Tasmania, Australia, Land Applications and Warrants, 1868-1887

This database contains various documents related to requests for land by immigrants to Tasmania.

Historical Background

European colonization of Tasmania began in 1803 when the British established their first settlement on the island. Though Tasmania saw some 74,000 convicts delivered to its shores before transportation came to an end in 1853, thousands of free settlers also made their way to the island. Some came under various schemes enacted to attract new immigrants and laborers, including both an indenture and a bounty system. Others were recruited by agents working for immigration societies, while some came of their own accord, seeking greater opportunity than they could find back home.

In the latter 1800s, Tasmania sought to attract immigrants with offers of land. Land order warrants entitled immigrants to Tasmania to claim a stipulated number of acres. Settlers could later acquire a Crown grant for the land after living on it for a specified time. The warrants could be issued by immigration agents outside of Tasmania, or they could be claimed be immigrants within a year of arrival. Families could receive grants for a husband, wife, and children.

What You May Find in the Records

The documents in this database are records that were generated in relation to applications for land. They include registers of applications, warrants, certificates, and records of fees paid to agents and immigration societies.

While details included will vary by document type, you may find

• name of applicant
• age
• where the applicant came from
• dates
• acres
• page where documentation can be found in letter or minute book