Archives Identifier00198Date Range1902-1953DescriptionUnder the Government Valuation of Land Act, 1896, the Valuation Department became responsible for the preparation of property valuation rolls. (Prior to 1896 the individual boroughs throughout New Zealand prepared their own valuation rolls.) The Valuation Department supplied these to local authorities (and other government departments) for a prescribed fee. The local authorities then used them as the basis for levying rates on individual properties.
Within each volume there are usually several distinct indexes. Almost all volumes contain an index of street names and rate assessment numbers. Additionally, the rate assessment numbers are sometimes indexed against town acre numbers, deposited plan (D.P.) numbers and/or names of property owners. The volumes are extensively annotated to indicate changes of ownership, and changes in nature of use of property, especially property sub-division.
Detailed information for each property includes : Number on valuation roll; occupier's name, address and sometimes occupation or trade; owner's name, address and sometimes occupation or trade; certificate of title number, legal description of property including area; various valuations including gross, capital, unimproved, improved and rateable value. In addition, each entry includes nature of any structures or improvements on property, e.g. dwelling, garage, paths, walls, steps, water connection, etc. For a school the following improvements are listed - dwelling, school, gym, walls, playground, conveniences.
Note: The valuation rolls do not include house number information until the early 20th century, therefore it is not easy to correlate present day address information to corresponding legal description, especially from last century. It appears that some valuation rolls of Wellington City and earlier boroughs were damaged by conditions in the old Town Hall basement and only miscellaneous parts survived. The cover and first left half page of a roll for the Kilbirnie portion of Wellington City, date possibly 1909?, have been packaged and placed with 00198.Quantity (Linear Metres)18MediumBound VolumeSystem of ArrangementA set of volumes was created for each set of valuation rolls issued. Rolls were issued intermittently, with gaps of several years. Within each volume entries are in roll number order.Collection TypeWellington City Council
