The Victorian state government established the Archaeological and Aboriginal Relics Office under the Chief Secretary's Department, following the enactment of the Archaeological and Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act 1972. One of the original aims of the Relics office was to compile a list of archaeological sites throughout the State, which still continues as the

Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register The Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register (VAHR), is a list of all known Aboriginal cultural heritage places in Victoria, Australia. It was established by and is regulated under the ''Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006''. The Register is administered ...

. Initially staff consisted of the Protector of Relics (who was the Director of the then National Museum of Victoria and who did little direct archaeological work), the State Archaeologist, two Archaeologists, a Geologist, a Field Assistant and three Administrative staff. In 1975 the Relics office was transferred to the newly established Ministry for Conservation and underwent a name change to the Victoria Archaeological Survey (VAS) Changes to the legislation did away with the postilion of "Protector" which had unfortunate connotations with the "Protector of Aborigines". In 1983 the VAS was again transferred to a new government department under the Ministry for Planning and Environment. Briefly, between April and May 1990 the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs had responsibility for state archaeological functions, but responsibility for these functions was then transferred to the Minister for Conservation and Environment. VAS also took responsibility for Maritime and historic archaeology which was tested through the results of a court determination that the definition of archaeological relics included historic relics. Over 60 publications were prepared under the first director of the VAS

Peter Coutts Peter John Frazer Coutts was an Australian archaeologist who was first director of the Victoria Archaeological Survey (VAS), the precursor to the Heritage Branch of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria. Early life and education Peter Coutts was educat ...

including many large scale surveys and excavation reports. One of the innovations of the VAS, was the 'Summer Schools in Archaeology', which allowed students and members of the general public to participate in research-drive archaeological surveys and excavations. These were conducted from the mid-1970s to about 1980, and covered projects such as surveys and excavations of Aboriginal sites at Yambuk (1976-7), Kulki-Kulki near Swan Hill (1977),

Keilor Keilor is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, north-west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Cities of Brimbank and Hume local government areas. Keilor recorded a population of 5,906 at the 2021 census. Whi ...

(1977-8), Hattah Kulkyn National Park, Nyah Forest, and Mallacoota, and excavations at the first settlement site at

Corinella Corinella is a town in Victoria, Australia, located 114 km south-east of Melbourne via the M1 and the Bass Highway, on the eastern shore of Western Port. The town serves as a holiday destination, with a focus on recreational fishing, and h ...

. In February 1992 it was transferred back to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and underwent another name change, to the Heritage Services Branch of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria. The Aboriginal, and maritime and historic functions were split in 1993 when

maritime archaeology Maritime archaeology (also known as marine archaeology) is a discipline within archaeology as a whole that specifically studies human interaction with the sea, lakes and rivers through the study of associated physical remains, be they vessels, s ...

and

historical archaeology Historical archaeology is a form of archaeology dealing with places, things, and issues from the past or present when written records and oral traditions can inform and contextualize cultural material. These records can both complement and conflict ...

became the responsibility of the department of Planning. This distinction was formalised in the Heritage Act 1995, which included provision for these archaeological places.Public Records Office online catalogue, Agency VA 1802, Victoria Archaeological Survey (previously known as Archaeological and Aboriginal Relics Office 1972-197

/ref>

References

{{Indigenous Australians Archaeology of Australia Government research

See also

References