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About Public Record Office Victoria
Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) is the archive of State and Local Governments in Victoria. We hold over 100 km of digital and physical records from 1836 to the present day. Many records are accessible to the public either online or for viewing in our Reading Rooms. PROV also sets mandatory recordkeeping standards for state and local government agencies and provides advice on recordkeeping to government.
Look history in the eye
In this podcast series by Public Record Office Victoria we interview the people who delve into public archives and uncover interesting truths about Melbourne and Victoria's past. Hear about the amazing monuments that were never built, Pentridge Prison escapes, how Melbourne went from deadtown to musictown and more!
New year, new records
Every year on the 1st of January, hundreds of state archival records are made public for the first time as part of Public Record Office Victoria's annual Section 9 openings. On the 1st of January 2023, the files opened include records related to the 1940s Melbourne underworld, Royal Park (pictured) social worker histories, and the case file of the Bentleigh burger murder, to name a few.
Records management
Nominations are now open for the 2023 Sir Rupert Hamer Records Management Awards! Victorian government agencies are invited to submit nominations for outstanding records management projects or initiatives completed or substantially completed between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2022.
Land records of historical significance
PROV and Land Use Victoria are excited to announce the completion of a large and significant transfer of land records into PROV custody – the library of the Registrar-General’s Office. Records include Registers of Crown Grants, General Law Plans of Subdivision, Application Examiner’s Notes for General Law Land Conversions, and the full set of Memorial Books for General Law Deeds.
Provenance 2022
The 2022 issue of our online Provenance Journal is out now! This issue includes four original articles based on research of Victorian archival collections. From stories of fishery inspectors and the pioneering network of women at the Mission to Seafarers, to the story of a small-pox victim in Walhalla, and the 1960 Housing Commission's plan for inner Melbourne - there's much to be explored and enjoyed.
Visit us
Monday to Friday 10am to 4:30pm and every second and last Saturday of the month. Closed public holidays. Visit
Monday to Thursday 10am to 4:30pm. Closed public holidays. Please note BAC will be closed from 23 January to 30 January inclusive, re-opening on the 31st of January 2023, more info here. Visit
Wednesday and Thursday 10am to 4pm. Closed public holidays. Visit
Tuesday to Friday 10am to 4pm. Closed weekends, Mondays and public holidays. Visit
What's On
Tech School
Fierce and romantic: Annie Holt and her Melbourne matrimonial agency
Complete your book in 2023
