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Series VPRS 9483
Circulars
About this Series Related Series Accessing the records in this Series
Date Range: Series ? 1939 - 1992
  Series in Custody 1939 - 1992
  Contents 1939 - 1992
Public Access: Open
Location: North Melbourne
Format of Records: Physical
 
Agency which created this SeriesAgency which created this Series
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Date Range Agency Title Agency Number
1939 - 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
    To find General Circulars (also known as Old Series Circulars), Operational Circulars and Limited Distribution Circulars in this series:-

    1. Examine each volume in VPRS 9481 Index to Circulars. 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 The later volumes do not index cancelled or superseded circulars and so all must be consulted to find circulars on a particular subject.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 consignment details for VPRS 9483 and retrieve the volume which contains the required circular. Note: if the required circular is not in the P1 consignment there might be a copy in the P2 consignment.

    To retrieve a circular in the A sequence consult the back pages of the first volume in unit 1 of the P1 consignment.

  • Function / Content
    The four sequences of circulars in this series were the means by which the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission and the Rural Water Commission issued general instructions to their officers.

  • 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. The register (VPRS 9482 Register of Operational Circulars) is not needed to retrieve Operational Circulars.

    The P1 consignment of this series comprises reference copies of circulars. Note that many circulars are missing from the consignment. It is possible that reference copies were discarded when a circular was revoked or superseded. Most circulars were cross-referenced to a file in VPRS 6008 General Correspondence Files. Interspersed among the extant circulars are copies of memoranda and correspondence on which circular numbers do not appear. It is possible that these memoranda were issued to all staff without having been rewritten as circulars.

    The P2 consignment comprises a reference set of OP Circulars and general memoranda which was received from VA 3757 Goulburn-Murray Water Authority. Goulburn-Murray Water was one of the successors to the Rural Water Corporation. It is assumed that the reference set had been kept by Goulburn-Murray Water when it had been a region of the Rural Water Corporation. The consignment was transferred because it was assumed to contain copies of OP Circulars which were missing from the P1 consignment.

    VPRS 9483: Supplementary file note, November 1995

    Circulars in this series are in spring-back binders. Most binders are overfull and as a consequence their contents have become detached. Care must be taken when handling the binders.
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Indexes and RegistersIndexes and Registers
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Date Range Series Title Series Number
1940 - 1992 Index to Circulars VPRS 9481
Controlled SeriesControlled Series
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Date Range Series Title Series Number
Previous SeriesPrevious Series
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Transfer Date Series Title Series Number
Subsequent SeriesSubsequent Series
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Transfer Date Series Title Series Number
- 1992 Policy, Procedures and Operations Manuals (Library Set) VPRS 11185
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
P0001 1939 - 1992 Open 5
Indexes and RegistersIndexes and Registers
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Date Range Series Title Series Number
1940 - 1992 Index to Circulars VPRS 9481
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