Record series
Register of Names, Particulars and Personal Descriptions of Prisoners Received
VPRS 521
1850 - 1941
Open
North Melbourne
Agencies
This record series was created by:
Melbourne Gaol ( VA4147 ): 1850 - 1924
Agencies responsible for this record series: Department of Justice ( VA 3085 ): 1992 - present
Date Range
Series date range: 1850 - 1941
Series in custody:
1850 - 1941
Contents in custody:
1850 - 1941
Function / Content
Series comprises a register of names, particulars and personal descriptions of male prisoners received at H.M. Gaol at Melbourne, and from July 1924 Pentridge, and female prisoners 1850 1853. On reception at the gaol a personal description of every prisoner received was recorded in this register. In respect to male prisoners, the Melbourne Gaol was used for prisoners on remand, on trial, and short term prisoners.
VPRS 521 was used to register names etc of male and female prisoners until 1853, and from 1853 was used for male prisoners only. From 1853 the details of female prisoners were recorded in VPRS 12942 Register of Female Prisoners Received.
For each prisoner the following details are recorded:
an annual gaol number (a Melbourne Gaol number)
register number (prisoner number in VPRS 515 Central Register of Male Prisoners)
name
number of previous convictions
last reference
year of birth
native place
occupation
ship and date of arrival
religion
height
education
marks
when received
from where
purpose
offence
date of conviction
sentence
Researchers should note that this series was reserialised in 2002. The female prisoners personal description registers and the registers of the Western Gaol were removed from VPRS 521 and are now VPRS 12942 Register of Female Prisoners Received and VPRS 12941 Register of Prisoners Received and Discharged respectively. The remaining units of VPRS 521 have been renumbered to incorporate these changes.
Researchers should note that a number of units in VPRS 521 are closed under section 11(2) of the Public Records Act for preservation reasons. Refer to the Records Description List for details.
How to use the records
Series is arranged chronologically by date of prisoner reception at the gaol. Entries are also arranged chronologically. Some volumes have an index by prisoner name at the front.
Consult the Records Description list which lists the date range of each volume.
Recordkeeping system
Series is arranged chronologically by date prisoner received at the gaol.
