Depasturing licenses index 1837-1851

This index will be of interest to those researching the people who leased land beyond the Nineteen Counties for the periods 1837-46 and 1851. There was some unauthorised occupation of Crown land from the earliest days of the colony. Governor Darling created an area known as the 'limits of location' — creating two areas within the colony by a Government order on 5 September 1826. Settlers were only allowed to take up land within the ‘limits’. A further Government order on 14 October 1829 increased this area of approved settlement to include an area called the Nineteen Counties.

• Record series in the index: NRS 14363 and the Government Gazette Jan-Feb 1837

What you will find in the Index

The index records name of the licence number, name of the licence holder, date, residence, location, District, and reel/item number. The index is also available on Microfiche 5926-5940 in the reading room. In addition to locating the depasturing licence, it is possible that there may be additional information about the application for the depasturing licence in the main letters received by the Colonial Secretary, 1826-1982 (NRS 905) and the Letters received relating to land, 1826-56 (NRS 907).

It should be noted that in certain cases the licences do not show any further information than recorded in the index.

Licences to depasture the Crown Land beyond the limits of location were granted on application to the Colonial Secretary. Depasturing Licences permitted settlers to graze stock on Crown Lands "beyond the limits of location". The "limits of location" refer to the nineteen counties of settled area extending from Sydney.

In September 1836 an Act of Council imposed an annual licence fee of £10 per year. This was the first real attempt to regulate and control squatting beyond the "limits of location". It was intended to restrain the dishonest, without disturbing honest occupiers, unless it was to make room for a purchaser.

Persons who complied with this Notice were issued with a Certificate to Depasture stock beyond the Limits of Location. From 1839 applications for depasturing licences were made to the Commissioner of Crown Lands in the appropriate district. Depasturing Licences were granted for one year and were renewable.

This background information has been sourced from the Introduction to the Index to the Certificates for Depasturing Licences 1837-1846, 1851 and Associated Indexes, 1837-51 written by Valerie Moses & Janice Brooks.

This index was compiled by Mrs Janice Brooks and the late Mrs Valerie Moses. The index is published on our website with the permission of Mrs Brooks, who also retains the copyright. We wish to acknowledge the contribution of Mrs Brooks and Mrs Moses in compiling this index.