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Series VPRS 9481
Index to Circulars
About this Series Related Series Accessing the records in this Series
Date Range: Series ? 1940 - 1992
  Series in Custody 1940 - 1992
  Contents 1963 - 1976
Public Access: Open
Location: North Melbourne
Format of Records:
 
Agency which created this SeriesAgency which created this Series
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Date Range Agency Title Agency Number
1940 - 1984 State Rivers and Water Supply Commission VA 723
1984 - 1992 Rural Water Commission VA 2338
Agency currently responsible for this SeriesAgency currently responsible for this Series
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Date Range Agency Title Agency Number
1996 - 2002 Department of Natural Resources and the Environment VA 3972
2002 - cont Department of Sustainability and Environment VA 4554
Description of this SeriesDescription of this Series
  • How to use the Records
    Use this series to identify General Circulars (also known as Old Series Circulars), Operational Circulars and Limited Distribution Circulars contained in VPRS 9483 Circulars. To find a circular in VPRS 9483:-

    1. Examine each volume in VPRS 9481. Examine each section - G or O (General, also known as Old Series), OP (Operational) or LD (Limited Distribution) - in each volume. The later volumes do not index cancelled or superseded circulars and so all must be consulted to find circulars on a particular subject.

    2. Note the prefix and number of the required circular, consult the records description list for VPRS 9483 and retrieve the volume.

    Function / Content

    This series of volumes indexed three of the four sequences of circulars in VPRS 9483 Circulars. It indexed General (also known as Old Series) Circulars, Operational Circulars and Limited Distribution Circulars. The A sequence of circulars, also in VPRS 9483, does not appear to have been indexed by this series.

  • Function / Content


  • Recordkeeping System
    From 1939 to 1992 the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (VA 723) and the Rural Water Commission (VA 2338) issued general instructions to their officers by at least four sequences of circulars. From 1992 the Manual of Delegated Legislation and Administrative Arrangements served a similar purpose, although it was created primarily for other reasons. Instructions to individual officers were issued by memoranda.

    The four sequences of circulars were kept in VPRS 9483 Circulars from at least 1958, when the most recent sequence commenced. It is not known how the previous sequences were kept before 1958. A copy of an edition of the Manual of Delegated Legislation and Administrative Arrangements was placed in VPRS 11 185 Policy, Procedures and Operations Manuals (Library Set) by the Public Record Office in 1995. Memoranda were filed in VPRS 6008 General Correspondence Files.

    One sequence, with an A prefix, was issued from 1939 to at least 1945. These appear to have dealt mainly with war-related arrangements such as protection of water supply occupations as part of the war effort. However, some more general subjects were covered.

    General Circulars, covering any administrative matters, were issued to all officers from 1940 to 1955. It is not known whether any similar circulars were issued before 1940.

    At least two sequences of circulars were used after General Circulars ceased. OP (Operational) Circulars were distributed to all officers from 1957 to 1992. Concurrent with OP Circulars for a period were LD (Limited Distribution) Circulars, which were issued to relevant officers from 1958 to 1968. Distribution of LD Circulars was usual to officers in a single geographical region only. There are no extant registers of General or Limited Distribution Circulars.

    It is possible that the original, signed copy of a circular was attached to the relevant correspondence file in VPRS 6008 General Correspondence Files. Alternatively it might have been enclosed with the minutes of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (to 1984) or Rural Water Commission (1984 to 1992) - see VPRS 9480 Minute Books [State Rivers] and VPRS 9610 Minute Books (Rural Water Commission Board of Management).

    Each series of circulars was controlled by a single number sequence. However, the only extant register is for Operational Circulars - see VPRS 9482 Register of Operational Circulars.

    All circulars except those in the A sequence were indexed. There are three extant editions of the index, each one a single volume. Each edition indexed current circulars only and excluded cancelled or superseded circulars. Accordingly all editions must be consulted to find all circulars on a particular subject. The three extant editions comprise the P1 consignment of this series. Note that there are two copies of the 1976 edition in the consignment. Both must be examined because each carries different annotations relating to cross references to other circulars.

    Each volume comprised three sections - one each for General (also referred to as Old Series), Operational and Limited Distribution Circulars. Within each section the circulars which were current for that edition of the index were arranged alphabetically by subject. The number of every circular was provided.

    Most entries did not include the date of a circular. The date of issue of Operational Circulars can be obtained from VPRS 9482 Register of Operational Circulars. Because there are no extant registers for the other two sequences it will be necessary to examine the circulars themselves to determine the date of issue.

    It appears that three of the four volumes in the P1 consignment were the Rural Water Corporation Librarys copies. The second copy of the 1976 edition appears to been the Construction Branchs reference copy. It was placed in this series for the convenience of researchers.
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Indexes and RegistersIndexes and Registers
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Date Range Series Title Series Number
1957 - 1992 Register of Operational Circulars VPRS 9482
Controlled SeriesControlled Series
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Date Range Series Title Series Number
1940 - 1992 Circulars VPRS 9483
Previous SeriesPrevious Series
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Subsequent SeriesSubsequent Series
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List/s of records in this seriesList/s of records in this series
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Consignment Number Contents Date Range Public Access No. of Units
Indexes and RegistersIndexes and Registers
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Date Range Series Title Series Number
1957 - 1992 Register of Operational Circulars VPRS 9482
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