FOR LOCAL HISTORIANS

Local government records and the local historian by R. Ian Jack and Terry Kass (1987)

This booklet discusses local government records including minute books, rate books and records, building registers and other documents related to local government.

Not sure where to start?

Ask a librarian

Constitutional responsibility for local government lies with the state and territory governments. This means that the roles and responsibilities of local government differ from state to state.

See the Australian Local Government Association for facts and figures about Australian local government.

What you can find in the Library

See the subject heading Local government -- Australia for general works and history.

Documents prepared by local councils may be lodged at the Library; search for town or shire name and council, or “Municipal Council,” for example:

You can also find:

Selected print resources:

Local government in Australia prepared under instructions from the Minister of State for Home and Territories by G.H. Knibbs (1919). An introduction to local government and some historical statistics  

Australian local government economics by Brian Dollery, Lin Crase and Andrew Johnson (2006). Discusses economic foundations of local government, and the current place of councils in the broad context of Australian federal fiscalism

Funding the future : financial sustainability and infrastructure finance in Australian local government / Brian E. Dollery, Michael A. Kortt, Bligh James Grant

Map of Tasmania showing municipalities and districts under Local Government Act 1806

Tasmania. Surveyor General's Office.

Map of Tasmania showing municipalities and districts under Local Government Act 1806 [cartographic material]

1907.

MAP RM 2756.

RELATED LINKS

directory.gov.au : Local government directories

The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development : Information about finance, including funding and grants, publications and local government awards.

Australian Bureau of Statistics : Finding data for Local Government Areas

The National Library of Australia acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples – the First Australians – as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Cultural Notification

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website contains a range of material which may be considered culturally sensitive including the records of people who have passed away.

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