Record series
Despatches from the Secretary of State to the Governor
VPRS 1087
1851 - 1967
Open
North Melbourne
Agencies
This record series was created by:
Agencies responsible for this record series: Department of Premier and Cabinet ( VA 1039 ): by 1982 - by 2023
Date Range
Series date range: 1851 - 1967
Series in custody:
1851 - 1967
Contents in custody:
1851 - 1967
Function / Content
This series consists of bound despatches, representing the official channel of communication from the British Secretary of State responsible for the administration of the Colonial (later Commonwealth) Office to the Governor of Victoria. The Secretary's official title has changed over time, these being Secretary of State for War and the Colonies (to 1854), for the Colonies (to 1925), for Dominion Affairs (to 1947) and for Commonwealth Relations. Bound duplicate copies of despatches sent from the Governor to the Secretary of State are found in VPRS 1084.The despatch itself consists of an item of correspondence written by the Secretary and, in many instances, a number of enclosures. The enclosures touch on matters referred to in the despatch and appear to be copies of original documents presumably held in London. Occasionally intermingled between despatches are letters from the Secretary acknowledging the receipt of despatches which have not necessitated a despatch in reply. As a security measure, a duplicate copy of each despatch was usually sent on a different vessel. These were left unbound and are found in VPRS 1086. Circular despatches were not bound in these volumes until 1877, previously being bound separately in VPRS 1088. Confidential despatches to 1884 were also bound separately in VPRS 1090.
How to use the records
Researchers should consult the record item list to determine volume/s of interest by date.Recordkeeping system
This series is arranged chronologically. Individual volumes were allocated a consecutive volume number which is emblazoned on the spine. Early volumes usually span either a whole or half year; from 1940 one volume will often contain several years worth of despatches. In instances where one year is covered by two volumes, the latter volume was allocated the next available consecutive number although it is identified as being part 2. The exceptions are the volumes relating to 1878 (items 32 and 33) which were marked as parts 1 and 2 of Volume 32.Until 1912, each despatch was allocated an annual single despatch number on receipt by the Governor's Office. This number was then entered on the despatch but not on any enclosures. Despatches in individual volumes are bound in despatch number order.
The series is controlled by VPRS 1404 Register of Despatches 1851 - 1911. These registers record information regarding a despatch's arrival in despatch number order. Registers between 1851 - 1872 contain indices although a separate index (VPRS 7572) was created to index registers spanning 1873 - 1911.
From 1912, despatch numbers were allocated by the British Office (once again through an annual single number sequence) and were printed on the despatch. A separate sequence was utilised to cover circulars. As despatches, therefore, were received in despatch number order, the registers were no longer required. Instead, the despatch was registered as an item of inward correspondence through VPRS 7576, Registers of Inwards Correspondence the despatch number being noted in the column headed "No. of Letter".
