The Colonial Office was the British Government department chiefly responsible for the administration of the Crown colonies, communications between Britain and self-governing colonies and for the formulation of imperial policy. Its records contain an enormous amount of information on the six Australian colonies, New Zealand, New Guinea and Fiji.

A digitised copy of Part 2 of the Handbook is available online.

Content

Colonial Office classes relating specifically to the colonies has been comprehensively microfilmed. The following list provides, at Class-level, the content of Colonial Office records contained within the AJCP. Piece Lists and Dates may be found in Part 2 of the Handbook.

AUCKLAND ISLANDS

CO 394 Entry Books of Correspondence [1850-1853) 
CO 714 Index of Correspondence [1812-1870]
CO 330 Register of Correspondence [1850-1853]

AUSTRALIA  (GENERAL)

CO 418 Original Correspondence
CO 537 Original Correspondence, Supplementary
CO 714 Index to Correspondence
CO 557 Register of Correspondence
CO 11 Memoranda
CO 12 Acts
CO 381 Colonies, General. Entry Books. Series II

AUSTRALIA (COMMONWEALTH)

CO 706 Register of Correspondence
CO 707 Register of Out-Letters

BERMUDA

CO 37 Original Correspondence
CO 38 Entry Books of Correspondence
CO 40 Sessional Papers

FIJI

CO 83 Original Correspondence
CO 537 Original Correspondence, Supplementary
CO 419 Register of Correspondence
CO 515 Register of Out-Letters
CO 400 Entry Books of Correspondence
CO 383 Register of Acts
CO 85 Sessional Papers
CO 459 Miscellanea

GIBRALTAR

CO 91 Original Correspondence
CO 92 Entry Books of Correspondence

NEWFOUNDLAND

CO 194 Original Correspondence
CO 195 Entry Books of Correspondence
CO 199 Miscellanea

NEW GUINEA (PAPUA)

CO 422 Original Correspondence
CO 578 Register of Correspondence
CO 579 Register of Out-Letters
CO 383 Register of Acts
CO 436 Sessional Papers

NEW SOUTH WALES

CO 201 Original Correspondence
CO 714 Index to Correspondence
CO 360 Register of Correspondence
CO 369 Register of Out-Letters
CO 202 Entry Books of Correspondence
CO 203 Acts
CO 383 Register of Acts
CO 204 Sessional Papers
CO 207 Entry Books Relating to Convicts
CO 206 Miscellanea

NEW ZEALAND

CO 209 Original Correspondence
CO 537 Original Correspondence, Supplementary
CO 714 Index to Correspondence
CO 361 Register of Correspondence
CO 365 Register of Out-Letters
CO 406 Entry Book of Correspondence
CO 383 Register of Acts
CO 213 Miscellanea

NEW ZEALAND COMPANY

CO 208 Original Correspondence

NORTH AUSTRALIA

CO 395 Entry Books of Correspondence

QUEENSLAND

CO 234 Original Correspondence
CO 714 Index to Correspondence
CO 424 Register of Correspondence
CO 450 Register of Out-Letters
CO 423 Entry Books of Correspondence
CO 383 Register of Acts

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

CO 13 Original Correspondence
CO 714 Index to Correspondence
CO 331 Register of Correspondence
CO 514 Register of Out-Letters
CO 396 Entry Books of Correspondence
CO 383 Register of Acts
CO 15 Sessional Papers
CO 17 Miscellanea

TASMANIA

CO 280 Original Correspondence
CO 714 Index to Correspondence
CO 370 Register of Correspondence
CO 371 Register of Out-Letters
CO 408 Entry Books of Correspondence
CO 281 Acts
CO 383 Register of Acts
CO 282 Sessional Papers
CO 283 Government Gazette
CO 284 Miscellanea

VICTORIA

CO 309 Original Correspondence
CO 714 Index to Correspondence
CO 374 Register of Correspondence
CO 513 Register of Out-Letters
CO 411 Entry Books of Correspondence
CO 383 Register of Acts
CO 311 Sessional Papers
CO 313 Miscellanea

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

CO 18 Original Correspondence
CO 714 Index to Correspondence
CO 332 Register of Correspondence
CO 353 Register of Out-Letters
CO 397 Entry Books of Correspondence
CO 19 Acts
CO 383 Register of Acts
CO 20 Sessional Papers
CO 22 Miscellanea

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

CO 644 Register of Correspondence
CO 645 Register of Out-Letters

WESTERN PACIFIC

CO 225 Original Correspondence
CO 537 Original Correspondence, Supplementary
CO 492 Register of Correspondence
CO 493 Register of Out-Letters

SUPPLEMENTARY

CO 537 Original Correspondence

ACCOUNTS BRANCH

CO 431 Original Correspondence
CO 622 Register of Correspondence
CO 621 Entry Books and Register of Out-Letters
CO 701 Miscellanea

CHIEF CLERK

CO 523 Original Correspondence

COLONIES, GENERAL

CO 323 Original Correspondence
CO 324 Entry Books of Correspondence, Series I
CO 381 Entry Books of Correspondence, Series II
CO 378 Register of Correspondence
CO 379 Register of Out-Letters
CO 432 Register of General Miscellaneous Correspondence
CO 652 Register of Unregistered Correspondence
CO 694 Register of Secret Correspondence
CO 570 Secret Entry Books and Register of Out-Letters
CO 854 Circular Despatches
CO 816 Original Letters Patent, Warrants, etc.
CO 380 Draft Letters Patent, Commissions, Royal Instructions, Warrants, etc.
CO 325 Miscellanea
CO 862 Register of Replies to Circular Despatches

CORRESPONDENCE

CO 714 Index to Correspondence

DOMINIONS

CO 532 Original Correspondence

DOMINIONS (WAR OF 1914-1918)

CO 616 Original Correspondence

EMIGRATION

CO 384 Original Correspondence
CO 385 Entry Books of Correspondence
CO 386 Records. Colonial Land and Emigration Commission
CO 428 Register of Correspondence
CO 485 Register of Out-Letters

GOVERNORS' PENSIONS

CO 449 Original Correspondence

HONOURS

CO 448 Original Correspondence
CO 728 Register of Correspondence
CO 729 Register of Out-Letters

MAPS AND PLANS

CO 700 Maps

OVERSEAS SETTLEMENT

CO 721 Original Correspondence
CO 791 Register of Correspondence

REGISTERS

CO 326 Colonies, General
CO 382 Daily Correspondence
CO 383 Register of Acts 

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