Historical information

This cash book contains entries which relate to the everyday operation of the Borough Common which predates the establishment of Warrnambool as a town. All ratepayers had the right to graze their cows on the common, with the cows being collected every morning by the herdsman and walked to the common. Entries relate to items such as eradication of thistles, repairs and erection of stock yards, burying of dead stock, purchase of bulls and clearing of waterholes. Salaries were paid to E. Margetts, D Allan, T Raingill, and M T Read. Auditors were James Dickson. After WW1 parts of the common were allocated to soldiers’ settlement blocks ranging from 18 to 30 acres. Other parts remained with the Crown for Municipal uses and part became the Warrnambool Golf Course. In 1925 the common was abolished.

Significance

The entries in this book record the operations and earliest residents who were involved in the Common in the early days of Warrnambool

Physical description

Grey and red mottled card cover with dark green points and spine. Paper label on front cover. Dark blue and tan mottled paper inside front and back covers.

Inscriptions & markings

Warrnambool Municipal Common Cash Book.