A guide to accessing and using NSW Government publications both in print and online
The New South Wales Parliament has its origins in the Legislative Council established in 1824 with very limited powers. When New South Wales attained responsible self-government in 1856, a two chamber Parliament was established with the upper chamber named the Legislative Council and the lower chamber, the Legislative Assembly.
The Votes and proceedings and the Minutes of proceedings are the minutes of the various chambers. The titles have varied over time. Initially the title of the minutes of the Legislative Council was the Minutes of proceedings; in 1833 it became the Votes and proceedings of the Legislative Council; in 1856 it became the Journal of the Legislative Council of New South Wales and since 1991 it is again named the Minutes of proceedings. The minutes of the Legislative Assembly have been called the Votes and proceedings of the Legislative Assembly during the session … since the Assembly was established in 1856.
Generally the votes and proceedings (or the relevant alternative titles) have been incorporated with the New South Wales parliamentary papers hence the apparent duplication of titles between this section and the preceding one dealing with parliamentary papers.
1856/57-
Use the Comprehensive index to all parliamentary documents (with links to full text of Votes) or the Votes and indexes from the 1st to the 50th Parliament which covers slightly fewer years, until 1994. In pdf format.
1824-1855 (First Legislative Council)
Use the Comprehensive index to all parliamentary documents to view Votes and Proceedings of the First Legislative Council.
Separate file for each day. In pdf format.
1825-1856
The New South Wales parliamentary website has a link to R.F. Doust's Consolidated Index to votes and proceedings 1825-1856.
There an index to the Proceedings of the Legislative Council, 1856-1954 (see below under indexes), but Doust's occasional paper seeks to cover the whole of the proceedings of the 1824-1855 Council.
Full text
Votes and proceedings
1856/57 to 1984
Votes and proceedings of the Legislative Assembly during the session …
Volumes are interfiled with Parliamentary papers but are clearly labelled Votes and proceedings. Use the online House Papers rather than the microfilm version (1856/57-1900) or hard copy (1856/57-1984).
Full text
1856/1857 to 1988
Journal of the Legislative Council of New South Wales
SLV holds the hard copy, vol.1 (1856/1857) to vol.180 (1988). Use the online House Papers for 1824 onwards.
Also available on microfilm for the years 1857-1900.
1832 to 1855
New South Wales. Legislative Council. Votes and proceedings of the Legislative Council
Use the online House Papers from 1824 onwards rather than the microfilm version or hard copy.
1824 to 1831
Minutes of proceedings of the Legislative Council of New South Wales
Use the online House Papers from 1824 onwards.
Also available in microfilm format on open access.
1824-
No printed indexes available. Use online Votes and Indexes from the 1st to the 50th Parliament; or microfiche indexes (1984/86-1996/97) as appropriate.
1824-1856
New South Wales Legislative Council 1824-1856 : abstracts of Votes and proceedings : with an index / compiled by R.F. Doust.
1856 to 1954
New South Wales. Legislative Council. Consolidated index to the Minutes of the proceedings and papers
In five volumes, 1856 to 1874, 1874 to 1893, 1894 to 1913, 1914 to 1934 and 1934 to 1954.
There is also an index at beginning of each volume of Votes and proceedings (1856/57-1984) and also on microfilm (1856/57-1900).
It is preferable to use the online Votes and Indexes from the 1st to the 50th Parliament, 1824-1994.
Full text
1984 to 1997
New South Wales. Parliament. Parliamentary papers during the session …
Votes and proceedings of the Legislative Assembly are usually fiche 2 to about 4 or 5 of first fiche in each box.
1856 to 1900
Included in microfilm of Votes and proceedings of the Legislative Assembly...
Use this microfilm in preference to retrieving printed volumes.
1984 to 1997
New South Wales. Parliament. Parliamentary papers during the session …
Index to Votes and proceedings of the Legislative Assembly is usually on fiche 2 in each box.
Use the online Votes and indexes from the 1st to the 49th Parliament, 1856/57-1988/91, and the advanced search on the website of the Parliament of New South Wales, 1991-.
1856 to 1900
Included in Votes and proceedings volumes in microfilm of New South Wales parliamentary papers.
Use the online Votes and indexes from the 1st to the 50th Parliament, 1856/57-1991/94.
