heritage Commission.

The heritage of Tasmania: the illustrated

register of the National Estate (1983)

LSC.Q

919.46

HER

This has a very comprehensive record of the first buildings listed on

the Register of the National Estate. The Register of the National Estate

was closed in 2007 and is no longer a statutory list, but this book is

still a useful resource.

A more current version, the Australian Heritage Database, can be

found online http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl

Tasmanian Heritage Council and Heritage

Tasmania

Tasmanian Heritage Register http://www.heritage.tas.gov.au/thr.html identifies places of historic

heritage significance to Tasmania and Tasmanians.

Launceston Buildings

Launceston (Tas.). Council. City Architect

and Planner's Dept. Australian Heritage

Commission.

Launceston: national estate conservation

study (1977)

LSC

720.288

LAU

This was one of the first studies done of the heritage buildings in

Launceston. Invaluable for locating and identifying buildings. Much

research has since been done on individual buildings.

Morris, Miranda,

Australian Heritage Commission,

Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery

(Launceston)

Federation builders in Launceston:

domestic architecture 1893-1914

(1987)

LSC.Q

720.994611

MOR

This is invaluable for tracing the history of the many magnificent

homes built in Launceston in the period 1880-1914. It lists architects,

builders, and locations for many of these homes.

Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery Twentieth century architecture in

Launceston (1985)

LSC.Q

720.994611 TWE

Gives an overview of the more significant buildings which were

erected in Launceston from the 1920s .

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Morris, Miranda,

Australian Heritage Commission,

Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery

The architecture of the depression:

vertical timber buildings in Launceston

(1989)

LSC.Q

720.994611

MOR

Timber oil board buildings of the 1930s

Launceston Arts Council.

Ceperkovic, Helen.

Hamilton, Kate.

Launceston lace: Launceston cast iron

lace (1995)

LSC

739.479465

LAU

An illustrated study of the many beautiful examples of this decorative

feature of many Launceston buildings.

Morris, Miranda,

Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery,

Australian Heritage Commission

Rich and chaste: building ornamentation

in Victorian Launceston (1989)

LSC

720.99461

MOR

An illustrated study of the many beautiful examples of decorative

Victorian buildings in the city.

Morris, Miranda and Tassell, C. B.

Australian Heritage Commission.

Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery

Launceston's industrial heritage: a survey

(1982-1983)

LSC.Q

609.94611

MOR

This is an essential work for tracing the history of industrial and

commercial buildings in the city. Further research has been done on

many of the buildings and sites listed here.

Morris, Miranda,

Australian Heritage Commission,

Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery

Tamar Valley industrial heritage: a

survey (1984)

LSC.Q

609.9461 MOR

Miscellaneous

Fuller, George Recollections of Launceston 1836-1847,

from memory (compiled 1894)

LSC.Q

994.611 FUL

&

LSC.MFM CY 1824

Gives street-by-street descriptions and stories of old Launceston

indicating who live where. There is also a series of letters (1897)

written to Ernest Whitfeld when Fuller was living in South Australia.

Button, Henry, 1829-1914.

Examiner (Launceston, Tas.)

Launceston Historical Society

Flotsam and jetsam, floating fragments

of life in England and Tasmania

LSC

994.6

BUT

This interesting account of life and people in Launceston from the

1830s often gives details about who lived where, and about the

construction and location of key institutions, such as the Colonial

Hospital. Has a very useful index.

Von Stieglitz, Karl R. Local government in Tasmania LSC.STK

352 VON

Gives an overview of the development of local government in

Tasmania.

Goad, Philip, & Willis, Julie (eds) The encyclopedia of Australian

architecture (2012)

REF

720.994 ENC

Outstanding reference work

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Directories and Almanacs, including Wise’s Post Office Directory.

Tasmania does not have the extensive runs of business and post office

directories that are available for the 19th century for other Australian

colonies.

The early almanacs and directories (see TALIS under “Almanacs, Australian --

Tasmania”) do not generally contain comprehensive street directories.

The street directory sections of those that do have them have been copied

in two volumes (1825-1837, 1847-1859) and are shelved with the LSC

serials.

See also the Directories and Almanacs folder on the MFM reference

shelves

This has microfiche copies of all the early almanacs and directories to 1859.

Author Title/Date Call no. Comments

Macphail, Myles National directory of Tasmania

1867-68

LSC.SER 919.46 MAC

R.CDR 919.460025 MAC

Alphabetical directory of Launceston residents starts on p. 39. Contains country

areas also.

Maning Maning’s Tasmanian Directory

1881-2

LSC.SER 919.46 MAN Alphabetical directory of Launceston residents starts on p. 137. Contains country

areas also.

J. Templeton Cox Directory of Launceston and

suburbs 1884

LSC.SER 919.4611 COX

Field Field’s directory of Launceston,

Invermay and St Leonards, 1885

LSC.SER 919.4611 FIE

Middleton and Maning Tasmania directory and gazetteer

1887

LSC.SER 919.46 TAS Alphabetical directory of Launceston residents starts on p. 39. Contains country

areas also.

H. Wise and Co. Tasmania Post Office

directory

1891-1948

Printed, microfilm,

CD-ROM and digitised

copies available

http://catalogue.statelibrar

y.tas.gov.au/item/?q=post+

office+directories&avail=O

nline&i=1&id=981598

There are 3 sections in the Directory:

a ‘Towns” directory (Launceston and Hobart are listed street by

street);

a ‘Names’ directory (heads of households for the whole state are

listed by family name);

a ‘Trades and professions’ directory (this is very useful for

locating business premises).

Wise’s Directory is useful as a guide to who was living where at

a particular time. But it is not as accurate as the Assessment

Rolls, which record the legal ownership of a property on a

particular date.

Whitworth, Robert P Bailliere's Tasmanian gazetteer

and road guide 1868

Microfiche (Tasmanian

almanacs and directories

folder.)

CD-ROM

LSC.CDR 919.46 WHI

Paper copy for staff use only.

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Assessment Rolls 1853-1957

Local government authorities [LGAs or municipalities] were set up in the second half of

the 19th century. The first, Hobart and Launceston, were set up in 1853, and over the

next ten years, the rest of the settled areas of the colony were listed. The first rural

municipalities were set up in 1858. Every year, each municipal council had to draw up a list

showing the valuation of each property for the assessment of rates. Publication of the

Rolls in the Tasmanian Government Gazette ceased in 1957. Since then, information

about properties is kept in the Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office or the archives of

the Council concerned.

There is a list of the dates on which each LGA published its first Assessment (or

Valuation) Roll.

Boundaries of LGAs were sometimes changed: you will need to use the list to identify the

right LGA for a particular year.

It is very difficult to trace changes to property ownership between the date of the original

grant or purchase and the date of the first assessment roll (roughly 1830s – 1860s). The

only really reliable way to do this is to use the Land Titles Office in Hobart (see above for

contact details).

Launceston Assessment Rolls

The Assessment Rolls are the most reliable resource for determining ownership and

occupation of premises. Listing is by street, not name, but name indexes are

available for 1853, 1858, 1868, 1878, 1888, and 1898. Printed in the Hobart Town

Gazette (later Tasmanian Government Gazette), they give a give a description, owner,

occupier and rateable value of a particular property for a particular year, except for the

very earliest rolls. Each year there is a supplementary roll, which records the changes of

ownership, either through sale or inheritance. For ease of reference we have printed out

and bound the Launceston rolls and some country rolls.

The streets are not listed alphabetically. The city area is done first, with east-west streets

followed by north-south streets. Intersections are not marked on the earlier rolls. We

have added cross-streets to the Launceston printouts for ease of use. When dealing with

properties on a corner, you need to work out which street they are located to. As the

years go on, the suburbs and new subdivisions are added at the end of the Roll. Street

indexes are supplied in later years.

The present street numbering system began only in 1892. Even since then, the number of

a particular property may vary. A large block of land may have been subdivided, with new

numbers added in. Streets can be extended or closed. Before 1892, other numbering

systems were used, but they are not helpful in tracing properties from one year to the

next. It is better to note the ownership of properties on either side of the one you want

to trace, and use these to identify it from year to year. For the first 20 years or so,

properties were listed as the compiler walked up the street, e.g. from north to south on

the left-hand side, then from south to north on the right-hand side. The end of the street

is not indicated. You have to make an educated guess! The first Launceston roll in 1853 is

unique – the compiler zig-zagged along the street!

Changes to the rateable value of a property can indicate the year when buildings were

erected or demolished, or when a property was subdivided. They can also indicate a

revaluation of a whole street. Comparison of values can confirm this.

Government properties do not appear on the rolls. Council owned properties do not

appear prior to 1921. From 1921 onwards they appear at the end of the roll.

For the suburban areas, you will need to check the assessment rolls of the municipality to

which they belonged before they became part of the city of Launceston. Invermay, for

example, was originally in the Rural District of Launceston, which became

Selby. St Leonards and Norwood were Selby, then St Leonards, and now

Launceston.

Some properties outside the town boundary appear on the Launceston roll if they are

part of a water scheme. These properties are also on the country district roll.

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Assessment Rolls

Author

Title Call no. Comments

Launceston (Tas.). Council [Rate] Assessment Rolls

1853-1957

INDEXES

LAND

From 1853-1859 only the occupier of the property is shown. From 1860

both owner and occupier are shown. Street numbers first appear in

1892. There is a separate name index of occupiers for 1853.

Includes Newstead, Lawrence‟s Paddock, Trevallyn and St Leonards water

districts.

To find the annual assessment roll in the Gazette, check the Gazette index

under “Assessment rolls”. This is an annual index, and is found on the

mfm at the beginning of each year, or each six months, for some years.

Selby (Tas.) [Rate] Assessment Rolls

1858-1907

INDEXES

LAND

Includes districts surrounding Launceston, including Breadalbane, Carrick,

Dorset, Lisle, Scottsdale District, Longford District, North Esk,

Patersonia, St Leonards, Tankerville (Lilydale area), Turner‟s Marsh, West

Tamar, Invermay, Sandhill, and Trevallyn.

Deloraine, Evandale, Fingal,

George Town, Longford, St

Leonards and Westbury

[Rate] Assessment Rolls INDEXES

LAND

The first rural municipalities were set up in 1858

Selby was divided up between George Town, St Leonards, Lilydale,

Evandale, Beaconsfield, Longford and Westbury municipalities.

Rural assessment rolls are divided by ward or district, and are then

arranged by the name of the occupier.

Trudy Cowley Valuation rolls for northern,

southern, central and eastern

Tasmania 1858

INDEXES

LAND

Name indexes in three volumes

G. Hawley Stancombe

Property Names in Northern

Tasmania

LMSS356 This manuscript, compiled from Assessment Rolls, can be searched by

property name and owner. Dates are not given. Please ask staff for

assistance.

Tasmanian Family History

Society Inc, Hobart Branch

Assessment & valuation rolls of

Tasmania: index to town of

Launceston 1868, 1878, 1888,

1898

INDEXES

LAND

Names indexes for owners and occupiers. Street numbering is

incorrect.

Tasmanian Family History

Society Inc, Hobart Branch

Assessment & valuation rolls of

Tasmania: index to City of Hobart,

1847, 1868, 1878, 1888, 1898

INDEXES

LAND

Names indexes for owners and occupiers.

11

Date of the first Valuation or Assessment Roll for each

Tasmanian Municipality

* For subsequent assessment rolls, consult the Index to the Tasmanian Government Gazette,

under the headings 'Assessment rolls', or 'Valuation rolls' from 1858-1882.

* This is usually an annual index, but for some years, it is a 6-monthly index.

* The indexes are included on the microfilm, at the beginning of each year, or 6 months.

* The indexes for the years 1853-1916 have been printed out, and are shelved near the microfilms.

Municipality

First

roll Page no. Formerly Later

Beaconsfield 1898 443 George Town, Selby West Tamar

Bellerive 1897 1037 Clarence

Bellerive and Lindisfarne 1903 1811 Clarence

Beltana 1895 722 Clarence

Bothwell 1858

696, 858,

1543 Southern Midlands

Brighton 1858 805, 1524

Bruni (Bruny) 1908 785

Burnie 1932 2407 Emu Bay

Campbell Town 1858 507, 1487 Northern Midlands

Carnarvon 1880 611 Tasman

Circular Head 1908 2223 Russell and Horton

Clarence 1861 677

Deloraine 1858 625 Meander Valley

Devonport 1894 859 Port Sorell

Dundas 1893 753

Emu Bay 1868 355 Burnie, Waratah, Wynyard

Esperance 1908 1423 Franklin Huon Valley

Evandale 1866 1093 Morven Northern Midlands

12

Fingal 1858 619 Break O'Day

Flinders Island 1906 141

Franklin 1858 743, 1573 Esperance

George Town 1858 647, 1580 Beaconsfield (W. Tamar section)

Glamorgan 1858 701

Glebe Town 1893 1030 Hobart

Glenorchy 1864 533

Gormanston 1908 1357

Green Ponds 1863 347, 2486

Hamilton 1858 819

Hobart 1853 201

Horton 1858 579 Circular Head

Huon 1908 877

Invermay 1884 379 Selby Launceston

Kempton 1907 147

Kentish 1908 2535

King Island 1902 795

Kingborough 1874 1081

Latrobe 1889 1437 Port Sorell

Launceston (District) 1858 653 Selby

Launceston suburbs 1899 1 Selby

Launceston (Town) 1853 261

Leven 1908 1576 Mersey

Lilydale 1908 1222 Selby Launceston

Longford 1858 685, 893, 940

Macquarie 1884 1675 Strahan, Queeenstown, Zeehan

Mersey 1889 1996 Leven

Morven 1858 725 Evandale

Mount Stuart 1892 1087 Hobart

New Norfolk 1858 539, 834

New Town and Queenborough 1883 277

Oatlands 1858 591

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Penguin 1908 1207

Pontville (Brighton)

Port Cygnet 1908 939

Port Sorell 1858 705 Devonport, Latrobe

Portland 1878 4,031,409 Break O'Day

Queenborough 1902 161

Queenstown 1897 1329 West Coast

Richmond 1858 757

Ringarooma 1883 151, 1359 Selby Dorset

Ross 1863 2057

Russell 1868 527, 500 Circular Head

Scottsdale 1894 1121 Ringarooma Dorset

Selby 1865 2213

Launceston

(District)

Lilydale, St Leonards, Evandale, Westbury,

Beaconsfield

Sheffield 1892 1110 Kentish

Sorell 1862 165

South Longford 1865 1999, 2107 Longford

Spring Bay 1858 545

St Leonards 1908 1154 Selby Launceston

Strahan 1892 1261 West Coast

Table Cape 1908 1939 Emu Bay Wynyard

Tasman 1908 2177 Carnarvon

Trevallyn 1892 1049

Ulverstone 1892 1153 Leven

Waratah 1908 1095

West Devon 1892 1933

Westbury 1858 639, 1548 Meander Valley

Wynyard 1946 601 Table Cape

Zeehan 1895 1095 West Coast

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Trove digitised newspapers http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/search?adv=y

Sometimes Trove can be used to identify owners and occupiers in the years before Assessment Rolls began.

The National Library of Australia have digitised millions of pages of historical (pre 1955) Australian newspapers and converted the newsprint to a text

file to allow searching.

Items found in newspapers that significantly assist with property research include:

Advertisements for the sale, rental or lease of properties give physical descriptions

Advertisements showing what a building was used for e.g. school, boarding house

Land Commissioners/Caveat Board notices often give owners‟ names prior to the title deed being created.

When searching in Trove Newspapers it is always best to use the advanced search option. This allows for multiple search terms to be used and

also allows searches to be narrowed by State.

The names of occupiers and owners obtained from Assessment Rolls, if used as search terms in Trove, can greatly reduce the number of search

results obtained. Specific search terms can also produce better results than others. The word “bounded” was used in many 19th century property

advertisements and notices. Using a property name in a search greatly increases the chance of obtaining relevant search results.

To get the best output from Trove Newspapers carefully consider search terms and refine the search as needed from the results obtained. E.g. when

searching for a property in Elizabeth Street in Launceston it was found there was also an Elizabeth Street in Hobart. The term. “Upper Elizabeth

Street” produced better results as did “Windmill Hill”.

15

Census Returns for Launceston, 1842-1857

A census index and digitised records may be found on the Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office web site

http://portal.archives.tas.gov.au/menu.aspx?search=10

Fortunately, some, but not all, of the Census Returns for censuses

taken in Van Diemen‟s Land from 1838 to 1857 have survived.

Those which have survived for Launceston are listed below. The

Census District (Launceston) was divided into parishes (numbered

1-14). The census records are available online and on microfilm.

Within a parish, returns are arranged in numerical order, starting

from 1. Each return gives the name of the head of the household;

the number of persons present (not names); the address and

material of the residence; the name of the owner of the premises;

age, occupation, country of birth, religion and marital status of the

occupants. In the Town, the returns are listed street by street.

District Year Parish MFM Reel no.

Launceston 1842 1 50/79

Launceston 1842 2, 4, 7, 9, 11-12, 14 50/79

Launceston 1842 2, 4, 7, 9, 11-12, 14 cont. 50/80

Launceston 1843 1, 2 (returns 1-133) 50/84

Launceston 1843 5-7 50/84

Launceston 1843 7-9 50/85

Launceston 1848 1 (returns 1-300) 50/91

Launceston 1848 1 (returns 301-550) 50/91

Launceston 1848 2 (returns 401-820 cont.) 50/93

Launceston 1848 2 (returns 106? - 820?) 50/92

Launceston 1848 3, 6-8, 12 50/93

Launceston 1851 1 50/94

Launceston 1851 1, 2 50/96

Launceston 1851 2 50/95

16

Maps Maps are generally filed alphabetically by the name of the town, then by date. There are some exceptions.

The Local Studies Collection maps are not fully listed on TALIS

Place Title Map Location Comments

Launceston Launceston Land Grant maps,

nos 1-10

These are filed at the beginning of the

„Launceston” maps in Cabinet 1. They

are filed 1-10.

Each allotment has the name of the owner when the title deed was first

created (see Brief History of Land Ownership in Tasmania in this guide)

If a section of land has been subdivided later, the names of the first owners

of the subdivided land will be shown. The name of the original owner may

have vanished.

Launceston

suburbs and

Country Towns

Town Land Grant maps

Invermay, Mowbray, Trevallyn,

Youngtown and Country Towns

Filed in cabinet 1 in alphabetical order Each allotment has the name of the owner when the title deed was first

created (see Brief History of Land Ownership in Tasmania in this guide)

Launceston William Sharland, Plan of

Launceston and the vicinity 1826

and 1831.

Hard copy on table in LSC area and in

map cabinet 1, interactive version

online

An index of names is available for the 1826 map.

http://launceston.maps.arcgis.com/home/index.html

Launceston HWH Smythe, Plan of the Town

of Launceston, VDL, 1835

Map cabinet 1, filed in date order No names, but shows location of buildings.

Northern

Tasmania

J H Hughes, Map of the northern

located portion of VDL, 1837

Framed copy on wall in LSC and online Index of names available. Link for digital copy:

http://catalogue.statelibrary.tas.gov.au/item/?q=hughes+map+northern&i=1&

id=544127

Tamar Valley,

including

Launceston

Orthophoto maps

(aerial maps, 1:5000)

Kept at back of Cabinet 1

Filed alphabetically by name of map

section.

These give boundaries of land parcels, and parcel numbers.

Use grid on map as guide to locations.

Tasmania Land Grant maps

(also called cadastral maps, county

maps):

East Tamar, north and east – Dorset

South and west – Cornwall

West Tamar – Devon

Filed in Cabinet 2 alphabetically by

name of Land District, then by number

of map.

Each allotment has the name of the owner when the title deed was first

created (see Brief History of Land Ownership in Tasmania in this guide)

Tasmania 1:125,000 topographic maps Filed in Cabinet 3 in alphabetical order Give boundaries of land parcels and property names

Tasmania LISTmap Online Find exact property location. Search by street address, property name

etc; add layer for cadastral parcels; add layer for cadastral plan points.

http://maps.thelist.tas.gov.au/listmap/app/list/map

17

Using Land Grant Maps

Using a current map of the property as a guide, find the property on the land grant map in cabinet 2 or the town map in cabinet 1.

The shape of the property can be a help, as can the names of neighbouring properties, rivers, roads etc.

Each land grant map shows the boundaries of individual properties, and the name of the owner when the title deed was first created.

For each property, you’ll find the following information:

the name of the owner when the title deed was first created

the area of the property

a file number

Name of the first owner:

This is the name of the person (or persons) to whom title deeds were first registered, post 1827.

If the land has been fully or partly subdivided before then, the original name will vanish from the part that has been subdivided. You will then need to use other resources

to find the original owner.

Area of the property:

The measurements used on the charts are in the old imperial measures: acres, roods, and perches. Useful for tracing the property through assessment rolls,

Trove etc

File number:

There is often, but not always, a file number shown on the plan of an allotment. These refer to records kept in the Land Titles Office. The maps form part of the records

of land ownership, built up by the surveyors and the Lands Department, from the first days of European settlement. Files are kept about individual properties in the Land

Titles Office in Hobart (see above for details.)

18

Photographs and pictures

Photographs are rare before 1860

Search the Library Catalogue http://www.linc.tas.gov.au/ Limit your search to images

Launceston Local Studies Collection, photograph and news clippings files – search under headings Buildings; Properties; Residences; Streets; Businesses;

Factories; names of suburbs and towns. The file Launceston – Views contains many townscapes

Townscapes & streetscapes – Stephen Spurling II‟s 1885 Panorama of Launceston from the fire bell tower(LPIC119, nine photographs) is of particular interest.

Framed copy held in Launceston Local Studies Collection. Ask staff.

Watercolours and drawings

o Convict artist Frederick Strange (1807-1873) produced a number of watercolour townscapes of Launceston during the 1850s. The originals are

held at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery. The Launceston Local Studies collection has a framed print of his view from West

Launceston.

o Sarah Ann Fogg produced three watercolour views of Launceston c 1859. These are held in the Allport Collection, Hobart, but digital copies can

be seen on the LINC Tasmania website http://www.linc.tas.gov.au/ (enter the artist‟s name in the Library Catalogue search box)

o Copies of early sketches of Launceston by various artists have been sourced from the Mitchell Library, Sydney. Please ask staff to see this file.

Trove Pictures and Photos search http://trove.nla.gov.au/picture?q= Photographs, negatives, artworks, drawings, posters, postcards and other pictures from

heritage collections around Australia. Also try Trove Digitised Newspapers, Advanced Search, limit results to illustrated articles only.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/search?adv=y

Weekly Courier and Illustrated Tasmanian Mail Indexes Held in Launceston Local Studies Collection, Indexes area.

Books The Cyclopedia of Tasmania 1900 & 1931

LSC Work Room, CdROM & digitised on LINC Tasmania website.

Launceston: a pictorial history, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston 2004.

LSC Q 994.611 LAU

Michael Simco, Launceston: on old picture postcards, Llanfair Creative Electronic Publishing,

Ulverstone.1997, LSC P 994.611 SIM

D. G. Wherrett, Around every corner: the photographs of D. G Wherrett, Launceston, Tasmania,

1940, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston, 2006. LSC.P 994.661 WHE

Pamphlets and books at 919.46. Ask staff. LSC. 919.46

Tasmania Archive and Heritage Office The Archives Search catalogue provides descriptions of State and local government and private records including files,

letters, manuscripts, maps, plans, photographs films and more. http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/default.aspx?search=1

Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery Images Database http://www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/qvmag/?c=11

19

Launceston Local Studies Collection Biography Files are arranged under the family name. References for all persons by that name are filed

together. In a few cases there is a separate file for a particular branch of a family or a prominent person. The news clipping files are in the Closed Access area: please ask

staff to find relevant files for you.

Launceston Local Studies Collection Newpaper Clipping Files & Indexes

The news clipping files are in the Closed Access area: please ask staff to find relevant files for you.

An extensive collection of news clippings was compiled by the Launceston Local Studies staff from the mid-1970s until 30 June 1994, when the Tasmanian Index

commenced (see below). Before that, clippings about significant events and people were collected, but on a less intensive basis. Significant items are still added from time

to time.

The files give a very detailed coverage of events, places and people in Northern Tasmania.

The clippings are filed alphabetically under broad subject headings, such as “Streets -- Launceston -- Brisbane St” and “Buildings – Launceston – George St”. Country

residences are found under the name of the property, in the “Properties” files. Some other useful headings are “Businesses”, “Factories”, “Hotels”, ”Parks”, and the names

of the different churches and schools and the names of organisations.

The Examiner Index 1977-1989 . This is a card index, which duplicates the Newsclipping Files, but provides an alternative way of finding information.

It is good on changes to buildings. Ask staff.

The Tasmanian Index 1994-2010

From 1 July 1994, the Tasmanian Index (or Tasindex) indexed the three Tasmanian daily newspapers, the district newspapers, and the major Tasmanian serial

publications. This is available on any public access terminal in the Library.

https://tas-web.education.tas.gov.au/uhtbin/tasidx

The Tasmanian Index gives detailed references to Tasmanian places, people and events. You can then use the microfilm of the newspapers and serials to find the

articles or photographs referred to.

The Tasmanian Index 1966-1994

From 1966 the index was kept on cards by staff of the Tasmaniana Library. It has now been digitised. http://catalogue.statelibrary.tas.gov.au/item/?id=916410 The card

index is especially useful for property and people searches.