Rate Books
Council rate books
The rate books are a valuable source of original research for both local and family history. They list all the rateable properties in the three former municipalities. The main requirement for searching is to have the full address of the property, including the property number.
The rate book may include:
- Name of tenant
- Occupation of tenant
- Name of owner
- Address of property
- Number of rooms
- Fabric of dwelling: brick, wood, iron
- Numbers of people residing in dwelling
- Nett annual value of property.
The following rate books are fully indexed and available on microfilm through the Local History Service.
- Emerald Hill rate books from 1855 to 1883
- South Melbourne rate books from 1883 to 1938
- St Kilda rate books from 1857 to 1961
- Sandridge rate books from 1860 to 1884
- Port Melbourne rate books from 1884 to 1965
Accessing Rate Records
Rates from 1855 to 1950
The records are publicly available to everyone, some have been digitised and are available online at Ancestry.com or Public Record Office Victoria. Contact the Heritage Centre for details.
Rates from 1951–1998
These records contain personal information about living or recently deceased individuals. Access is restricted to property owners only.
Required identification:
- Current rates notice, or
- Recent Certificate of Title, or
- Government‑issued photo ID matching the ownership record, or
- Signed authority from the property owner (e.g., solicitor, executor, family member)
Recent Rate Records (1999–present)
These records remain restricted. Access is limited to property owners or authorised representatives via the Rates Team phone 03 9209 6777