Colonial Secretary's Office (CSO) Guide Sheets
The Colonial Secretary's Office records represent one of the most diverse and comprehensive historical resources available for the early years of the Swan River Colony. These records comprise of inward correspondence from both settlers and officials to the Colonial Secretary's Office, as well as the relevant outward correspondence, and cover the period 1828-1973. Letters received cover a range of topics reflecting the influential role of the Colonial Secretary in the running of the colony. Subjects covered in the correspondence include matters connected with Aborigines, Resident Magistrates (by District), Police Magistrates, Police, Paupers, Comptroller General (for Convicts), Mining, Harbours, Pensioners, Land and Military to name a few.
After Federation the Office of the Colonial Secretary continued, although the scope of its functions were reduced as many of the CSO's responsibilities passed to the Commonwealth and State Governments. In 1924 the CSO was renamed the Chief Secretary's Department.
The Colonial Secretary dealt directly with England in matters concerning the Colony.
Inward letters to the CSO are divided into three series, each covering a distinct period and detailing a different organizational scheme. The guide sheets provide details on the types of indexes and registers available for each series and detail the steps required to access these records.
The following guide sheets are available to assist in accessing the Colonial Secretary's Office records:
NOTE: Most correspondence between the years 1828-1878 has survived, however after this period many of the letters and files are missing, either lost or destroyed.
For more specific information on the types of records created by the Colonial Secretary's Office click here.
