Useful searches
This document is a work-in-progress. Any offerings or suggestions on how it might be
expanded and improved will be greatly appreciated.
Who is the landlord?
This should be such an easy task, but often it is far from simple. Where a Tenants
Advice and Advocacy Service wishes to pull together information about the landlord, the
search tools below will be helpful.
But firstly, a short digression. Generally the landlord is the registered proprietor of the
land, as shown on the title. There are two exceptions:
(i) sub-letting situations where a landlord head-leases a property to another
person - this often occurs in community housing and the community housing
provider then sub-lets it to a tenant; and,
(ii) situations arise where the registered proprietor permits another person to take
on their role and this person is treated as the 'landlord' - generally another
member of the family.
It is also worth noting that the NSW Land and Housing Corporation is the landlord of
public housing in New South Wales, as shown on Housing NSW's Residential Tenancy
Agreement. Housing NSW is the government agency that manages the properties on
behalf of the landlord. Its role is akin to that of 'agent' (despite the notation at the foot of
Section 3(1) of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010). However, the NSW Land and
Housing Corporation and Housing NSW are two parts of the same government
department which is the Department of Family and Community Services.
1. Check Page 1 of the Residential Tenancy Agreement:
The landlord’s name will be shown on Page 1 of the residential tenancy agreement.
However, where a real estate agent manages the premises, the landlord’s address
often will be care of the real estate agent. So, you will need to do further checking.
2. Land and Property Information:
Check out the website of Land and Property Information at: www.lpi.nsw.gov.au
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The following searches will provide you with the name(s) of the owner of the property
(sometimes referred to as the ‘registered proprietor’).
You will not obtain their address from a ‘certificate of title’ search if they do not live at
the premises. This is the case for most landlords. You may be able to trace their
address through their solicitor, whose name will appear on the Transfer document. A
reliable way of obtaining their address is to do a search with the local government
council or Valuation Information, Land and Property Information (see below).
For the name of the owner of the property, firstly, go to: www.six.nsw.gov.au.
2.1. Street Address (free search):
1. Go to the dropdown menu called ‘Online Shop’.
2. Go to the menu on the left hand side and select ‘Title Searches and Records’.
3. Click against 'Street Address Inquiry' on the left hand side of the web page.
4. Enter details starting with suburb/town and follow steps … this search will give
you the legal description of the land (usually expressed as ‘ folio identifier’) for
the property.
2.2. Certificate of title ($12.15, including GST, per search):
1. Go to the dropdown menu called ‘Online Shop’.
2. Go to the menu on the left hand side and select ‘Title Searches and Records’.
3. Click against 'Title Search' on the left hand side of the web page.
4. Enter the legal description of the land (see Step 2.1). For example:
1/234567
5. Read and tick ‘Terms & Conditions’ and complete security question.
6. Click ‘Add to Cart’.
7. Click ‘Proceed to Cart’.
8. Click ‘Proceed to Checkout’.
9. Click ‘Next’.
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10. Enter credit card information and provide email address.
11. Click ‘Next’.
12. Click ‘Confirm and Proceed’.
13. Print receipt.
14. Exit program.
15. Go to your email and download copy of the certificate of title and your tax
invoice.
2.3. Transfer document ($12.15, including GST, per search):
1. Go to the dropdown menu called ‘Online Shop’.
2. Go to the menu on the left hand side and select ‘Title Searches and Records’.
3. Click against 'Dealing Image’ on the left hand side of the web page.
4. Enter the Dealing Number (for example for T123456, omit the ‘T’ and enter
123456. (The Dealing Number will be shown on the ‘certificate of title’.)
5. Read and tick ‘Terms & Conditions’ and complete security question.
6. Click ‘Add to Cart’.
7. Click ‘Proceed to Cart’.
8. Click ‘Proceed to Checkout’.
9. Click ‘Next’.
10. Enter credit card information and provide email address.
11. Click ‘Next’.
12. Click ‘Confirm and Proceed’.
13. Print receipt.
14. Exit program.
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15. Go to your email and download copy of the transfer document and your tax
invoice.
2.4. Historical search:
You may obtain summary information about all transactions recorded against a
particular land title by going to the dropdown menu called ‘Online Shop’ and then
selecting ‘History of Title Transactions’.
You may ascertain prior titles by going to the dropdown menu called ‘Online
Shop’ and then selecting ‘Prior Title Reference’ (free search).
However, the above information is limited to when a title became a computerised
title until the present.
If you need to locate the person who owned the property prior to the early 1990s,
you will need to undertake what are called ‘historical searches’ of old titles
(generally called Volume-Folio) and transfer documents at the office of Land and
Property Information in Sydney. A fee of $13.90 (inc GST) applies to
photocopying each document. These old records are computerised, but you will
need to attend Land and Property Information in Sydney and undertake the
search yourself. See box below. (If you are searching an Old Systems title, get
advice from someone familiar with these searches. They can be very complex.
Bound volumes are found along windy corridors and back alleys in the bowels of
the building.)
If you unable to attend Land and Property Information in Sydney, you may use
the services of an approved information broker who will charge. There is a link to
them on the webpage of the ‘Online Shop’. Click ‘information brokers’ at the foot
of the page.
Doing an historical search …
Historical search using known Volume-Folio for the title ($13.90 inc GST per photocopied
search):
1. Go to Land and Property Information at 1 Prince Alfred Street, Queens Square, Sydney
(behind St Marys Cathedral).
2. Tell person at ‘Reception’ what information you are seeking: the ‘Certificate of Title ‘ for an
old Volume-Folio number. You will be given a ticket and directed to ‘Client Services’ along
one side of the room.
3. When your number is called, proceed to the customer service officer. They will advise you to
buy a ‘search ticket’ (also called a ‘copy ticket’) from the Cashier and where to go in the
building to undertake the necessary searches. Ask for hints about doing searches.
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4. Proceed to ‘Cashier’ on the other side of the room. Wait until your number is called again. It
is the same number as shown on the ticket given to you by ‘Reception’ You pay the search
fee of $13.90. They will only accept cash or credit card. They will hand to you a ‘search
ticket’.
5. You complete the three parts of the ‘search ticket’, inserting the Volume-Folio number. You
then proceed to the ‘Property Information Delivery Service’ down a flight of stairs into the
adjacent building.
6. See the customer service officer at the front desk. Ask him or her to advise you into which
‘Copy Ticket Request Box’ you slip the top two-thirds of the search ticket. You retain the
bottom third and note the last two digits of the number shown.
7. Ask how long you will need to wait for your copy of the ‘Certificate of Title’. It may be up to
one hour. Keep checking the ‘Public Copy Collection Boxes’. Check the box with your
number. Retrieve the ‘Certificate of Title’ relating to the Volume-Folio.
8. You may need to repeat the above steps for a number of old Volume-Folios … until you
have the title current at your required date. If this is the case, you will need to buy additional
‘search tickets’.
2.5. Deed name search:
It may become apparent to you, either through the tenant you are assisting or direct
from the landlord (or whom you think is the landlord), that such a person is acting on
behalf of the real landlord. There may not be a formalised arrangement put in place for
this person to act for the landlord, for example an authority or power of attorney. It is
worthwhile making a search to find out if a power of attorney exists and this is a free
search.
Again, go to: www.six.nsw.gov.au.
Then:
1. Go to the dropdown menu called ‘Online Shop’.
2. Go to the menu on the left hand side and select ‘Deed’’.
3. Click against 'Deed Name Search' on the left hand side of the web page.
Put in the name of the principal and this will show a deed number if a power of attorney
exists for this person. If a power of attorney does exist and it was registered after 1992,
you can obtain a copy of the power of attorney from the search option ‘Deed Number
Search’. Follow the same steps as for a title search. If the power of attorney was
registered before 1992, you need to go to Land and Property Information and do a
physical search of the volume and folio for the power of attorney. Follow the steps as for
an historical search shown above.
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LPI Dealing Codes:
For LPI Dealing Codes, go to TAAS Wiki under 'Featured Content on the site' / 'Act Discussion'
which is TAAS workers' part of TAAS Wiki. Check posting is under Part 1 Division 1 Section 3
(1) 'Name of landlord'.
It provides a link to an index of Land and Property Information dealing codes. Alternatively, you
may access this index directly by going to the 'Search' facility on left hand side of Main Page on
TAAS Wiki and typing in 'LPI Dealing Codes'.
2.6. Valuation Information:
This is an alternative to ringing the local government council for the name and address
of the landlord. Ring Valuation Information at Phone: 02 9860 5200.
Full contact details are: Level 3, 2-10 Wentworth Street Parramatta NSW 2150; PO Box
252 Parramatta 2124; Phone: 02 9860 5200; Fax: 02 9891 6653.
Ask for the name and the address to which rate notices are sent for the property. (This
usually is the name and mail address of the landlord.) If they state that they cannot give
you the information because of privacy, argue that there may be a ‘a serious or
imminent threat to the life or health of another person’, as in the case of a lock-out.
Refer to Section 18 (1) (c) of the Privacy & Personal Information Protection Act 1998.
You may have to put your request in writing, giving reasons for your request and citing
the relevant legislation. Note that public sector agencies have discretion when
interpreting this section.
3. Local Government Council:
3.1. Name and address of landlord:
For the name and the address of the landlord, ring Citizen Service Centre (or
equivalent, sometimes called Customer Service Centre or Rates Section). Specifically
ask for the name and the address to which rate notices are sent for the property. (This
usually is the name and mail address of the landlord.) If they state that they cannot give
you the information because of privacy, argue that there may be a ‘a serious or
imminent threat to the life or health of another person’, as in the case of a lock-out.
Refer to Section 18 (1) (c) of the Privacy & Personal Information Protection Act 1998.
You may have to put your request in writing, giving reasons for your request and citing
the above legislation. Note that that public sector agencies have discretion when
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interpreting this section and local government councils differ in how they apply such
discretion.
3.2. Development application:
Case study
Two matters arose when a long-term tenant was asked to leave. Firstly, in the course of
the Development Application, the landlord put on public record his willingness to grant all
tenants a notice period of five months (155 days) should the development go ahead.
Secondly, when development consent was granted, a condition of such approval was that
the landlord set aside three units for affordable housing. Council wrote to the landlord and
requested that existing long-term residents in the complex be offered first right of refusal on
the leases of the retained affordable units.
You may wish to track a Development Application for a specific property. The steps that
follow are true for one local government council in Sydney. It will vary across other local
government councils.
1. ‘Google’ the street address.
2. Go to the link in the name of the local government council that comes up, open
it and record the Development Application Number.
3. Go to the website of the local government council. Open drop-own menu for
‘Planning’.
4. Click ‘Application Tracking’ and enter the Development Application Number.
5. Follow the menu.
4. Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC):
Since 1 January 1991, every company in Australia has been issued with a nine-digit
Australian Company Number (ACN). This is an unique identifier and no two companies
can have the same ACN. You will need this number to do a search.
For a free company name search, go to the ‘National names index’ of the Australian
Securities and Investments Commission at: http://www.search.asic.gov.au/gns001.html
The Sydney Service Centre of ASIC is located at:
Level 5, Westfield Towers, 100 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000
(between Pitt and Castlereagh Streets, opposite David Jones’ Market Street
Store)
It is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
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On the 964 search form, tick the boxes against ‘Details of search A’ and ‘Current and
historical information’. This costs $21.
If there are a number of company names for the same business, firstly do a business
search with Fair Trading to find out the name of the company that operates the business
in New South Wales. (See next section.) There is a fee attached to a business search,
but it may be less expensive than doing unnecessary searches on a whole raft of
companies.
The Tenants Union of NSW will do searches over the Internet for Tenants’ Advice and
Advocacy Services.
In all other cases, if you wish to do this search over the Internet, you will need to go
through a broker and this will add to the cost of the search.
5. Other helpful searches for gathering useful information about your landlord:
5.1. White Pages:
If all else fails and the person has a not-all-that-common name, you may locate them
after a few telephone calls. Go to: www.whitepages.com.au/
5.2. Google search:
Has the owner attracted notoriety (eg politician, wants-to-be-a-politician, developer,
wants-to-be-a-developer, ‘well known business identity’, footballer, etc)?
Case study
Tenant of forty years says landlord has done little in terms of
repairs. He recalls a newspaper article around twenty-odd years
ago, which reported that his landlord owned a property left to
rack and ruin. Typed names of landlord and local government
council into ‘Google’ and immediately came up with a Court of
Appeal decision relating to this very same property.
Go to: www.google.com.au
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5.3. Health professionals:
In a case handled by the Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, the landlord refused to do
repairs that placed the older tenant’s health at risk. It was known that the landlord was a local
optometrist.
A useful search would be as follows … to check if a health professional is registered
with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, go to:
http://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registers-of-Practitioners.aspx
Such information may be relevant at a Tribunal hearing.
6. NSW Fair Trading:
6.1. Business names:
If your landlord is a business you will need to do a business search so you can
approach the principals. Go to:
http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/About_us/Online_services/Business_name_details_c
heck.html
6.2. Real estate agent:
To perform a real estate agent’s licence check, go to:
http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/About_us/Online_services/Property_services_licence
_check.html
6.3. Builders:
For Home Building Licence searches, go to:
http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/About_us/Online_services/Home_building_licence_ch
eck.html
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6.4. Boarding houses:
All registrable boarding houses in NSW are required to be registered with NSW Fair
Trading (Section 9 of the Boarding Houses Act 2012).
Go to: http://parkspr.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/BoardingHouse.aspx
6.5. Residential parks:
All residential parks in NSW are required to be registered with NSW Fair Trading (Part
13A of the Residential Parks Act 1998).
Go to: http://parkspr.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ResidentialPark.aspx
6.6. Retirement Villages:
All retirement villages in NSW are required to be registered with NSW Fair Trading
(Section 24A of the Retirement Villages Act 1999).
Go to http://parkspr.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/RetirementVillage.aspx
Note:
A residence contract that states that the Retirement Villages Act 1999 does not apply is
exempt from this Act. This exclusion may be a term of the contract or appear in the
disclosure statement (information brochure that goes with it) (see Sections 4 and 25 of
the Retirement Villages Act 1999.) Accordingly, a resident who signs a residential
tenancy agreement with such a clause in it is excluded from the Retirement Villages Act
1999. However, the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 may cover them.
There is a hiccup with the above three accommodation registers in Sections 5.4 to 5.6
maintained by NSW Fair Trading: the wildfire search option {%=WILDFIRE} has the limitation
that it only lists 100 entries and then cuts out.
7. Social housing providers:
Section 136 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 states:
‘social housing provider" means any of the following:
(a) the New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation,
(b) the Aboriginal Housing Office,
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(c) a registered community housing provider within the meaning of the Housing Act 2001
,
(d) an organisation for the time being registered under Part 5 of the Aboriginal Housing
Act 1998 ,
(e) an organisation or a member of a class of organisations prescribed by the
regulations.
‘Social housing providers’ are subject to certain provisions of the Act (for example, Part
7 - Social Housing Tenancy Agreement. Not all community housing providers, even if
‘not-for-profit’, are ‘social housing providers’ within the meaning of the Act.
To check if a community housing provider is a ‘social housing provider’ within the
meaning of the Act, you will need to undertake a search of a register maintained by the
Registrar of Community Housing.
Go to: www.rch.nsw.gov.au/Provider+Register/
To check if an Aboriginal housing provider is a ‘social housing provider’ within the
meaning of the Act, you will need to undertake a search. The NSW Aboriginal Housing
Office lists registered Aboriginal Community Housing Providers by region.
Go to: http://www.aho.nsw.gov.au/registration/providers-by-region
8. Low care and high care aged care facilities:
Section 7 (b) of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 states:
This Act does not apply in respect of the following premises: ...
(b) premises used to provide residential care or respite care within the meaning of the
Aged Care Act 1997 of the Commonwealth
To check if an establishment includes such premises, usually low care (hostel) or high
care (nursing home) aged care facilities, you will need to undertake a search. Please
note that a retirement village may include such facilities within their complex.
Go to: http://www.myagedcare.gov.au/service-finders
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9. State Heritage Inventory:
Case study
An elderly couple contacted OPTS because they required major repairs to their heritage-listed
cottage built in the 1850s, which included replacement of the roof. OPTS sought to negotiate
directly with the NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) who advised that they would do
temporary repairs until the place becomes unlivable. At that point in time, Housing NSW will
provide an alternate residence for the tenants. OPTS obtained pro bono assistance from a
heritage architect who provided a report and a barrister who drafted a letter and agreed to
represent the tenants in any proceedings in the Land and Environment Court. Immediately after
receipt of that letter, NSW LAHC advised that they already had agreed to replace the roof! Work
on a new roof was completed a few months later. The tenants are thrilled.
Clause 16 of the Residential Tenancies Regulation 2010 states:
Heritage properties
(1) Residential premises that comprise, or are part of, a heritage item are exempted
from the operation of the Act if the landlord is the Crown, a public authority or a council.
(2) This clause does not apply if the parties to the agreement agree in writing that the
residential premises are not to be exempted from the operation of the Act.
(3) In this clause:
"heritage item" means:
(a) premises that are listed on the State Heritage Register kept under the Heritage Act
1977 , or
(b) premises that are the subject of an interim heritage order or heritage agreement
under that Act, or
(c) premises that are identified as items of State or local heritage significance under an
environmental planning instrument, or
(d) premises that are vested in, or controlled or managed by, the Historic Houses Trust
of New South Wales.
A copy of State Heritage Inventory may be searched at:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/heritagesearch.aspx
For example, type in 'Windmill Street' and 'Millers Point.
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Other searches useful for establishing a protected tenancy
Once collecting property information was a time consuming and tedious task. However,
with computerisation of records and recent developments on the Internet, such data has
become quicker and easier to access, especially with the power of Six (read on …)!
Case study
Arthur lived in Sydney’s Inner West in a large house divided into flats. He moved into his flat in
the early 1970s and, until recently, enjoyed low rent and little interference from his landlord.
Indeed, the landlord relied upon Arthur to do odd jobs around the house. However, around two
years ago, the house was sold and the new owner has been hassling Arthur to pay a
substantial increase in rent and has threatened to evict him if he refuses. Arthur sought advice
from a Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service.
Go to the article called ‘The Power of Six’ at
http://www.cpsa.org.au/files/OPTS/Newsletter79_15-17.pdf
In the above case study, the worker with the Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service had
a number of search tools at their disposal. These are explored in Sections 10 to 16
below.
10. Rent Control Office, NSW Fair Trading, Department of Finance and Services:
You may need to ascertain whether, for the premises, there is:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
registered ‘5A lease’,
‘17A Agreement’, or
Fair rent determination.
Send letter marked ‘Attention: Rent Control’ with the following details to Email:
bondclaims@finance.nsw.gov.au
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Premises address
Type of search requested (any or all of (i), (ii) and (iii) above)
Whether require copies of all 5A leases on the premises, where applicable
Your name and contact details (email, telephone number, fax)
When information required (whether as soon as possible or by a specific date)
How information should be returned (email, fax and/or post)
If the premises have been known by different street numbers and/or street names over
time, list them all.
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11. Births, Deaths & Marriages:
You may ascertain whether the tenant of premises in NSW, say in 1962, had died prior
to 1972; and, if so, when they died. (By Internet – free. Only next-of-kin can search
records less than 30 years old.)
Go to: http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/Index/IndexingOrder.cgi/search?event=births
12. Australian Electoral Commission search:
You may wish to check whether the tenant, say in 1962, was still registered to vote at
subject premises between 1962 and 1970.
To find the relevant federal electorate, click ‘Electorate Search’ on the right hand side of
the web page at: http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/
Current enrolments are on computer at each Electoral Office. Type in:



Surname
Given name
State
Doing this search is free. You will find a list of NSW Divisional Offices of the Australian
Electoral Commission (open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) at:
http://www.aec.gov.au/About_AEC/Contact_the_AEC/Divisional_nsw.htm
Old records are on microfiche or in books at the Family History Service, Lower Ground
Floor 2, Macquarie Street Wing, State Library. You may organise photocopying for a
charge per page of 20 cents for A4 and 30 cents for A3.
13. Telephone Books:
By viewing old telephone books, you can find out if a tenant moved into the premises
before 1 January 1986 and you also may get an indicator whether the premises were
built before 16 December 1954. The Telstra Museum manages parts of the Telstra,
OTC Australia and Postmaster General’s collections of historical telecommunications
memorabilia. This even includes a very large collection of telephone books that date
from 1956.
The Telstra Museum is located at:
12 Kitchener Parade, Bankstown NSW 2200
Phone: (02) 9790 7624
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Mobile: 0417 247 417
Open Tuesday and Wednesday (by appointment). Other days can be arranged based
on volunteer availability
14. Neighbours:
For information on previous occupiers of your property, speak to elderly neighbours:
there is no substitute to sussing out neighbours who may have lived in area for many
years. Ask them to turn what they say into a statutory declaration.
15. Age of building:
You want to know when the house or block of flats was built and, in the case of building
divided into flats, exactly when this occurred (although this may have been done without
the consent of the approving authority) Some useful leads are:

Check for tell-tale information at the house or block of flats itself, for example
architectural style of building, building materials, joinery, roofing, dates stamped
on old taps and so on. (See case study at foot of this section).

Again, speak to elderly neighbours: there is no substitute to sussing out
neighbours who may have lived in area for many years. Ask them to turn what
they say into a statutory declaration.

Local council or utility service provider: Check to see if the local council or utility
service provider hold building applications, development applications, whether a
pan service was provided (especially in country areas) … sometimes you will find
the files were lost in the ‘bush fires of 1968’ or ‘big floods of 1979’, or council
never kept its records!

Local council library or council archivist, or local historical society for old rate
books, photos that are dated, and so on. Old rate records may show that a
cottage stands on the land and provide the name by which that cottage was
known at the time. To get an idea about the sort of information available in old
rate books, first read 'House History Research Guide' available at the Waverley
Council Library website at: http://www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/library/home
 Sands Sydney Directory: These directories were published between 1858 and
1933 for the Sydney Metropolitan Area. Some editions show for each
municipality street-by-street listings of householders. The type of information may
include: householder’s name and title, street number and house name,
householder’s occupation or type of business. Note that street numbers and
names may change over time. Street numbers may be absent. Start with the
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1932 directory. Copies of the directories are held at the State Library where they
are on microfiche—free. Go to the Family History Service, Lower Ground Floor 2,
Macquarie Street Wing, State Library. You may organise photocopying for a
charge per page of 20 cents for A4 and 30 cents for A3. Many public libraries
also hold copies, but they will need a functioning microfiche reader! Before
undertaking a search of the Sands Sydney Directory, first read 'Sands Sydney
Directory Guide’ available at the Waverley Council website at:
http://www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/library/home
(It is listed on the ‘Local Studies’ drop-down menu.)

RTA (Roads and Traffic Authority, now known as Roads and Maritime Services
(RMS)): RTA has released in a navigable format on CD-ROM 1943 aerial photos
of Sydney. (It is called ‘From the skies: Aerial photographs of Sydney in 1943’.)
You may be able to establish that the current premises existed in 1943 by
comparing a current photo with an aerial photo obtained from ‘From the skies’.
You may obtain a current photo by using:
(i)
‘Google Instant Street View’ .
For searching a property using ‘Google Instant Street View'
1. Go to "Street View' at: http://www.instantstreetview.com/
2. Enter full address of property including State.
(ii)
‘Google Earth’. For an aerial photograph, you will need to download
‘Google Earth’. Go to: http://www.google.com/earth/index.html
(iii)
‘Google Maps’. For an aerial photograph, go to:
http://maps.google.com.au
Case study: Ascertaining age of building from a ‘Google’ search using key words.
If you’re viewed 'Restoration Home' on ABC1 TV, you will be aware that the age of a
building can be ascertained by examining the style, building materials, joinery, roofing
and so on.
When we view '100 Edith Street, Leichhardt' [not the real address] on ‘Google Instant
Street View', it appears that the windows are aluminium, which is not uncommon for
1960's block of flats.
Type into Google the key words 'history of aluminium windows in Australia'. Two links
show that aluminium windows were not used in Australia till the 1960s:
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1. G.James Glass & Aluminium is one of Australia's leading manufacturers of aluminium
windows and aluminium doors, supplying to the residential, commercial, high-rise and
monumental building and construction markets. G.James offers an extensive range of
Australian produced Glass and Aluminium based products to Brisbane, Sydney and
Australia-wide. Its website states:
1960-1970
In a few short years after the formation of the company, aluminium joinery was
introduced and a new housing and construction industry emerged, all of which
demanded a change in direction. By the mid-1960’s, the glass business had
expanded into wholesale and contracting operations while the manufacture of
aluminium joinery commenced with the procurement of custom extrusions from
US and then later Australian producers.
As the product range expanded, a small network of branches was established
and fabrication facilities were increased. However, with the limited availability of
safety glass from within Australia and the constant reliance on local extruders for
aluminium profiles, Joe recognised the need to become more autonomous. So
began what would become a perpetual program of capital acquisitions and
strategically located manufacturing facilities.
Go to: http://gjames.com/about/history
2. Trend Windows & Doors is an 100% Australian Owned Company established in 1968
with over 40 years experience in aluminium, timber and energy efficient windows &
doors manufacturing. Its website states:
In 1973 Trend began manufacturing basic aluminium-sliding windows five years
after opening to accommodate the rising demand in aluminium products. Trend
was one of the first window manufacturers to later assemble aluminium double
hung and awning windows, and one of the first company to manufacture an
individually glazed aluminium window with its patented Ovolo Glazing System.
Go to: http://www.trendwindows.com.au/history.html
It appears that the block of flats at '100 Edith Street, Leichhardt' was built during the
1960s or later.
Nevertheless, one should still check out whether the windows are indeed aluminium
and, if so, whether they were installed some years after the block of flats was built; also,
check with the local government council for their records on date that the block of flats
was built, which will give a conclusive date.
Whether premises were built before 16 December 1954 is a necessary condition for
such premises be subject to the Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Act 1948.
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16. Spatial Information eXchange (SIX):
SIX Maps launched
This is an extraordinary powerful tool and is a website of Land and Property Information.
The following introduction may be viewed at:
http://www.lpi.nsw.gov.au/about_lpi/announcements/2012/six_maps_launched
SIX Maps is Land and Property Information’s new spatial viewing tool. It replaces SIX
Viewer and SIX Lite. SIX Maps offers improved speed, reliability, content, navigation
and currency of imagery.
SIX Maps provides more up-to-date content, and improved functionality and usability.
Benefits of SIX maps are:
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cleaner, more intuitive landing page
increased display speed of map content
more up-to-date imagery
single line search function (text box search)
clear, easy to see search results
no need for a plug in
a choice of more web browsers including mobile compatible
mobile compatible
simplified web mapping navigation tools.
More information
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The ‘Help & Tips’ in SIX Maps provides useful information and assistance for users.
A quick guide to using SIX may be found at:
http://www.users.on.net/~pvscc/SIX_map/Six_inst.pdf
Land and Property Information have advised that this website can be temperamental.
Sometimes you may need to exit and then re-enter.
Access SIX Maps
Visit SIX Maps at http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au or go to www.six.nsw.gov.au and click on
the SIX Maps icon.
1. Click either of these two links. This will bring up a map of NSW.
2. Click ‘SIX Maps Terms and Conditions’ (if it appears).
3. Cancel ‘Welcome and Help’ by clicking the ‘x’ (if it appears).
4. Against ‘Search for a location’, enter the address of the property you wish to search.
(Omit comas and ‘NSW’. )
5. A box entitled ‘Advanced Search’ will appear. Click ‘Search’.
6. When the address appears in the grey box, click over the address. An aerial photo
will appear.
7. Scroll on the map using the scroll button on the mouse. (It is preferable to have a
mouse that has a scroll button on the top of the mouse.) The scrolling action will reveal
the property you are searching.
8. Master the navigational tools that appear in the centre of the screen at the top. (You
can zoom straight down to the property that you are searching by left clicking the flag.)
9. Click ‘Map contents’ to show lot labels, lot boundaries, etc.
10. Click ‘Basemaps’ to see link to ‘Sydney 1943 Imagery’. This facility provides a
photograph of the same street in the year 1943.
Sydney in 1943 was a lot smaller than Sydney today, and so large slabs of Sydney west of
Parramatta won’t appear (unless you would like an aerial view of a cow).
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For workers with Tenants Advice and Advocacy Services, this is useful when determining
whether a property may be subject to rent control, because it will show if the property that
you are searching existed in 1943.
Printing
1. Go to ‘PRINT/PDF’ icon in the centre of the screen at the top.
2. Follow the menu … insert title and sub-title (eg My home, [address]).
3. Click ‘Preview’
4. Once this screen has loaded, follow normal printing procedures for your computer.
17. Other useful websites:
•
NSW Local Government Housing Kit:
Go to:
http://www.housing.nsw.gov.au/Centre+For+Affordable+Housing/NSW+Local+G
overnment+Housing+Kit/
This pulls together statistics and other research material on area.
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NSW Rent & Sales Report:
Go to:
http://www.housing.nsw.gov.au/About+Us/Reports+Plans+and+Papers/Rent+and
+Sales+Reports/Overview.htm
This provides rents and sale prices by local government area and postcode.
•
Domain (Sydney Morning Herald):
Go to: www.domain.com.au
This provided local sales, past sales activity in area and lots more information
•
Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) for contemporary
research on a wide range of housing issues across Australia.
Go to: http://www.ahuri.edu.au/
•
Australian Bureau of Statistics for census and other data.
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Go to: http://www.abs.gov.au/
•
Shelter NSW for policy, research and information on housing issues across New
South Wales, including quick housing facts. Lot’s of great stuff.
Go to: http://www.shelternsw.org.au/
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