Property Searches

If you need help with any aspect of the history of a property please get in touch as we can help.

	Rate Books Rating information can be a great help when tracking occupancy of a house or business.  Each Council kept rating books before the system went digital.  Many of these books are still held at Council Offices.  State Records Office may also hold copies of these records.  Some Councils have digitised the books so that the information can be accessed easily.  Town of Cottesloe Rate books are available via our online catalogue.
	Western Australian Postal Directories The West Australian Postal Directories can be found on the State Library of Western Australia website.  The hold the postal addresses of all Australians living in the State from the late 1893 to 1949.  They can be searched within each year group by either the address or surname.  They can be a bit tricky prior to the 1920s when street numbers were not used.  There is a trick to tackling this problem but you would need to ask us how as it needs a lengthy explanation.
	Property Files Each Council holds a file for each of the properties within their municipality.  These should be accessible by the property owner (fees may apply).  The file can be a real treasure trove for information relating to the history of your house.  Very often you will find old images and plans which can prove very useful when sympathetically renovating. Another great source of information is the State Records Office that is the State Repository for Government and Council records.