Government gazettes for a particular locality eventually become standardised
with the type of material listed. In the 1870s you can expect the Government
Gazettes to include the following information that will usually list names and
sometimes name of emigrant vessel, addresses and/or occupations:
- appointees to government positions
- appointments of magistrates and Justices of the Peace
- appointments of returning officers
- crown land leases
- deceased estates
- dissolution of business partnerships
- insolvents
- notices or rewards for lost or stolen property and stock
- property owners subject to compulsory land acquisition by government
- purchasers of land lodging caveats under Real Property Act
- unclaimed letters
- unclaimed property (railways)
- witnesses to executions
Example entry, 7 January, 1882
NEW MAP OF THE COLONY.
SHEETS Nos. 5 AND 6.
JUST PUBLISHED.
ON SALE at this Office, Sheets Nos 5 and 6 of the New Map
of the Colony, embracing the country north of Cardwell, and
comprising the Johnstone River, Palmer and Hodgkinson Gold
Fields, the Islands in Torres Straits to the coast of New Guinea,
the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria, and Cape York. Price, 2s.
6d. each.
The six sheets of the new Map are being prepared in a coloured
form, and will be ready for issue shortly. Price 3s. 6d. each.
W. ALCOCK TULLY,
Under Secretary.
Department of Public Lands,
Brisbane, 16th September, 1881.
Gazettes are published by governments and their agencies as a means of
communication to officials and the general public. As such they are useful, not
only to monitor the actions of the government, but also as far as family
historians are concerned, they are valuable primary source documents.
