Summary

Booklet 'Victoria for the Settler', published by the Crown Lands Department in 1912. This booklet was produced as a souvenir of the Royal Agricultural Show, and was issued under direction of the Advertising and Intelligence Bureau, Lands Department.

The booklet includes: instructions, hints, advances and general information for intending settlers; information about Crown Lands and the Land Act of 1901; advice about irrigation in Victoria and the Goulburn irrigation system specifically; information about the Closer Settlement of re-purchased estates; and information about wire netting advances.

In 1904 the Victorian Government established the Closer Settlement Scheme to entice people away from the inner city. Small holdings for farming were made available throughout the state. In Melbourne, land was subdivided for workers' homes in the fringe suburbs of Footscray, Brunswick, Northcote and Thornbury, and for 'clerks' in the eastern suburbs of Glenhuntly and Tooronga.

In 1915, a royal commission found that the scheme was seriously flawed. Water, sewerage, roads, schools and other infrastructure lagged behind the construction of homes, and the blocks of land were often too small to be viable as farms. By 1916, about 1000 homes had been built. Residents struggled for years, however, to get such basic amenities as roads and water supply.

Description of Content

BOOKLET, "VICTORIA FOR THE SETTLER". SOUVENIR OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW, ISSUED UNDER DIRECTION OF THE ADVERTISING AND INTELLIGENCE BUREAU LANDS DEPARTMENT. 48 PAGES, ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS, ADVERTISEMENTS. TEXT INCLUDES REFERENCE TO: THE IRRIGATION AREAS OF VICTORIA, THE GOULBURN IRRIGATION SYSTEM, PREPARATION OF LAND FOR IRRIGATION, INFORMATION TO

Physical Description

Booklet with 48 pages, with extensive text printed in brown, black and blue. There are also illustrations, photographs and advertisements, throughout the booklet.

Significance

Following the 1890s depression, concern arose that too many people were living in Melbourne, especially in the crowded inner suburbs. Large cities were likened to cancers, spreading disease and sapping the nation's strength. The Victorian Government's Closer Settlement Scheme was established in 1904 to entice people away from the inner city. Small holdings for farming were made available throughout the state. In Melbourne, land was subdivided for workers' homes in the fringe suburbs of Footscray, Brunswick, Northcote and Thornbury, and for 'clerks' in the eastern suburbs of Glenhuntly and Tooronga.

In 1915, a royal commission found that the scheme was seriously flawed. Water, sewerage, roads, schools and other infrastructure lagged behind the construction of homes, and the blocks of land were often too small to be viable as farms. By 1916, about 1000 homes had been built. Residents struggled for years, however, to get such basic amenities as roads and water supply. -Melbourne Story text panel, 2008

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