Summary

Booklet 'Land Settlement In Victoria, under the provision of the Land Acts 1901, and the Closer Settlement Acts 1904, and the irrigated areas, with useful hints for settlers', published by the Crown Lands Department in 1911. 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; information about the Closer Settlement of re-purchased estates; advice and information relating to agricultural and grazing land, mallee country, mallee lands; and information about the government tourist bureau.

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, "LAND SETTLEMENT IN VICTORIA, UNDER THE PROVISION OF THE LAND ACTS 1901, & THE CLOSER SETTLEMENT ACTS 1904, & THE IRRIGATED AREAS, WITH USEFUL HINTS FOR SETTLERS". PUBLISHED BY CROWN LAW DEPARTMENT, MELBOURNE. 48 PAGES, ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS, ADVERTISEMENTS. PRODUCED AS A SOUVENIR OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW, ISSUED UNDER DIRECTION OF THE ADVERTISING AND INTELLIGENCE BUREAU, LANDS DEPARTMENT.

Physical Description

Booklet with 48 pages, with extensive text printed in red, 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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