Land Selection & Pastoral Leases Lease Records – Series 14033 (LAN/AG) and 14050 (LAN/DF) at Queensland State Archives
This series of land blogs was developed from research done by historian Ruth Kerr
The process of land selection (as opposed to sales) began in Queensland in 1860 and continued under a series of land acts thereafter. Land was considered the colony’s greatest asset. Prosperity of the colony was measured according to the extent of land settlement. Rent from land leases was the colony’s largest revenue earner. The initial political contest was between pastoralists and selectors lead by the ‘town liberals’ who desired that immigrants have an equitable right to small land holdings. Closer settlement for agricultural purposes was promoted by the British government who desired settlement by immigrants to Queensland and exports of agricultural produce and raw materials such as cotton and wool. No group (pastoralists or town liberals) held a dominant control over land policy. Legislation was framed with the aim of a comprehensive land policy but was changed following to energetic efforts to interfere in areas of occupancy conditions and priority for selection, and the tension between free selection and long leases particularly for pastoral class land. Consequently there were over 50 principal and amending acts covering all land legislation up to 1910.
Queensland governments developed the most comprehensive land legislation and settlement program in Australia in the nineteenth century. The key legislation for land selections since 1860 was:
Crown Lands Alienation Act 1860
Crown Lands Alienation Act 1868
Land Act 1876
Crown Lands Act 1884
Land Act 1897
Land Act 1902
Closer Settlement Act 1906
Land Act 1910
There were various land acts in between these dates which dealt with a variety of specialized land settlement policies and developments eg. Village Settlements in country areas (very small blocks), commune settlements (1890s), irrigation developments etc. Village settlement land files are in the LAN/DF series (ID 14050). Files on the communes have not survived either in the government agency or at QSA.
The bulk of the land selection in Queensland was done under the first six acts listed above. General conditions of the land selections appear in Part 5: Key legislation for Land Selections since 1860.
We don’t have – or at least don’t have access to – Public Curator (Trustee) tax records here in Queensland, the way Britain has. So how can we gauge personal wealth sectors and trends in early Colonial Society? This story throws light on real property being the measure. Thank you for a wonderfully succinct introduction to this topic.
You’re very welcome. We’re glad you found the information useful.
Hello,
How do we find details (Plan) of where a selection is located. Our Great Uncle Walter Leslie Coleman selected Agricultural farm number 1963 (portion 231, parish of Malanda, County of Nares in December 1912. We have a copy of the original License to Occupy and Agricultural Farm and would like to locate it on the ground. WL Coleman was killed in Action in WW1 on 5/10/1917.
Hey Keith. If you contact us at: info@archives.qld.gov.au one of our archivists should be able to assist.
Is there an intersection between these land selection acts and Land clearing Acts in Queensland? Where can I find what is specifically meant by ‘improvement’ ?
Hey Annette. If you contact us at: info@archives.qld.gov.au one of our archivists should be able to assist.
Ref: Perpetual lease – Emerald district. PLS3366 Lot 47 on Plan DSN585.
Under name of R.T. McCrum & J.M. McCrum (EMESL 00069)
Also G Baynes & R. McCrum ( ITM 54069 ) Nanango 69
Info required of 1. Location of selection. 2. Improvements completed. 3. Final end of selection, sold or other.
Robert McCrum is my great grandfather and am trying to piece together some of his history
Any info would be helpful. Thank you
Hi Doug, thanks for your patience.
Thank you for your enquiry.
If this is your first time searching archival records, we recommend emailing an archivist: info@archives.qld.gov.au.
Archivists are experts at locating hard to find records, after which you will have the option of ordering digital copies or visiting our Reading Room at Runcorn.
If you would like to investigate your self-help options you will find the following pages useful resources:
https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/arts/heritage/archives/collection/family
https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/arts/heritage/archives/starting/research
Thanks!