Crown lands occupation guide

A brief overview of the major sources in our collection that relate to the occupation of Crown lands in the period prior to 1856.

Categories of land records prior to 1856

Alienation

The alienation of Crown lands (leading to the granting of freehold title) - referred to as land grants.

Occupation

The occupation of Crown land was often on an annual basis where freehold title was not granted - this was later referred to as tenure.

Historical Background

By a Government order on 5 September 1826 Governor Darling created an area known as the 'limits of location'. Settlers were only allowed to take up land within this area. A further Government order on 14 October 1829 increased this area of approved settlement to include an area called the Nineteen Counties.

From the earliest days of the Colony there was some unauthorised occupation of Crown Lands both within and outside the 'limits of location' and outside the Nineteen Counties. Various acts and regulations were in operation from as early as 1824 in an attempt to curb this type of settlement, which we often refer to as squatting. As a result of these legislative measures, such authorised occupations as grazing leases and depasturing licences were introduced to regularise settlement on Crown Land.

Within the Settled Districts

Colonial Secretary

Series
Title
Dates
Special bundles
- Miscellaneous Tickets of Occupation, 1826 [4/1917.10]
- Returns of applications for Crown lands to be held on Grazing Leases, 1826-31 [4/7005]; Reels 1491, 3118
- Returns of applications to rent Crown Lands within the boundaries under Government notice No. 22 of 1831, 1831-41 [4/7000A-02C]; Reels 1488-1490, 3118-3120
- Returns of applications to rent Crown Lands within the boundaries under Government notice of 24 Aug 1841, 1842-47 [4/7003A-04C]; Reels 1491, 3120-3121
See the item lists (by year range) in the Colonial Secretary Overview Guide
1826-1982

Outside the Settled Districts

As well as the records listed below researchers should also consult the correspondence of the various Commissioners of Crown Lands, listed in the catalogue, under the headings Colonial Secretary, Commissioners of Crown Lands, Lands, Surveyor General and Treasury.

Colonial Secretary

Series
Title
Dates
Special bundles
- Itineraries and returns of Commissioners of Crown Lands, 1837-49, [X811-18], Reels 2748-2749, [4/10803.1], [4/10803.2], [4/10803.3], [4/10803.4].
The itineraries and returns are listed in detail in the Commissioners of Crown Lands Guide.
There is also an online index.
See the item lists (by year range) in the Colonial Secretary Overview Guide
1826-1982

Treasury

Series
Title
Dates
NRS 14363
[4/91-108, 4/112]; Reels 5067-5081
Registers of depasturing licenses *ARK
1837-1846, 1851
NRS 14364
[X721-24]; Reels 3121-3123
Annual returns of depasturing licenses
1850-1854

Commissioner of Crown Lands - Portland Bay

Series
Title
Dates
NRS 1391
[X690-91], Reel 2756
Itineraries of Commissioner Foster Fyans, 1844, Jan-Jun 1846; and Returns of population and livestock, Jan 1844-Jan 1846 
The returns of population and livestock include names of station, owner and superintendent; extent and area of run.
1844-Jun 1846

Additional sources

Surveyor General

Series
Title
Dates
NRS 13736
[2/1509-1596]; Reels 3051-3098
Letters received from Surveyors
Search the online index
1822-1855
Crown Plans
Search the online index
1792-1886
NRS 13886
[X751-778]; Reels 2778-2782
Sketch Books
1828-1890
Field Books
Search the online index
1794-1861

Further information

Further information relating to land may be found by consulting the catalogue under the following headings:

  • Colonial Secretary
  • Court of Claims
  • Lands
  • Registrar General
  • Surveyor General
  • Treasury

*ARK signifies that a copy of the record or guide is part of the Archives Resources Kit and is held by the community access points.​

Land guides

Browse all

Land records available at NSW State Archives

A joint initiative between NSW State Archives and Lands and Property Information (LPI) to provide online access to a number of historical land title records was announced in November 2010. Using the popular search tool PIXEL (now HLRV) researchers can now search and view Old Form Torrens Title Registers, Charting Maps and Crown Plans online

Primary application packets guide

The Real Property Act, 1862 established a system whereby owners could convert land granted prior to 1863 to Real Property Act title. This is done by what is called a Primary Application

Commissioners of Crown Lands guide

A brief overview of the major sources we hold that relate to the main records of the Commissioners of Crown lands and key related series

Conditional purchase of crown land guide

This Guide provides an historical background on the conditional purchase scheme in NSW from 1862 to 1951, also known as 'free selection before survey' along with a list of the major record series and step-by-step guidance on how to access them