Agency
Ararat and Stawell Mining District (previously known as Ararat Mining District)
VA 3799
1858 - 1975
Agency names
Officially known as: Ararat and Stawell Mining District (previously known as Ararat Mining District)
The Ararat Mining District was one of six mining districts established by the Governor-in-Council on 4 January 1858 under the provisions of An Act for Amending the Laws Relating to the Goldfields (21 Vic.,No.32).
The District was divided at that time into three divisions: Ararat, Pleasant Creek and Raglan. The boundaries of each of these divisions and of the whole district are described in the Governor-in-Council's proclamation printed in the Government Gazette, 5 January 1858, pages 3-5.
The Ararat Mining District was abolished and the Ararat and Stawell Mining District established in its place on 10 April 1899 (see Government Gazette, 14 April 1899).
The number, boundaries and names of the divisions within the Ararat and Stawell District changed several times throughout the nineteenth and twentieth century. Annual reports of the Mines Department and reports of the Goldfields Commissioners show that by 1890 there were four divisions within the district and that the number fell back to three by 1917, and again increased to four by 1934.
Over time the role of Mining Districts diminished as the administration of mining became more centralised. In 1975 the remaining functions of the Ararat and Stawell Mining District were transferred, along with those of all other districts, to the centralised control of the Mines Department.
For further information about the operations of mining districts and the functions of district officials see the Inventory of Agencies for VRG 25 Mining Districts.
Location of Records
In addition to those records listed below, see List of Holdings second edition, 1985, section 9.0.0. and section 4.0.0.
Ararat and Stawell District Court of Mines Records
Records attributed to the Ararat and Stawell Mining District include records created by district officials such as Registrars and Wardens. A Court of Mines also operated in each District. Although each District had only one Court of Mines, that court may have sat at several localities within the District at various times. Records of the Ararat and Stawell District Court of Mines have been determined to be court records rather than administrative records of the mining district. Accordingly they have been attributed to the local courts at which the Ararat and Stawell District Court of Mines sat.
The District was divided at that time into three divisions: Ararat, Pleasant Creek and Raglan. The boundaries of each of these divisions and of the whole district are described in the Governor-in-Council's proclamation printed in the Government Gazette, 5 January 1858, pages 3-5.
The Ararat Mining District was abolished and the Ararat and Stawell Mining District established in its place on 10 April 1899 (see Government Gazette, 14 April 1899).
The number, boundaries and names of the divisions within the Ararat and Stawell District changed several times throughout the nineteenth and twentieth century. Annual reports of the Mines Department and reports of the Goldfields Commissioners show that by 1890 there were four divisions within the district and that the number fell back to three by 1917, and again increased to four by 1934.
Over time the role of Mining Districts diminished as the administration of mining became more centralised. In 1975 the remaining functions of the Ararat and Stawell Mining District were transferred, along with those of all other districts, to the centralised control of the Mines Department.
For further information about the operations of mining districts and the functions of district officials see the Inventory of Agencies for VRG 25 Mining Districts.
Location of Records
In addition to those records listed below, see List of Holdings second edition, 1985, section 9.0.0. and section 4.0.0.
Ararat and Stawell District Court of Mines Records
Records attributed to the Ararat and Stawell Mining District include records created by district officials such as Registrars and Wardens. A Court of Mines also operated in each District. Although each District had only one Court of Mines, that court may have sat at several localities within the District at various times. Records of the Ararat and Stawell District Court of Mines have been determined to be court records rather than administrative records of the mining district. Accordingly they have been attributed to the local courts at which the Ararat and Stawell District Court of Mines sat.
Jurisdiction: Victoria
