Explorers of New South Wales history will enjoy a smoother journey thanks to the newly enhanced and expanded Historical Land Records Viewer (HLRV), which launched today.
HLRV is the New South Wales Land Registry Services (NSW LRS) online application to view digitised historical maps, plans, titles and indexes. It contains more than 6 million digital records from 62 collections. Users can access HLRV online at: hlrv.nswlrs.com.au
NSW LRS has worked with stakeholders including the Royal Australian Historical Society to ensure that the enhanced HLRV delivers an improved experience for its users.
The President of the Royal Australian Historical Society, Christine Yeats, said: “The new HLRV is a wonderful improvement that will greatly benefit our members and historical researchers. We hope it encourages more people to explore their family or local history.”
New features improve the research experience
The new HLRV makes it easier and faster for historians and researchers to explore and examine our state’s historical land and property records.
Key improvements include:
- A cleaner look that is easier for users to explore
- Updated Search and Refine Search functions where users can browse HLRV’s 62 collections, much like a library catalogue
- Faster return of search results to speed up the research process for users
- Smoother, faster image viewing that allows users to dig into the detail of digitised historical records, and
- The ability for users to print records that do not attract a regulated fee.
Updated Information Sheets are also available to assist new and existing users to navigate the available land and property records.
Preserving and improving access to land and property history
NSW LRS and the NSW Government have been working together to digitise important state records and preserve them for future generations.
“NSW LRS has invested over $9 million in digitising the physical collection which previously had only been available to researchers by visiting NSW LRS at Queen Square in Sydney’s CBD,” NSW LRS CEO, Adam Bennett said.
“This has given researchers from rural and regional areas the opportunity to explore these important historical records without the need to visit us in person. It has also preserved and protected them for future generations.”
Explore the founding days of the NSW land and property system
HLRV is home to records that offer insights into the founding days of the State of NSW.
One of the first records of land ownership is a grant of land in Parramatta to James Ruse in 1791. You can find this recorded in the Old System Grants Register collection in HLRV.
The first Torrens Title in NSW was issued to Charles Henry Humphrey in January 1863 for a piece of land in Alexandria within the County of Cumberland. You can find this recorded in the Old Form Torrens Register collection in HLRV.
Users can access HLRV online at: hlrv.nswlrs.com.au
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Customer enquiries
For further information or support with HLRV, please Contact Us.
Media enquiries
communications@nswlrs.com.au