Land grants guide, 1788-1856

The records listed in Guide relate to the original alienation of land from the Crown. Parish maps are useful for research in this area, as they record original grants.

Prior to the introduction of Responsible Government in 1856 the main agencies responsible for the administration of land in the New South Wales were the Colonial Secretary, the Surveyor General and the Commissioners of Crown Lands. Land records were divided into two major categories.

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

Governor Phillip

Governor Phillip, in his Instructions dated 25 April 1787, was empowered to grant land to emancipists. The first land was granted in 1792. Phillip insisted however, that land must have a particular use. As a result only small grants (totalling approximately 4,000 acres) were made in almost five years. It was not until the late 1790s that larger grants were made, although these were frequently subject to exploitation and land speculation.

Who was entitled to a land grant?

Free Settlers and Emancipists

Free settlers and ex-convicts who were 'of good conduct and disposition to industry' were entitled to a land grant. Each male was entitled to 30 acres, an additional 20 acres if married, and 10 acres for each child with him in the settlement at the time of the grant (Historical Records of Australia 1.1.14). To encourage free settlers to the colony, Phillip received additional Instructions dated 20 August 1789 (HRA 1.1.124-8) entitling non-commissioned Marine Officers to 100 acres and privates to 50 acres over and above the quantity allowed to convicts. Other settlers coming to the colony were also to be given grants.

Women

Women were also entitled to receive a grant of land - the first possibly being Ellenor Frazer on 20 February 1794.

Military

From 20 August 1789, non-commissioned Marine Officers were entitled to receive 100 acres more (and Privates up to 50 acres more) than the quantity allowed for convicts. Commissioned Officers were excluded from land grants under the original instructions. It was not until 1792 that land grants were made to officers by the Acting Governor Francis Grose.

Land grants issued during the Rum Rebellion 1808-1809 were cancelled by Governor Macquarie but those which had been granted to "very deserving and Meritorious Persons" he later renewed (HRA 1.7.268).

Fees for land grants from 1825

In 1825 the sale of land by private tender began (Instructions to Governor Brisbane, 17 July 1825, HRA 1.12.107-125). There were still to be grants without purchase but they were not to exceed 2,560 acres or be less than 320 acres unless in the immediate vicinity of a town or village. The Instructions required the Governor to arrange for a new Survey of the colony and the division of the settled districts into Counties, Hundreds and Parishes. The unoccupied lands were then to be valued and eventually sold by tender, if not otherwise reserved, at not less than the average value for that parish. This scheme was slow in being implemented (HRA 1.16.274).

Limits of location and the nineteen counties

On 5 September 1826, a Government order allowed Governor Darling to create the limits of location. Settlers were only permitted to take up land within this area. A further Government order of 14 October 1829 extended these boundaries to an area defined as the Nineteen Counties.

No free land grants after 1831

In a despatch dated 9 January 1831, Viscount Goderich instructed that no more free grants (except those already promised) be given. All land was thenceforth to be sold at public auction (HRA 1.16.22) and revenue from the sale of land was to go toward the immigration of labourers. Likewise the practice of granting land as "marriage portions" to the children of colonists was discontinued (HRA 1.16.353, 793). The new regulations were notified in a Government Notice of 1 July 1831 and published in a Government Order dated 1 August 1831.

Following this, land was sold by public auction without restrictions being placed on the area to be acquired. After 1831 the only land that could be made available for sale was within the Nineteen Counties. This restriction was brought about to reduce the cost of administration and to stem the flow of settlers to the outer areas.

Colonial Secretary

  • NRS 1217 Indexes to registers of land grants and leases 1810-1856 *ARK

[4/1709]; Reel 1480; [7/497-502]; Reels 2561-2562

Item list

Item
Reel
Dates
[7/497]
2561
Index to copies of deeds to land grants, 1826-56Indexes relevant volumes 20-105, 118 and 138
[7/498]
2562
Index to copies of deeds to town grants, 1826-56Indexes relevant volumes 2-105
[7/499]
2562
Index to copies of deeds to land purchases, 1826-1853Indexes relevant volumes 20-145
[7/500]
2652
Index to copies of deeds to land purchases, 1854-1856Indexes relevant volumes 147-179
[7/501]
2562
Index to copies of deeds of town purchases, 1820-1853Indexes relevant volumes 20-146
[7/502]
 
Index to copies of deeds to town purchases, 1854-1856Indexes relevant volumes 146-180
  • NRS 1215 Registers of land grants, 1792-30 Dec 1809

These are the earliest grant registers which due to their very fragile condition are not issued.

Item list

Reel
Item
Vol.
Dates
2910
[SZ75]
1
1792-1795
773
[SZ47]
2
1795-1800
1913
[SZ76]
3
1800-1809
2505
 
4
Apr 1809-Jan 1810
  • NRS 13836 Registers of land grants, 1792-c.1856

Item list

Please note: Items filmed on Reels 2560-2562 and 2548-2550 are available in the *ARK

Reel
Item
Vol.
Description
Dates
2560
[7/444]
 
Entire colony, including Van Diemen's Land
1792-1807
2560 
[7/445]
1
Entire colony, including Van Diemen's Land
1792-1809
2560
[7/446]
1A
Entire colony, including Van Diemen's Land
1792-1804
2561
[7/447]
2
Entire colony, including Van Diemen's Land to 1819
1810-1821
2561
[7/448]
3
Colony, not including Van Diemen's Land
1816-1822
2561
[7/449]
4
County of Cumberland only from 1823
1822-1836
2846
[7/450]
5
Cumberland
1835-1841
2846
[7/451]
6
Cumberland
1841-1865
2548
[7/452]
1
Argyle
1822-1838
2548
[7/453]
2
Argyle
1838-1861
2548
[7/454]
3
Camden
1822-1838
2548
[7/455]
4
Camden
1839-1861, 1866-1892
2548
[7/456]
5
Durham and Brisbane
1823-1837
2548
[7/457]
6
Durham and Brisbane
1837-1847
2549
[7/458]
7
Durham and Brisbane
1843-1864
2549
[7/459]
8
Northumberland and Hunter
1823-1836
2549
[7/460]
9
Northumberland and Hunter
1836-1840
2549
[7/461]
10
Northumberland and Hunter
1840-1864
2549
[7/462]
11
Georgiana and Bathurst
1829-1853
2549
[7/463]
12
Georgiana and Bathurst
1840-1861
2549
[7/464]
13
Westmoreland
1823-1858
2550
[7/465]
14
Cook, Westmoreland and Argyle
1830-1858
2550
[7/466]
15
Phillip and Roxburgh
1823-1862
2550
[7/467]
16
Wellington and Bligh
1832-1843
2550
[7/468]
17
King, Murray and St Vincent
1829-1839
2550
[7/469]
18
King, Murray and St Vincent
1839-1867
2550
[7/470]
19
Gloucester and Macquarie
1832-1853
2700
[7/471]
20
Special Grants to institutions etc.
1853-1871
2700
[7/472]
21
Special Grants to institutions etc.
1871-1924
2700
[7/473]
22
Sydney Town Grants
1831-1835
2700
[7/474]
 
Sydney Town Grants
1835-1856
2700
[7/475]
3(1)
Town Purchases
1835-1839
2701
[7/476]
2
Town Purchases
1839-1840
2701
[7/477]
3
Town Purchases
1840-1842
2701
[7/478]
4
Town Purchases
1834-1835, 1841-1843
1397; 2701
[7/479]
1
Land Purchases, Moreton Bay
1842-1843
1397; 2701
[7/480]
2
Land Purchases, Moreton Bay
1843
2702
[7/481A]
 
Parramatta Town Grants
1831-1842
2702
[7/481]
 
Parramatta Town Grants
1841-1859
  • NRS 1216 Registers of land grants and leases, 1832-1856

[7/505-663]; Reels 2705-2714, 1727-1778, 1453-1455

  • NRS 1230 Registers of notices of the intention to issue deed of grants of land, 10 Sep 1830-1 Feb 1856

The registers record under the date of notice, the number, person's name, area and portion of land. After 1843 many of the grants are for churches and schools.

Item List

Reel
Item
Dates
2653
[2/2143]
10 Sep 1830-6 Nov 1837
2653
[2/2144]
2 Jan 1838-14 Dec 1839
2654
[2/2145]
10 Feb 1840-1 Feb 1856
  • NRS 1223 Abstracts from orders for grants and town allotments, 1822-1826 (COD 67)
  • NRS 1224 Certificates of entitlement to land grants for veteran pensioners, Oct-Nov 1823 *ARK (COD 125, Fiche 3263)

Indexed in the published Index to the Colonial Secretary's papers, 1788-1825.

  • NRS 1226 Nominal list of land granted and reserved by Sir Thomas Brisbane, 24 May 1824-1 Dec 1825 *ARK (COD 69; Fiche 3269)

Indexed in the published Index to the Colonial Secretary's papers, 1788-1825.

  • NRS 1229 Registers of notices of the intention to issue deeds of grant for town allotments, 8 Jun 1830-31 Dec 1845

Item list

Reel
Item
Dates
2652
[2/1945]
8 Jun 1830-24 Feb 1836
2653
[2/1946]
28 Mar 1836-13 Apr 1839
2654
[2/1947]
4 May 1839-31 Dec 1845

Copies of Deeds to Land Grants and Leases, 1823-1836

Reel
Item
Vol.
Description
Dates
2704
[7/482]
 
Town Grants, Sydney
1823
2704
[7/483]
 
Town Grants, Parramatta
1823
2704
[7/484]
 
Town Leases, Sydney
1823
2704
[7/485]
 
Town Leases, Sydney
1823-1827
2704
[7/486]
 
Town Grants and Leases, Sydney
1829, 1831
2704
[7/487]
 
Town Leases, Parramatta
1823
2704
[7/488]
2
Town Leases, Parramatta
1823
2704
[7/489]
 
Annual Town Leases, Parramatta
1852-1855
2704
[7/490]
 
Annual Town Leases, Parramatta
1858-1861
2704
[7/491]
 
Town Purchases (Towns in County of Cumberland and at Wollongong)
1833-1836
2704
[7/492]
2
Town Purchases (Towns in County of Camden and County of Argyle)
1833-1835
2705
[7/493]
3
Town Purchases, Maitland and Newcastle
1833-1836
2705
[7/494]
4
Town Purchases, Bathurst and Emu
1833-1836
2705
[7/495]
5
Town Purchases, Port Macquarie
1833-1836
2705
[7/496]
6
Town Purchases (Towns in County of Durham)
1833-1836

Copies of Deeds of Grant to land alienated by Grant, 1832-1856

Item List

Reel
Item
Vol.
Description
Dates
2705
[7/503]
3
Town Grants
1834-1835
2705
[7/504]
4
Town Grants
1836
2705
[7/505]
22
Land Grants
1832-1835
2705
[7/506]
23
Land Grants
1833-1835
2705
[7/507]
24
Miscellaneous Grants, Leases and Purchases
1833-1840
2705
[7/508]
25
Land Purchases
1833-1835
2706
[7/509]
26
Town Purchases
1834-1836
2706
[7/510]
27
Town Purchases
1834-1835
2706
[7/511]
28
Land Purchases
1835
2706
[7/512]
29
Land Grants
1835
2706
[7/513]
30
Town Purchases
1835-1836
2706
[7/514]
31
Land Purchases
1835-1836
2707
[7/515]
32
Town Purchases
1836-1837
2707
[7/516]
33
Land Grants
1836
2707
[7/517]
34
Land Grants
1835-1836
2707
[7/518]
35
Land Purchases
1837
2707
[7/519]
36
Town Grants
1837-1838
2707
[7/520]
37
Land Grants
1837-1838
2708
[7/521]
38
Land Grants
1837-1839
2708
[7/522]
39
Land Purchases
1837
2708
[7/523]
40
Land Purchases
1837
2708
[7/524]
41
Land Purchases
1838
2709
[7/525]
42
Town Grants
1838-1839
2709
[7/526]
43
Town Purchases
1838
2709
[7/527]
44
Town Purchases
1838
2709
[7/528]
45
Land Purchases
1838
2710
[7/529]
46
Land Grants
1838-1839
2710
[7/530]
47
Town Purchases
1838
2710
[7/531]
48
Town Purchases
1838-1839
2710
[7/532
49
Land Purchases
1839
2710
[7/533
50
Town Purchases
1839
2711
[7/534]
51
Land Purchases
1839
2711
[7/535]
52
Town Purchases
1839
2711
[7/536]
53
Town Grants
1839-1840
2711
[7/537]
54
Land Purchases
1839-1840
2712
[7/538]
55
Land Grants
1839-1840
2712
[7/539]
56
Land Grants
1840-1848
2712
[7/540]
57
Town Purchases
1840
2712
[7/541]
58
Land Purchases
1840
2713
[7/542]
59
Land Grants
1840-1841
2713
[7/543]
60
Miscellaneous Grants
1840-1842
2713
[7/544]
61
Town Grants
1840-1841
2713
[7/545]
62
Town Purchases
1840
2713
[7/546]
63
Land Purchases
1840-1841
2714
[7/547]
64
Town Purchases
1840
2714
[7/548]
65
Grants, United Church of England, Ireland, No 1
1842-1856
2714
[7/549]
66
Grants, United Church of England, Ireland, No 2
1842-1856
2714
[7/550]
67
Town Purchases
1841
1727
[7/551]
68
Land Purchases
1841-1842
1727
[7/552]
69
Town Purchases
1841
1728
[7/553]
70
Town Purchases
1841
1728
[7/554]
71
Land Grants
1841-1852
1729
[7/555]
72
Town Grants
1841-1842
1729
[7/556]
73
Town Purchases
1841
1730
[7/557]
74
Land Purchases (Port Phillip)
1841-1847
1730
[7/558]
75
Town Purchases
1841-1842
1731
[7/559]
76
Land Purchases
1842-1843
1732
[7/560]
77
Grants, United Church of England, Ireland, No 3
1842-1849
1732
[7/561]
78
Grants, United Church of England, Ireland, No 4
1842-1849
1732
[7/562]
79
Grants, United Church of England, Ireland, No 5
1842-1849
1732
[7/563]
80
Miscellaneous Grants
1842-1847
1733
[7/564]
81
Town Grants
1842-1855
1733
[7/565]
82
Town Purchases
1842-1843
1733
[7/566]
83
Grants, Church of Scotland No 1
1842-1855
1733
[7/567]
84
Grants, Church of Scotland No 3
1842-1855
1733
[7/568]
85
Grants, Church of Scotland No 5
1843-1854
1733
[7/569]
86
Grants, Church of Scotland No 2
1843-1848
1734
[7/570]
87
Town Purchases
1843-1845
1734
[7/571]
88
Land Purchases
1843-1845
1735
[7/572]
89
Town Purchases, Port Phillip
1844-1847
1735
[7/573]
90
Grants, Church of Scotland No 4
1844
1453
[7/574]
91
Land Purchases, Port Phillip
1844-1847
1736
[7/575]
92
Town Purchases
1844-1845
1736
[7/576]
93
Land Purchases
1845-1846
1737
[7/577]
94
Grants, Roman Catholic No 1
1846-1851
1737
[7/578]
95
Grants, Roman Catholic No 2
1846
1737
[7/579]
96
Grants, Roman Catholic No 3
1846-1851
1737
[7/580]
97
Grants, Roman Catholic No 5
1846-1851
1737
[7/581]
98
Town Purchases
1845-1846
1738
[7/582]
99
Land Purchases
1846-1848
1738
[7/583]
100
Grants, Wesleyan Methodist, No 1
1846-1851
1738
[7/584]
101
Grants, Wesleyan Methodist, No 2
1846-1850
1738
[7/585]
102
Grants, Wesleyan Methodist, No 3
1846-1851
1738
[7/586]
103
Grants, Wesleyan Methodist, No 4
1846-1851
1739
[7/587]
104
Town Purchases
1846-1847
1740
[7/588]
105
Miscellaneous Grants
1848-1856
1741
[7/589]
106
Town Purchases
1847-1848
1741
[7/590]
107
Town Purchases, Port Phillip
1847-1848
1453
[7/591]
108
Land Purchases, Port Phillip
1848-1849
1742
[7/592]
109
Town Purchases
1848-1849
1742
[7/593]
110
Town Purchases, Port Phillip
1848-1850
1743
[7/594]
111
Land Purchases
1848-1850
1743
[7/595]
112
Town Purchases
1849
1454
[7/596]
113
Land Purchases, Port Phillip
1849-1850
1744
[7/597]
114
Town Purchases
1849-1850
1744
[7/598]
115
Town Purchases, Port Phillip
1850
1454
[7/599]
116
Land Purchases, Port Phillip
1850
1745
[7/600]
117
Land Purchases
1850-1851
1745
[7/601]
118
Grants, National Board of Education
1850-1855
1746
[7/602]
119
Town Purchases
1850-1851
1746
[7/603]
120
Town Purchases, Port Phillip
1850
1455
[7/604]
121
Land Purchases, Port Phillip
1850-1851
1747
[7/605]
122
Town Purchases, Port Phillip
1850
1747
[7/606]
123
Town Purchases
1851-1852
1748
[7/607]
124
Land Purchases
1851-1852
1748
[7/608]
125
Pre-emptive Land Purchases (Unsettled district)
1851-1855
1748
[7/609]
126
Pre-emptive Land Purchases (Intermediate district)
1851-1856
1749
[7/610]
127
Town Purchases
1852-1854
1749
[7/611]
128
Land Purchases
20 Feb 1852
1750
[7/612]
129
Town Purchases
16 Feb 1852
1751
[7/613]
130
Land Purchases
20 Feb-20 May 1852
1751
[7/614]
131
Town Purchases
1 Mar-6 May 1852
1752
[7/615]
132
Town Purchases
20 May 1852
1752
[7/616]
133
Land Purchases
20 May-14 Jul 1852
1753
[7/617]
134
Town Purchases
20 May-8 Jul 1852
1753
[7/617A]
 
Land Purchases
1855-1856
1754
[7/618]
135
Land Purchases
14 Jul-23 Dec 1852
1755
[7/619]
136
Town Purchases
20 Jul-22 Oct 1852
1756
[7/620]
137
Town Purchases
28 Oct-7 Dec 1852
1756
[7/621]
138
Land Grants
27 Oct 1852-21 Jan 1856
1757
[7/622]
139
Land Purchases
23 Dec 1852-10 Mar 1853
1757
[7/623]
140
Town Purchases
23 Dec 1852-2 May 1853
1758
[7/624]
141
Land Purchases
18 Jul-20 Jul 1853
1758
[7/625]
142
Town Purchases
2 May-14 Sep 1853
1759
[7/626]
143
Land Purchases
13 Jul-14 Oct 1853
1759
[7/627]
144
Town Purchases
20 Sep-10 Dec 1853
1760
[7/628]
145
Land Purchases
14 Oct-13 Dec 1853
1760
[7/629]
146
Town Purchases
3 Dec 1853-2 Mar 1854
1761
[7/630]
147
Land Purchases
1 Feb-4 Mar 1854
1761
[7/631]
148
Town Purchases
6 Mar-12 May 1854
1762
[7/632]
149
Land Purchases
4 Mar-15 May 1854
1762
[7/633]
150
Town Purchases
15 May-l9 Jun 1854
1763
[7/634]
151
Land Purchases
13 May-5 Jun 1854
1763
[7/635]
152
Town Purchases
19 Jun-17 Jul 1854
1764
[7/636]
153
Land Purchases
13 Jun-4 Sep 1854
1764
[7/637]
154
Town Purchases
20 Jul-13 Aug 1854
1765
[7/638]
155
Town Purchases
6 Sep-15 Sep 1854
1765
[7/639]
156
Town Purchases
5 Sep-6 Nov 1854
1766
[7/640]
157
Town Purchases
13 Oct-26 Nov 1854
1766
[7/641]
158
Land Purchases
10 Nov-6 Dec 1854
1767
[7/642]
159
Town Purchases
1 Dec 1854-3 Jan 1855
1767
[7/643]
160
Land Purchases
6 Dec 1854-3 Jan 1855
1768
[7/644]
161
Town Purchases
5 Jan 1855
1768
[7/645]
162
Town Purchases
10 Jan 1855
1769
[7/646]
163
Town Purchases
1 Mar-27 Mar 1855
1770
[7/647]
164
Land Purchases
5 Mar-26 Mar 1855
1771
[7/648]
165
Town Purchases
2 Apr-24 Apr 1855
1771
[7/649]
166
Land Purchases
5 Apr-31 May 1855
1772
[7/650]
167
Town Purchases
28 Apr-16 Jul 1855
1772
[7/651]
168
Land Purchases
1 Jun-24 Jul 1855
1773
[7/652]
169
Town Purchases
16 Jul-21 Aug 1855
1773
[7/653]
170
Town Purchases
24 Aug-l9 Sep 1855
1774
[7/654]
171
Land Purchases
25 Jul-20 Aug 1855
1774
[7/655]
172
Land Purchases
22 Aug-22 Sep 1855
1775
[7/656]
173
Town Purchases
20 Sep-6 Oct 1855
1775
[7/657]
174
Land Purchases
24 Sep-21 Nov 1855
1776
[7/658]
175
Town Purchases
29 Oct-21 Nov 1855
1776
[7/659]
176
Land Purchases
22 Nov 1855-18 Jan 1856
1777
[7/660]
177
Town Purchases
2 Nov-22 Dec 1855
1777
[7/661]
178
Town Purchases
2 Jan-13 Jan 1856
1778
[7/662]
179
Land Purchases
18 Jan-22 Feb 1856
1778
[7/663]
180
Town Purchases
22 Feb 1856

Surveyor General

  • NRS 13837 Index to registers of grants, Cumberland and elsewhere, 1792-1865 *ARK

[7/443]; Reel 2560, COD 205

This volume indexes the registers Nos 1-6, that is [7/445], [7/447-449], and [7/450-451], covering all grants to 1819, mainland grants to 1822, and Cumberland grants, 1823-65.

The index is divided into groups of years, viz., 1792-1807, 1810-21, 1816-21, 1822-36, and 1841-65. The indexing is only alphabetical to the first letter of the name. Each index entry shows the number of the volume, the name of the grantee, the area of the grant, the locality and the page number in the register.

(see NRS 13836 below)

  • Index to registers of land grants *ARK, 1821-1832

[7/443A]; Reel 2560

Indexes grants other than Cumberland grants (although Sydney town grants are included) ie: volumes [7/452], [7/454], [7/456], [7/459], [7/465-466], [7/468], [7/473], [7/481A], [7/482-485], [7/487-488]. The index was prepared by NSW State Archives.

(see NRS 13836 below)

  • NRS 13836 Registers of land grants and leases, 1792-1856

Item list

Items filmed on Reels 2560-2562 and 2548-2550 are also available in the *ARK

Reel
Item
Vol.
Description
Dates
2560
[7/444]
 
Entire colony, including Van Diemen's Land
1792-1807
2560
[7/445]
1
Entire colony, including Van Diemen's Land
1792-1809
2560
[7/446]
1A
Entire colony, including Van Diemen's Land
1792-1804
2561
[7/447]
2
Entire colony, including Van Diemen's Land to 1819
1810-1821
2561
[7/448]
3
Colony, not including Van Diemen's Land
1816-1822
2561
[7/449]
4
County of Cumberland only from 1823
1822-1836
2846
[7/450]
5
Cumberland
1835-1841
2846
[7/451]
6
Cumberland
1841-1865
2548
[7/452]
1
Argyle
1822-1838
2548
[7/453]
2
Argyle
1838-1861
2548
[7/454]
3
Camden
1822-1838
2548
[7/455]
4
Camden
1839-1861, 1866-1892
2548
[7/456]
5
Durham and Brisbane
1823-1837
2548
[7/457]
6
Durham and Brisbane
1837-1847
2549
[7/458]
7
Durham and Brisbane
1843-1864
2549
[7/459]
8
Northumberland and Hunter
1823-1836
2549
[7/460]
9
Northumberland and Hunter
1836-1840
2549
[7/461]
10
Northumberland and Hunter
1840-1864
2549
[7/462]
11
Georgiana and Bathurst
1829-1853
2549
[7/463]
12
Georgiana and Bathurst
1840-1861
2549
[7/464]
13
Westmoreland
1823-1858
2550
[7/465]
14
Cook, Westmoreland and Argyle
1830-1858
2550
[7/466]
15
Phillip and Roxburgh
1823-1862
2550
[7/467]
16
Wellington and Bligh
1832-1843
2550
[7/468]
17
King, Murray and St Vincent
1829-1839
2550
[7/469]
18
King, Murray and St Vincent
1839-1867
2550
[7/470]
19
Gloucester and Macquarie
1832-1853
2700
[7/471]
20
Special Grants to institutions etc.
1853-1871
2700
[7/472]
21
Special Grants to institutions etc.
1871-1924
2700
[7/473]
22
Sydney Town Grants
1831-1835
2700
[7/474]
 
Sydney Town Grants
1835-1856
2700
[7/475]
3(1)
Town Purchases
1835-1839
2701
[7/476]
2
Town Purchases
1839-1840
2701
[7/477]
3
Town Purchases
1840-1842
2701
[7/478]
4
Town Purchases
1834-35 1841-1843
1397; 2701
[7/479]
1
Land Purchases, Moreton Bay
1842-1843
1397; 2701
[7/480]
2
Land Purchases, Moreton Bay
1843
2702
[7/481A]
 
Parramatta Town Grants
1831-1842
2702
[7/481]
 
Parramatta Town Grants
1841-1859
  • NRS 13912 Order books for Land Grants, 1811-1839

The volumes usually record date of order, name of promiser, residence, number of acres, by whom ordered, and remarks (usually relating to whether granted or not or how deed issued).
Item list

Reel
Item
Dates
 
1434
[2/1934]
1811-1839
 
 
[2/1919]
1811-1821
 
 
[2/1920]
1811-1821
 
 
[2/7684]
1811-1819
 
 
[2/1921]
1822-1825
Many of these 
 
[2/1922]
1822-1825
volumes duplicate
 
[2/1923]
1822-1825
information
 
[2/1925]
May-Nov 1825
 
 
[2/1927]
1822-1825
 
 
[2/1929]
1821-1825
 
 
[2/8329]
1826-1828
 
 
[2/1931]
1831-1838
 
  • NRS 13913 List of orders for Land Grants made by Sir Thomas Brisbane, 1821-25

Reel 3144. Alphabetically arranged by year, the list notes name, date of order and number of acres. There is also a List of Individuals who had obtained warrants for the purchase of Crown Lands, April - October 1825.

  • NRS 13914 List of grants made in New South Wales, 25 Aug 1812-25 Mar 1821

Reel 2647. Alphabetically arranged by year, the list notes name, date of order and number of acres. There is also a List of Individuals who had obtained warrants for the purchase of Crown Lands, April - October 1825.

Van Diemen's Land

  • NRS 1219 Index to land grants, Van Diemen's Land, 1810-1823 *ARK

[4/438]; Fiche 3262. The index notes name of grantee, number of acres, district and quit rent.

  • Index to copies of land grants issued, Van Diemen's Land, 1804-1823

Reel 1988. Original record in Archives Office of Tasmania, series no. LSD404. The index is a typescript so was obviously copied from an earlier record.

  • Copies of land grants issued, Van Diemen's Land, 1804-1823

Original records in Archives Office of Tasmania, series no. LSD354. The first volume contains typescript extracts of the entries in the New South Wales Grant Registers relating to land in Tasmania (pp. 1-51).

Item list

Reel
Tas Vol.
Vol.
Dates of grants
Dates of registration
1986
1
Various
15 Aug 1804-18 Jul 1815
 
1986
2
5
20 Sep 1813
31 Jul 1816
1986
3
6
20 Sep 1813-31 Dec 1820
31 Jul 1816-31 Mar 1821
1987
4
9
31 Dec 1820-30 Jan 1823
31 Mar 1821-30 Jan 1823
1987
5
15
30 Jun 1823
30 Jan 1823
1988
6
16
30 Jan 1823
30 Jun 1823
1988
7
17
30 Jun 1823
30 Jun 1823
1988
8
18
30 Jan 1823
30 Jun 1823
  • Registers giving descriptions of land granted in Van Diemen's Land, 1804-1823

Reel 1988. Original record in Archives Office of Tasmania, series no. LSD405

  • NRS 13902 Description book, Van Diemen's Land, 1813

The volume records number, name, district and description of land.

  • NRS 1220 Returns of free settlers and other free persons to receive land grants, 1811-1828 *ARK (Fiche)

Reel 2654, Fiche 3266. The returns for 1811-25 are indexed in the published Index to the Colonial Secretary's papers, 1788-1825.

  • NRS 1222 Nominal list of persons owing Quit-Rent in Van Diemen's Land, 1811-1813

(Reel 2646, Fiche 3270) The list is indexed in the published Index to the Colonial Secretary's papers, 1788-1825.

Port Phillip

  • Port Phillip District - Land and Immigration Receipts, 1849-1851

COD 257. This list and index was compiled by Mr Ian A. Hughes. The receipts are listed in chronological order, 16 May 1849 - 20 June 1851, and this list notes date, name, place and amount pages 1-9. There is also an index to the list on pages 10-15.

Correspondence relating to land grants

Colonial Secretary

These records are a most valuable source of information relating to land in the Colony and the State of New South Wales.

  • NRS 899 Memorials received relating to land, 1810-1826 *ARK

[4/1821-185]; Reels 1066-1080, Fiche 3001-3162

A memorial is a letter of request from an individual for a grant of land. It may provide personal particulars to justify this request for land such as the length of time in the colony, marital status, numbers of children, occupation and livestock numbers.

The memorials are indexed, 1810-25, in the Index to the Colonial Secretary's papers, 1788-1825 (above) and a copy on Reels 1250-1251 covering the full date range, 1810-1826.

  • NRS 907 Letters received relating to land, 1826-56

[2/7787-8013]; Reels 1081-1200

These papers include letters from individuals as well as memoranda, reports, applications and petitions relating to a land grant, purchase, rent or lease of land in the colony.

An online index to the letters is available.

  • NRS 944 Copies of letters sent to individuals and organisations re land, 2 Jan 1827-17 Nov 1856

These are copies of letters relating to requests for land, refusals, grants, intrusion complaints, petitions to survey, licence fees, forfeiture of runs and so on.

From 13 January 1849 to 26 May 1855 letters re land outside the settled districts are in next series below.

Item list

Reel
Item
Dates
2298
[4/3555]
2 Jan 1827 - 31 Dec 1827
2298
[4/3556]
2 Jan 1828 - 18 Dec 1828
2299
[4/3557]
18 Dec 1828 - 26 May 1829
2299
[4/3558]
26 May 1829 - 3 Sep 1829
2299
[4/3559]
5 Sep 1829 - 31 Dec 1829
2300
[4/3560]
2 Jan 1830 - 6 Apr 1830
2300
[4/3561]
8 Apr 1830 - 12 Jul 1830
2301
[4/3562]
13 Jul 1830 - 7 Oct 1830
2301
[4/3563]
8 Oct 1830 - 28 Dec 1830
2301
[4/3564]
1 Jan 1831 - 6 Apr 1831
2302
[4/3565]
8 Apr 1831 - 4 Jul 1831
2302
[4/3566]
5 Jul 1831 - 20 Oct 1831
2303
[4/3567]
13 Oct 1831 - 1 Dec 1831
2303
[4/3568]
6 Dec 1831 - 30 Jun 1832
2303
[4/3569]
2 Jul 1832 - 24 Dec 1832
2304
[4/3570]
26 Dec 1832 - 8 Oct 1833
2304
[4/3571]
10 Oct 1833 - 29 Nov 1834
2305
[4/3572]
9 Nov 1834 - 14 May 1836
2305
[4/3573]
17 May 1836 - 3 Aug 1837
2305
[4/3574]
4 Aug 1837 - 25 Feb 1838
2306
[4/3575]
23 Feb 1838 - 10 Oct 1838
2306
[4/3576]
11 Oct 1838 - 9 Apr 1839
2307
[4/3577]
11 Apr 1839 - 23 Sep 1839
2307
[4/3578]
24 Sep 1839 - 18 May 1840
2308
[4/3579]
16 May 1840 - 28 Dec 1840
2308
[4/3580]
1 Jan 1841 - 9 Nov 1841
2308
[4/3581]
11 Nov 1841 - 25 Sep 1842
2309
[4/3582]
24 Sep 1842 - 25 Jul 1843
2309
[4/3583]
25 Jul 1843 - 14 Oct 1844
2310
[4/3584]
16 Oct 1844 - 16 Jul 1846
2310
[4/3585]
20 Jul 1846 - 6 Mar 1848
2310
[4/3586]
6 Mar 1848 - 19 Nov 1849
2311
[4/3587]
19 Nov 1849 - 18 Aug 1851
2311
[4/3588]
18 Aug 1851 - 18 Jun 1853
2312
[4/3589]
20 Jun 1853 - 1 Jul 1854
2312
[4/3590]
30 Jun 1854 - 8 Jun 1855
2313
[4/3591]
13 Jan 1849 - 8 Jun 1855
 
 
8 Jun 1855 - 15 Dec 1855
2313
[4/3592]
15 Dec 1855 - 17 Nov 1856
  • NRS 945 Copies of letters sent re land outside the settled districts, 13 Jan 1849- 26 May 1855

Reel 2313. Copies of letters to individuals relating to the occupation of crown lands. From June 1855 letters of this type are entered in the series above.

Additional sources

Series
Title
Dates
(PRO Reel 3554 T1/703) available in the reading room and at Mitchell Library
Return of land granted in NSW
The return records name of settler, status, if married etc., time of becoming settler, number of acres granted, where, and ground in cultivation.
1792
 
An Accurate List of the Names of the Land-Holders in the colony of New South Wales, pointing out the number of acres in each district, as Granted from the Crown, corrected to 1813 [Printed in London, 1814]
Photocopy at COD 270 of copy in Lands Department; additional photocopy at COD 271 of copy in Mitchell Library at 991/A
The Lands Department copy is numbered A.288A and accompanied plan A.288. A copy of this plan is held by NSW State Archives and is numbered Reference Sheet No. 22.
1813

Judge Advocate

Series
Title
Dates
Registers of Assignments and Other Legal Instruments (the 'Old Register')
The register was proclaimed in 1802 but allowed people to register assignments and other legal instruments which dated back to 1794.
The nine registers record land and other transactions from 22 January 1794 to 15 May 1824 and show registration number, names of parties and nature of agreement.
1802-1824

Surveyor General

For more information about these records consult our catalogue under Agency No. 1773 - Surveyor General.

Series
Title
Dates
NRS 13736[2/1509-96]; Reels 3051-3098
Letters received from Surveyors
The letters are particularly useful when used in conjunction with the following series
1822-1855
Crown plans
These contain the earliest surveys of New South Wales including those of towns and villages, squatting districts, counties and parishes, roads, rivers, mountain ranges and explorers' expeditions.
1792-1886
NRS 13886[X751-778]; Reels 2778-2782
Sketch books
These consist of tracings and sketches of towns and villages. They can also give information relating to allotments sold or granted to a person or on the ownership of land that is in dispute.
The Sketch books are indexed at [X750A] on Reel 2778 and COD 206 and [X750B].
1828-1890
Field books
These are the diaries of surveying expeditions, descriptions of natural features, and sketches of farms, town allotments and roads.
1794-1860

Further information

In many cases, similar information relating to these grants may also be found in records held by NSW Land Registry Services (LRS). Many records relating to land transactions after the original grant may be found on the NSW Land Registry Services Historical Lands Records Viewer (HLRV).

Further information about records relating to land may be found by consulting our catalogue under the agency titles:

Reading Room (only) Guide

  • Guide to records relating to the occupation of Crown Lands

*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 and key related series we hold that relate to the Commissioners of Crown Lands

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