Victorian Year Books - Online Archive 1903 - 2012

[Ken McInnes]

G'day all,

Previously on this list I mentioned that the ABS had digitised the
Australian Year Books and made them available online at:
<http://abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/1301.0>
- select 'Past and Future Releases'
- then select a volume
- view the 'Summary'
- then select 'Downloads'

Each volume is able to be downloaded in parts, or as a full volume in
pdf (up to about 100Mb), and are (mostly) fully word searchable.

The older publications have been scanned from the paper versions using
character recognition software, which (in theory) provides a full-text
searching capability once downloaded. (I haven't tried it, but you might
be able to search the pdfs online through Google by setting domain and
file type.)

At the time, I also bemoaned the fact that Victoria's Year books had not
been digitised, BUT since earlier this year, the volumes from 1903-2002
have been digitised and made available online at:
<http://abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/1301.2>
- select 'Past and Future Releases'
- then select a volume
- view the 'Summary'
- then select 'Downloads'

The first 23 volumes from 1873-1902 have not yet been digitised.

Yes, Year Books are primarily statistics ... but the statistics and
commentary are great for historians, as they provide context. The Year
Books also explain the legislative requirements of the time (eg.
requirements and timelines for registering a birth, marriage, divorce,
or a death, etc.); list some of the significant events for the year;
detail statistical trends in the population (eg. growing/declining
agriculture, mining, manufacturing, railways, tramways, shipping, water
supply, irrigation, communications, schools, etc.); comparisons with
other States and Countries, and much more.

For example, looking at the Victorian Year Book for 1903, under
Tramways, it provides the details about the establishment of the
Tramways Trust, operational arrangements, including the length of lines,
other tramways, legislated fares - 3d. for a single fare; half price for
workers between 6 and 7am and 5:50 and 6:30pm; and only 1d. for all
trips between the two railway stations at Spencer Street and Flinders
Street, as the railway link between the two stations wasn't in existence
when the Tramway Act was established.

Year Books for OTHER STATES are also now on the ABS as well!

So lots of great material to read and/or download and add to your eLibrary.

SUMMARY OF LINKS:

Australian Year Book
<http://abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/1301.0>
New South Wales Year Book 1903-2004
<http://abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/1300.1>
Quensland Year Book 1901-2001
<http://abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/1301.3>
Tasmanian Year Book 1967-2000
<http://abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/1301.6>
South Australian Year Book 1913-1999
<http://abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/1301.4>
Victorian Year Book 1903-2002
<http://abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/1301.2>
Western Australian Year Book 1886-1998
<http://abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/1300.5>

Enjoy,
regards

Ken McInnes
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