April this year marks the 50th anniversary of the State’s Public Records Act 1973 and its establishment of Public Record Office Victoria (PROV).
PROV is the archive of State and Local Governments in Victoria. They hold over 100 km of digital and physical records from 1836 to the present day, and set mandatory recordkeeping standards and recordkeeping advice to government agencies.
The development of the Act in 1973 was significant for Victorian Government Agencies and their staff as it defined a public record and/or public office; assigned heads of agencies as the responsibility for records management; and granted powers to the Keeper of Public Records to establish and maintain recordkeeping standards.
“The Act also established Public Record Office Victoria as the State archives, separate from the State Library, ensuring that government records were kept and more easily accessible into the future,” the Record Office said.
A full history of the Public Records Act and Public Record Office can be accessed at this PS News link.
