The key sets of Local Government records transferred to the State Records Office comprise:
Minute Books
These records provide detailed accounts of the inner workings of Local Government councils and document the development of communities. As well as Council minutes, many municipalities also kept Sub-Committee minutes for activities such as Town Planning, Nomenclature, Works, Health, Buildings, and Finance. The following are selected examples of Local Government minute books:
- Busselton Municipal Council, Minutes (Includes Minutes of Busselton Water Board 1925-1929), 1871-1895 & 1925-1951, Acc 2876, AN 36
- Shire of Yilgarn, Minutes - Local Board of Health, 1901-1918, Series 2565
- City of Belmont, Minutes - Town Planning Committee, 1970-1979, Series 255
Rate Books
These are a useful information source for those wishing to trace the history of a specific property - particularly for suburban areas. Rate books provide details such as the name of the owner of a property, amount paid in rates, address of owner and the address of the property. Early rate books listed the occupiers of a place of residence as well as the owners. Through searching rate books, an indication of when a particular property changed hands can be established. Municipal rate book series can sometimes include Local Board of Health Rate Books.
Rate books are available for many municipalities throughout the State. The most significant collection of rate books is the City of Perth Rate Book collection available on microfiche on the 3rd floor of the State Library / State Archives. Entries in these rate books are by Ward and give: Surname, Given Name, Occupation, Owner, Improvements, Street, Lot No(s) and Rates.
Correspondence Files
General files may deal with a variety of subjects including rates, water supply, building inspections, health inspections, subdivisions, private hospitals, naturalisations, immunisations, roads, local libraries, elections, cemeteries, legal issues and other such matters of concern to Local Governments.
House Plans
The only significant Local Government collection of house plans held by the State Records Office is that of the Perth Roads Board (Series 4519). These plans cover most of the residential dwellings constructed between 1917 and 1947 which now forms part of the City of Stirling and Town of Vincent. Microfilm copies of these plans can be accessed on the 3rd floor of the State Library / State Archives. An index to the plans is available to identify specific plan numbers. The street name and lot number of the property are required to able to search this index. Please note that house plans for the City of Stirling between the period 1947 and the early 1970's unfortunately no longer exist. The City of Stirling does hold property plans, however, for the period after the early 1970's.
Other Local Government Records
A wide variety of other Local Government records are also available such as report books, correspondence registers and indexes, registers of deeds, licensing registers, electoral rolls, burial registers, cash books and building permits. The following are selected examples of some of the other Local Government records available:
- Shire of Coolgardie, Registers - Burials, (1894-1991), Series 863
- Shire of Gingin, Register - Vermin, 1955-1966, Series 599
- Kojonup Road Board, Cash Book, 1871-1892, Acc 202, AN 280
- Perth City Council, Building Plans, 1924-1956, Acc 1644, AN 20/9
- One of a handful of surviving local authority vehicle licencing registers held by the State Records Office.
