The Sands Directory

The Sands Directory was published between 1859 and 1932/33. They listed occupants of buildings both in alphabetical order and by local government order. The purpose of these directories was to enable businesses to locate potential customers as well as being an aid for post offices.

Please keep in mind that the information is at least a year old in the directories. For example, 1907 is for the year 1906.

There are many errors that have been compounded over the years. These include spelling mistakes and descriptions of streets. To use the directories you need to know the nearest cross street and the house name.

The Bowen Library has a complete set of the Sands Directory on microfiche. They can be located in the Local Studies Room in the blue microfiche boxes labelled Sands 1-5.

Council Building Application books

The Bowen Library holds the Council Building Application books from 1923 until 1959. For the years between 1918 and 1923, we have the Council Building Inspection books from 1913, which list:

• the date a plan was lodged with Council
• a brief description of the plan
• an approximate cost
• whether it was recommended for approval.

The Building Application books have all of the information in the Inspection books plus:

• the material used
• the Building Inspectors reports
• a date of completion.

Each book has an alphabetical street index at the front to help locate properties.

To view these items please contact us to make an appointment with our Local Studies Librarian.

Valuation lists

The Valuation Lists for Randwick (1928 to 1962) start where the Rate Books finish. The drawback is that they were only published every three years. During the Depression years there is a gap of up to five years in some wards.

The Lists are arranged in the same way as the Rates Books. They contain information about:

• the owner
• sometimes a house name
• the lot number.

The Valuation Lists are located in the Local Studies Room in the Microfilm cabinet 2, Drawer 12

Randwick Council Heritage Inventory

Randwick Council published a Heritage Inventory in 1989, consisting of five volumes, one of which contains black and white photos and a brief description of 333 properties in the Randwick Municipality considered having some historical value.

The 1998 Randwick Local Environment Plan list 431 properties of heritage value however the Plan only provides an address. The Heritage Inventory can be found at LH711.4/Ran. The Randwick Local Environment Plan can be found at LH333.7/RAN.

Other sources of property information in the Local Studies collection

• Rates Books for Randwick Council 1859-1926
• Local History index (a card index of issues relating to Randwick). This index may lead you to items about a property included in local newspapers, as well as to photographs, maps, clippings, and some published sources
• Various Heritage studies and surveys commissioned for the Randwick Local Government Area. Check the Library catalogue
• Randwick Photo Gallery
• Sydney telephone books on microfiche from 1888 to 1969. These list telephone subscribers, only, in alphabetical order, but can be useful for checking the continuing occupation of a property by a person beyond 1932
• If you discover someone of note occupying or owning a property, biographical works can be checked to determine more about the person. Possible biographical sources include the Australian Dictionary of Biography, A Biographical Register 1788 -1939, and Australian Encyclopaedia. Other biographical works can be found on the Library catalogue
• Information on less notable persons may be compiled through reference to Sands; births, deaths and marriages indexes; and newspapers, including obituary notices.

Sources external to Randwick City Library Service

• Deeds and other ownership documents of the property which may be available to you or perhaps held with a bank or solicitor
• Land Titles Office, telephone (02) 9228 6666
• Randwick Council Customer Service Centre: owners or authorised agents may be able to gain access to Building and Development Application files. Note: fees may apply
• Other library or archives institutions, for example, the Mitchell Library, Water Board Archives and the State Records Office
• For heritage property, National Trust of Australia (NSW), Australian Heritage Commission or Department of Urban Affairs and Planning.