Victorian Genealogy
Finding People and Places in Victoria, Australia.
Business records may be held in museums, historical societies, genealogical societies, libraries, university libraries, the State Library of Victoria and Public Record Office Victoria. Large holdings of records are known to be held by the following:
GUIDE TO AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS RECORDS
This guide provides links to archival and published resources relating to Australian business entities and people involved with those entities. It includes the following:
https://www.gabr.net.au/index.html
TROVE - DIARIES, LETTERS, ARCHIVES
This consists of personal and organisational archives, including diaries, manuscripts, letters, business records, photographs, posters, pamphlets and ephemera.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/collection
FAMILYSEARCH - LAND SELECTION REGISTERS, PARTICULARS OF GAZETTED APPLICATIONS, SECTION 47, LAND ACT 1862, 1863-1864 (VPRS 13017 P1 VOLUMES 1 AND 2)
Original records at Public Record Office Victoria. Applications for leases granted for land for different enterprises. Those that satisfied the selection criteria were advertised in the Victorian Government Gazette for four consecutive weeks.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/3156206?availability=Family%20History%20Library
STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA - SELECTED COLES MYER RECORDS
The State Library of Victoria holds the business records of the Coles Myer group and its predecessors c1840-c1990. They include Myer Emporium, Farmer and Company, G.J.Coles and Co, Grace Brothers, Boans Limited, K-Mart Corporation, Pennys and Mantons. Selected Coles Myer records have been digitized.
http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/98887
FAMILYSEARCH - HIGGINS COLLECTION SOLICITORS' RECORDS 1851-1903
The Higgins collection consists of the papers of a legal firm situated in Geelong. Three series, the probate, land and crime records, have been filmed. Original records were housed at the Geelong Historical Records Centre.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/456248?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - THOMAS ROADKNIGHT AND COMPANY. LAND SALES AND PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS 1875-1926
Thomas Roadknight was a stock and land agent. This includes an index. Original records were housed at the Geelong Record Centre, Geelong.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/456153?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - J.B. HOLDEN AND CO. LAND SALE BOOKS 1877-1952
J.B. Holden was a commission agent and auctioneer. Original records were at the Port Fairy Historical Society, Port Fairy.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/540174?availability=Family%20History%20Library
BENDIGO FAMILY HISTORY GROUP - EMPLOYEES AT BENDIGO POTTERY 1895 (WAYBACK MACHINE INTERNET ARCHIVE)
This snapshot is dated 3 April 2021.
FAMILYSEARCH - HAWKES BROS. PTY. LTD. EMPLOYEES LIST 1929
This was a hardware business in Geelong. Typescript was housed at the Geelong Historical Centre, Geelong.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/455804?availability=Family%20History%20Library
GEELONG AND DISTRICT WEBSITE - GEELONG DISTRICT: HIGGINS COLLECTION SOLICITORS' RECORDS c1850-1904
This has been indexed into the Geelong and District Database.
http://zades.com.au/gandd/index.php/databases/potpourri/ppindexes
GEELONG AND DISTRICT WEBSITE - DEANS MARSH STORE - LEDGER BOOK
This has been indexed into the Geelong and District Database.
http://zades.com.au/gandd/index.php/databases/potpourri/ppindexes
GEELONG AND DISTRICT WEBSITE - GEELONG: MURPHY'S DRAPERY - SALES BOOKS 1879-1883 (GRS 53)
These have been indexed into the Geelong and District Database.
http://zades.com.au/gandd/index.php/databases/potpourri/ppindexes
GEELONG AND DISTRICT WEBSITE - GEELONG DECORATING COMPANY LIST OF EMPLOYEES 1905-1913 (GRS 351)
These have been indexed into the Geelong and District Database.
http://zades.com.au/gandd/index.php/databases/potpourri/ppindexes
Businesses are listed in general directories. See General Directories. They are also listed in commercial directories. See Commercial Directories.
Businesses advertise in newspapers. The opening of a new business or a new proprietor taking over an existing business may be advertised. If a business is closed down, the clearing sale may be advertised in newspapers. See Newspapers, Magazines and Journals.
Also see Possession Records.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - BILL OF SALES 1880-1902 (VPRS 8350)
Bills of sale were mortgages against chattels. Bills of sale were filed with the Registrar-General’s Department as they gave the grantee (mortgagee) priority against the chattels in the event of the grantor (mortgagor)’s default; the grantee would otherwise have been unsecured creditor. An inventory of the chattels in question is given in the file; the chattels may include items such as hotel furnishings or stock of a business. Bills of sale may be searched through the catalogue.
Sole traders are a single person conducting a business. Partnerships are a number of people conducting a business together. These businesses do not need to register with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. They do need to have an Australian Business Number (A.B.N.).
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT - AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS REGISTER
Companies and businesses need an Australian Business Number (A.B.N.).
http://www.abr.business.gov.au/
ANCESTRY - WEB: AUSTRALIA BUSINESS NUMBER DATASETS 1999-2022
This index includes information about businesses that registered for an Australian Business Number (A.B.N.) between 1999 and 2022. Australian Business Numbers are unique for each business. They are connected to information in the Australian Business Register, which is used by the Australian Tax Office to collect the Goods and Services Tax. The index has general information about each business, but images of the original documents aren't included.
https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/62451/
MYHERITAGE - AUSTRALIA, BUSINESS REGISTER
This collection contains records of individuals who own businesses in Australia and have registered for an Australian Business Number (ABN). Records typically include the name of the individual, name and type of business, the place where the business is located, post code, and ABN. They are searchable and free to access.
https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20422/australia-business-register?s=833891551/?utm_source=partner_Victoriangenealogy&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=Victoriangenealogy_sep23_textlink&tr_ad_group=textlinks&tr_funnel=supersearch
The dissolution of partnerships may be advertised in newspapers or government gazettes. See Newspapers, Magazines and Journals or Government Gazettes.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - INDEX TO DEFUNCT COMPANY, ASSOCIATION AND BUSINESS NAME REGISTRATIONS c1864-1990 (VPRS 8268)
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS8268
ANCESTRY - VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA SELECTED TRIAL BRIEF AND CORRESPONDENCE REGISTERS AND OTHER IMAGES, 1837-1993
These are provided by Public Record Office Victoria. These records are not indexed but can be browsed by description and range. They include:
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=60672
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - TRADING COMPANIES 1864-1976 (VPRS 932)
Public Record Office Victoria has registration files for trading companies up to 1976. These are not online. Australian Securities and Investments Commission holds trading company registration files from 1976.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS932
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - COMPANIES AND MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATION FILES (VPRS 12024) 1885-c1923 AND 1957-1982
These files include companies, property trusts, contracts, commercial matters, deceased estates, guardianship and lunacy. They involve matters heard in the Supreme Court of Victoria. These are searchable through the catalogue.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - COMPANY APPLICATION FILES (VPRS 13033 P4) 1948-1984
The items in this consignment number have been labelled. They involve matters heard in the Supreme Court of Victoria. They are searchable through the catalogue.
AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION - COMPANY REGISTERS AND BUSINESS NAME REGISTERS
In order to find information on a company the Australian Securities and Investments Commission website has an ‘Organisation and Business Name’ register. In order to find information on a business name it has a business names register. These are searchable.
http://www.asic.gov.au/online-services/search-asics-registers/
ANCESTRY - WEB: AUSTRALIA BUSINESS NUMBER DATASETS 1999-2022
This index includes information about businesses that registered for an Australian Business Number (A.B.N.) between 1999 and 2022. Australian Business Numbers are unique for each business. They are connected to information in the Australian Business Register, which is used by the Australian Tax Office to collect the Goods and Services Tax. The index has general information about each business, but images of the original documents aren't included.
https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/62451/
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT - AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS REGISTER
Companies and businesses need an Australian Business Number (A.B.N.).
http://www.abr.business.gov.au/
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - FOREIGN COMPANIES 1897-1984 (VPRS 934)
A foreign company is a company operating within Victoria but originally formed or incorporated outside it. Since 1985 such companies have been known as recognised companies. Public Record Office Victoria has a register of foreign companies up to 1976 and registration files for foreign companies up to 1984. These are not online. Australian Securities and Investments Commission holds foreign/ recognised company registration files from 1984.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS934
From the late 1850s to 1871 registers of mining companies may be seen in local Court of Mines records. See County Court Records under Victorian Courts of General Sessions.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - MINING COMPANY REGISTRATION FILES 1871-1958 (VPRS 567)
Public Record Office Victoria has a register of mining companies up to 1978. They also have registration files for mining companies up to 1978. These are not online. Mining companies ceased to be separately registered in 1958. Any files which were still in existence at this time continued to operate under their mining company number. Any new registrations after this date were included in the trading company registration sequence. In 1978 any mining company still operating with a pre-1958 mining company registration number was re-numbered and incorporated into the trading company registration sequence.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS567
FAMILYSEARCH - INDEX TO APPLICATIONS FOR MINING DEVELOPMENT ACT LOANS 1896-1930 (VPRS 6979 P1 VOLUMES 1, 2, 3)
Original records at Public Record Office Victoria.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/3665734?availability=Family%20History%20Library
BENDIGO FAMILY HISTORY GROUP - GOLD MINES AND MINE MANAGERS 1872 (INTERNET ARCHIVE WAYBACK MACHINE)
In 1872 John Macartney published his book "Bendigo Goldfield Registry". The list of mines as published therein has been transcribed with the names of the mine managers. A second list is for the tribute companies. Mine managers often rented out on tribute various areas of the mine for a group of miners to work for themselves, paying a "royalty" to the owners. This snapshot is dated 6 May 2021.
https://web.archive.org/web/20210506150322/https://www.bendigofamilyhistory.org/freeindexsearch.htm
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - RAILWAY COMPANY RECORDS
Public Record Office Victoria holds records for the following private railway companies which were taken over by the Victorian Government:
These are not online.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - TRAMWAY COMPANY RECORDS
Public Record Office Victoria holds records for the following private tramway companies and trusts which were taken over by the Victorian Government:
These are not online.
See Land Records.
Shareholdings may be listed in newspapers and government gazettes in the 19th century. See Newspapers, Magazines and Journals or Government Gazettes.
List of shareholders may be found in early railway records. See Railway Companies under Company Records.
List of shareholders may be found in early tramway records. See Tramway Companies under Company Records.
FAMILYSEARCH - GEELONG AND CRESSY TRADING COMPANY SHARE REGISTERS 1926-1967
Typescript housed at the Geelong Historical Centre, Geelong.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/455121?availability=Family%20History%20Library
Shareholdings in mining companies were advertised in government gazettes and newspapers. In smaller mining companies many or all of the shareholders actually worked for the company. See Government Gazettes. Also see Newspapers, Magazines and Journals.
FAMILYSEARCH - ALPHABETICAL INDEX TO GENEALOGICAL MATERIALS OF THE SMYTHESDALE AND SCARSDALE AREAS OF VICTORIA
This includes mining registers (shareholders in mining companies) in Smythesdale from 1860 to 1864 (miners right numbers and dates taken out are included). Cards were housed at the Woady Yallock Historical Society, Ballarat.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/538139?availability=Family%20History%20Library
BENDIGO FAMILY HISTORY GROUP - INDEX TO REGISTER OF CLAIMS AND SHARES IN THE SANDHURST MINING DISTRICT 1863-1975 (INTERNET ARCHIVE WAYBACK MACHINE)
Sandhurst is the former name of Bendigo. This snapshot is dated 6 May 2021.
https://web.archive.org/web/20210506150322/https://www.bendigofamilyhistory.org/freeindexsearch.htm
A trade mark is a way of identifying a unique product or service. It can be a letter, number, word, phrase, sound, smell, shape, logo, picture, movement, aspect of packaging, or a combination of these.
A register of trademarks was maintained in Victoria from 1876 until 1906. Victorian trademarks were registered for 14 years and could be renewed. In 1906 the jurisdiction for trademarks passed to the federal government. They have maintained a register of trademarks since this time. Australian trademarks were registered for 14 years and could be renewed.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA - VICTORIAN TRADEMARK REGISTER APPLICATIONS 1876-1906 (NAA A11731)
Applications for Registration of Victorian Trade Marks are searchable through the catalogue on the National Archives of Australia website. Some of these have been digitized.
VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT GAZETTE - VICTORIAN TRADEMARK APPLICATIONS 1876-1906
Victorian trademark applications were listed in Victorian Government Gazettes from 1876 to 1906. See Victorian Government Gazettes.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA - AUSTRALIAN TRADEMARK REPRESENTATIONS 1906-2002 (D5005 AND D5549), AUSTRALIAN TRADEMARK REGISTERS 1906-1958 (A6288), AND AUSTRALIAN TRADEMARK REGISTER APPLICATIONS 1906-1958 (A1968)
These are all held at the National Archives of Australia, Canberra Office. They are not online.
IP AUSTRALIA - TRADEMARK REGISTER
Current and pending trademarks can be searched.
https://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/
COMMERCIAL COURTS
These are for serious commercial disputes. They are under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Victoria. The website for the Commercial Court is located at:
https://www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au/law-and-practice/areas-of-the-court/commercial-court
Also see Court Records.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - COMPANIES AND MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATION FILES (VPRS 12024) 1885-c1923 AND 1957-1982
These files include companies, property trusts, contracts, commercial matters, deceased estates, guardianship and lunacy. They involve matters heard in the Supreme Court of Victoria. These are searchable through the catalogue.
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA GENEALOGICAL INDEX OF NAMES - VICTORIA INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY 1850
List of names of all the officers and subscribers to the association.
https://www.gsv.org.au/article/our-collection
STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA - JOURNAL OF COMMERCE OF VICTORIA AND MELBOURNE 1858-1932
https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/journal-commerce
STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA - THE TRAVELLER 1890-1905
This is the official journal of the Commercial Travellers' Association of Victoria.
https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/traveller
AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
This includes text only articles from the Australian Financial Review (September 2013-present). It does not include images or advertisements. This is searchable. This is viewable online at the State Library of Victoria website with a State Library of Victoria library card.
https://guides.slv.vic.gov.au/az.php?s=45723
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