Leslie Massey
If you're looking for the original house plans for a property in Australia, there are a few avenues you can explore. One option is to contact your local council, as they should have records of building plans, especially if the house was built within the last 10-15 years. You can also try contacting the building inspector or assessor at your town or city hall, as they may have floor plans and elevation drawings from when permits were issued for construction or remodelling. If you used a realtor, they may also be able to help you locate facts about your home's construction or contact local developers and builders who might have built your home. For older houses, you can try searching the catalogue and the Australiana index at the State Library of Victoria, or the National Library of Australia, which has a blog post on researching the history of a house.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Records of house plans | The council should have records of house plans. If the house was built in the last 10-15 years, there should be an electronic copy. If it was built before that, there should be a hard copy, but it may be archived and difficult to retrieve. |
| Local government records | Local governments may have records of the property's address, the local government area, and the name of the 'parish' or 'township' the land is located on. |
| Realtor | If a realtor handled the sale of the house, they may be able to get the blueprints. If not, a long-standing realtor in the neighbourhood may be able to contact local developers who built the home. |
| Architect | If you know the name of the architect, contact their office to ask for the blueprints. |
| Public institutions | Some prominent public institutions may hold copies of architectural plans in their archives. |
| Libraries | The State Library of Victoria has a collection of architectural drawings, maps, and online tools. The National Library of Australia also has resources for researching the history of a house. |
| Newspapers | Newspapers may contain information on land sales, real estate developments, and specific building designs. Trove provides access to digitised copies of Victorian and Australian newspapers from 1803 to 1954. |
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What You'll Learn
Contact town hall, council, or city hall
If you are looking to find the original plans for a house in Australia, you may need to contact your town hall, council, or city hall.
Contact the Council
The council should have records of the building plans for houses in their area. If the house was built within the last 10-15 years, there is likely an electronic copy of the plans. If the house is older, there may be a hard copy of the plans, but these will be archived and may be challenging to access. You can also ask your local council about the planning certificate, which should have been included in the contract of sale when you bought the property.
Contact Town Hall or City Hall
Your local town hall or city hall may be able to find the floor plan of your house by looking up your address. They often keep records like fire insurance maps, which can indicate the original construction materials used for your home and provide a three-dimensional drawing of the building. Additionally, you can ask the building inspector or assessor at the town or city hall for assistance. Builders must obtain permits from these entities before beginning new construction or remodelling, and these permits often require floor plans and elevation drawings.
Other Options
If you cannot access the necessary information from the council, town hall, or city hall, there are other options to consider:
- Contact a local architect or civil engineer for assistance in accessing old records or recreating the original plans.
- Hire a draftsperson or surveyor to measure and draw up the current plans of the house. While this will not provide the original plans, it can give you a sense of the current structure.
- Examine public records for home plans online through websites like NETR Online, which continues to add public records to its database.
- Consult your neighbours, especially if you live in a planned or gated community, as there is a chance their homes were designed by the same developer and they may have access to the builder's or architect's information.
Please note that the availability and accessibility of records may vary depending on your specific location in Australia and the age of the property.
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Ask a realtor or sales agent
If a realtor or sales agent was involved in the sale of your house, they may be able to help you find the original plans. Ask them if they can get the blueprints for you. If your home is less than 50 years old and you didn't use a realtor, a long-standing realtor in your neighbourhood may still be able to help. They often know the local history and may be able to help you locate facts about your home's construction. They may also know local builders familiar with your home or style. If your house was built from a stock plan, realtors tend to know the most common stock plans in their region.
Realtors and sales agents can be a good source of information about your home's history and construction, and they may have connections with local builders, developers, and town historians who can provide additional insights. They may also be able to advise you on where to look for records and who to contact to obtain the necessary permits and certificates.
If the original house plans cannot be located, a realtor or sales agent may be able to recommend a building professional, such as an architect or structural engineer, who can create a new set of plans. This process typically involves taking field measurements and gathering clues to recreate the original layout. However, retroactively creating a blueprint should be a last resort as it can be time-consuming and expensive.
In addition to contacting realtors and sales agents, you may also want to reach out to your local council, conveyancer, or solicitor, as they may have access to relevant records and documents related to your property.
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Search online catalogues and indexes
Online catalogues and indexes are a great way to find original house plans in Australia. The State Library of Victoria, for instance, has an extensive collection of over 10,000 plans, many of which are available online. Their catalogue can be searched by address, suburb, or street name. The library also provides access to the Trove database, which contains digitised copies of Australian newspapers from 1803 to 1954, as well as maps, books, and other resources.
The National Library of Australia also has an online catalogue that can be searched for specific architects or buildings. They also provide a research guide and access to topographic maps. For government buildings, the relevant state archives are a good place to start, and they may also hold plans for some commercial and residential properties.
The University of Melbourne Archives holds collections of architectural drawings, and their catalogue can be searched by architect name. Additionally, the 'Planning Schemes Online' platform provides access to all approved planning schemes in Victoria, which can be useful for locating planning zones and heritage places within local areas.
When searching online catalogues and indexes, it is important to keep in mind that the availability and organisation of records may vary from state to state and even between different councils. It is also worth noting that architectural plans, especially for commercial and residential buildings, have not commonly been kept as archives.
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Consult building professionals
If you're planning to renovate or extend your house, consulting building professionals is essential to ensure your plans are safe, compliant with local regulations, and approved by the relevant authorities. Here are some detailed steps to guide you through the process of consulting building professionals in Australia:
Identify the Right Professionals
Engage the services of licensed and experienced architects, builders, surveyors, and engineers. These professionals will play a crucial role in creating, modifying, and approving your house plans.
Contact the Original Builder
If you're seeking the original house plans, start by contacting the builder responsible for the home's original construction. They may have retained the original plans and can provide access to them. Collaborate with them on any updates or changes required to ensure your plans are current.
Engage Surveyors and Engineers
Hire a licensed surveyor to accurately map out your property. They can provide detailed measurements and create a property map, which is essential for designing renovation or extension plans. Additionally, consult with engineers who can provide structural and systems plans. Integrate their findings into the overall house plans to ensure technical accuracy.
Consult with Architects
Architects are key professionals in the process. Discuss your desired changes with them, and they will help modify existing plans or create new ones to ensure compliance with local regulations. Architects will also assist in designing any extensions or renovations, ensuring that the plans are aesthetically pleasing and functional.
Understand Local Regulations
Stay informed about local building codes and regulations. Your building professionals should be well-versed in these regulations, but it's beneficial to have a basic understanding yourself. This ensures that your plans comply with safety standards and legal requirements, and it helps you navigate the approval processes more effectively.
Submit Plans for Approval
Work closely with your building professionals to submit the required documentation and plans to local authorities for approval. This step is crucial, as it ensures that your plans meet safety and regulatory standards. Be prepared to respond to any feedback or address concerns raised by the authorities during the approval process.
Regularly Update Plans
Keep your house plans up-to-date by regularly reviewing and modifying them as needed. This ensures that your plans remain compliant with any changes in local regulations and allows you to integrate contemporary design elements.
Consulting building professionals is a critical step in obtaining or modifying house plans in Australia. Their expertise will ensure that your plans are accurate, safe, and compliant with legal requirements. It's important to remember that costs will vary depending on the professionals' fees and the complexity of your project.
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Check state archives
When looking for original house plans in Australia, checking state archives is a crucial step. Each state in Australia has its own archives office, which can be a valuable resource for historical research, including locating original house plans. These archives often hold a wealth of information, including government records, maps, photographs, and other documents that can provide insight into the history of a property.
For example, the State Archives and Records NSW is the archives office for New South Wales. Their collection includes a wide range of records, such as land title records, council records, and building plans, which can be searched online through their catalogue,
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Frequently asked questions
There are several options for finding the original plans for your house. You can try the following:
- Contact the building inspector or assessor at the town or city hall. Builders need a permit for new constructions or remodelling, which often requires floor plans and elevation drawings.
- If a realtor handled the sale of your house, ask them if they can get the blueprints. If your home is less than 50 years old, a local realtor may be able to contact local developers who built your home.
- If you know the name of the architect, contact their office and ask for the blueprints.
- Check the National Library of Australia or the State Library of Victoria for architectural drawings, maps and online tools.
If you can't find the original plans, you can try the following:
- Measure the floors and use a square to check corners. Some new phones can make a 3D model using the camera and an app.
- Pay a drafty to measure and draw up plans for your house. This will cost a few hundred dollars.
If your house is very old, it may be difficult to find detailed plans. Before the early 1900s, builders rarely had detailed specifications or blueprints. They often used methods passed on by other builders without putting the plan down on paper. In this case, building professionals, like architects or structural engineers, can use field measurements and other clues to recreate the original plans.
