Record series
Observation Field Books
VPRS 18793
1914 - 1930
Open
North Melbourne
Agencies
This record series was created by:
Public Works Department (previously the Department of the Commissioner of Public Works) ( VA669 ): 1914 - 1930
Agencies responsible for this record series: Ports Victoria ( VA 5257 ): 2021 - present
Date Range
Series date range: 1914 - 1930
Series in custody:
1914 - 1930
Contents in custody:
1914 - 1930
Function / Content
This series comprises field books that appear to have been created to document various geodetic measurements, computations and general marine survey information in and around Port Phillip Bay and Westernport Bay.Surveyors in the field used books to record both survey data and notes as surveys were carried out. The field books reflect, in part, the process of marine surveying in Victoria.
The information recorded in these volumes includes various measurements including stellar and solar observations, measurements for the positioning of buoys, measurements for tide tables, survey computations of angles and bearings and computational measurements for marine infrastructure.
Before coming into the custody of Public Record Office Victoria, this series was held at the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum.
How to use the records
Browse the record item list to identify records of interest.Recordkeeping system
As this is an artificial series there is no universal recordkeeping system. Each volume is identified with a book number and location hand written on each volume cover.So far as can be ascertained, there is no surviving contemporary index or guide to the contents of the field books.
When the records were transferred to Public Record Office Victoria they were housed with several other series of volumes including tidal prediction books, blasting operation books and tide gauge books.
The volumes have been arranged by location.
