Introduction to PROV

What is the Public Record Office Victoria?

  • PROV is the archival authority for the State of Victoria, established under the Public Records Act 1973.
  • We are responsible for the management of and access to public records.
What are Public Records?
  • Public records are those created by government officials in the course of their duty.
  • They may be products of administrative processes or they may document functions of government.
  • Public records are unique and have evidential value.
On first thought, public records may not seem to be relevant to family history.
However, wherever government functions and processes intersect with individual’s lives, records are created.
Many of them will reveal information about a person’s life – these are records created by government departments and authorities, State Courts, municipalities, schools, public hospitals and other public offices. 

They date from the mid 1830s onwards and contain a wealth of information on subjects such as immigration, land, education, health, prisons and public buildings.

How is researching in a Government Archive different?
  • Archives are not like libraries!!!!
  • You cannot browse through a shelf to see what you might want.
  • PROV is a receiving archive rather than a collecting archive.
  • Our catalogues are not arranged by name or subject. 
To find out more about how the records are arranged at PROV, have a look at PROVguide 66 - PROV's Archival Control Model. 

Accessing the collection
Access the Collection is PROV's online catalogue.  You can also use Access the Collection to:
  • Register as a researcher
  • Order records for viewing in the Reading Rooms
  • View digitised records and online indexes
  •  View PROVguides and Research Pathways
  • Search the catalogue for information and records 
Have a look at Access the Collection


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