Last updated:

2 January 2018

Every year on the 1st of January hundreds of state archives are made public as part of Public Record Office Victoria’s annual Section 9 record openings. These historic records are of particular interest to family historians waiting on files that mention members of their family tree.

Among the files made public for the first time on the 1st of January 2018 is the 1942 murder of a woman known as Wild Rose. The case was famous at the time as the “peep hole” murder as it was witnessed by a 17 year old boy through a nearby crack in a door. The capital sentence file of the murderer, Frederick Francis Green, details the crime and conviction. Initially sentenced to death, his sentence was commuted to 20 years imprisonment. Also among the openings are male prison registers, divorce case files from 1942 as well as children’s court registers from 1917 and birth registers from 1911-1918, just to name a few.

Director and Keeper of Public Records, Justine Heazlewood, says that researchers, historians, writers and genealogists will find some invaluable information within the files.

“These historic records provide not only information about individuals but also provide a glimpse into the time period in which they were written. People’s attitudes and habits, medical treatments, living situations, they give us a snapshot of Victoria and Victorian lives.”

Under Section 9 of the Public Records Act 1973 files of a personal or private nature are closed to prevent the violation of personal privacy. A broad guide to time periods for closure under Section 9 is as follows:

  • Records primarily concerning adults may be closed for 75 years from the year in which the records were created.
  • Records concerning children as the primary subject may be closed for 99 years from the year in which the records were created.
  • Records such as staff records where the individuals concerned may still be in the workforce may be closed for a lesser period such as 30, 40, or 50 years as appropriate.

See below for the full list of records opened on 1 January 2018.

For more information contact Tara Oldfield, Communications Officer, on 0418 698 364.

 

Record Title

Date Range

Criminal Trial Briefs

1942

Children’s Court Register, Ballarat Courts

Jan 1916 - Feb 1918

Capital Case Files

1938 - 1941

Inward Registered Correspondence, Attorney General’s Department

1941 - 1942

Divorce Case Files, Melbourne

1941 - 1942

Central Register of Male Prisoners

1941 - 1942

Divorce Case Files, Ballarat

1942

Capital Sentence Files

1942

Wages Records, Country Roads Board

1941 - 1942

Children’s Court Register, Oakleigh Courts

1914 - 1918

Criminal Trial Brief Register II

1942

Criminal Trial Brief Register II

1942

Commonwealth Register, Children’s Court, Daylesford Courts

1917 - 1918

Master Patient Index Cards, Alfred Hospital

1941 - 1942

Ward Registers

Nov 1917 - Dec 1918

Children’s Court Register, Dimboola Courts

1908 - 1918

Divorce Cause Books

Feb 1941 - May 1942

Index to Divorce Cause Books

1939 - 1942

Post Mortem Registers, Royal Park Receiving House

29 Apr 1940 - 7 Dec 1942

Post Mortem Register, Mont Park Mental Hospital

6 Oct 1939 - 16 Jun 1942

Register of Applicants for Permanent Positions, Dept Mental Hygiene

1938 - 1942

Admission Papers (Voluntary Boarders), Pleasant View Licensed House

1911 - 1942

Admission Warrants, Male and Female Patients, Kew Cottages

1914 - 1918

Patient Clinical Notes, Kew Mental Hospital

1941 - 1942

Employee Record Book, Northern Engine Houses, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board

c. 1887 - c. 1942

Bound Circulated Photographs & Criminal Offences of Convicted Persons

Nov 1941 - March 1942

Historical Records Collection, Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works

Nov 1941 - Dec 1942

Nursing Report Books, Female, Sunbury Mental Hospital

Nov 1941 - Dec 1942

Children’s Court Registers, Caulfield Courts

Apr 1916 - Feb 1918

Case Files, Office of the Public Solicitor

1937 - 1942

Presentments, Supreme Court

1941 - 1942

Children’s Court Register, St Kilda Courts

Jul 1915 - Feb 1918

Children’s Court Register, Northcote Courts

Mar 1916 - Oct 1918

Children’s Court Register, Geelong Courts

Sept 1915 - June 1918

Apprentice History Cards, Apprenticeship Commission

1929 - 1967

Employee Record Cards, Electrical Engineering Branch, Victorian Railways

1924 - 1962

Tramway Employees Record Cards

1962

Correspondence with Australian Railway Union regarding industrial issues

1961 - 1962

Accident Compensation Claim Register, Victorian Railways

1961 - 1962

Country Roads Board Minutes

1967

Victorian Nursing Council Executive Committee Minutes

Feb 1965 - Dec 1967

Physiotherapists Register

1923 - 1987

Nursing Staff Training Books, Orthopaedic, Frankston

1960 - 1967

Criminal Presentments and Final Orders, Court of General Sessions

Dec 1941 - Dec 1942

Birth Registers

July 1911 - June 1918

Children’s Court Register, Eltham Courts

May 1908 - Aug 1917

Children’s Court Register, Kew Courts

May 1914 - Oct 1917

Discharge Register of Patients, Ararat Mental Hospital

Mar 1927 - Jun 1942

Admission & Discharge Register of Patients, Beechworth Mental Hospital

Jan 1914 - Mar 1942

Observation Ward Report Books: Male Patients, Beechworth Mental Hospital

Jan 1941 - Feb 1942

 

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