Plan searches

Old plans can be very useful to architects, draftspersons and engineers for designing alterations or ascertaining the loads able to be sustained by older buildings. They are also often of historical interest to building owners. Council provides a service to locate such files where possible.

Click to download Council's application form for a building plan search:  Application for Building Plan Search (90.50 KB)

Stonnington was formed in 1994 from the old Prahran and Malvern Councils. Although building permits have been required for building work since the 19th century, the retention of older permits (ie plans) cannot always be guaranteed. Here is a guide by suburb of the likelihood of old plans being held by Council:

Former Prahran (ie west of Kooyong Road)

South Yarra, Windsor, Prahran, Armadale, Toorak - reliable records since 1954, some records from the early 1940's.

Former Malvern (ie east of Kooyong Road)

Armadale, Toorak, Malvern, Glen Iris, Kooyong, Malvern East - reliable records from around the 1930s. Prior to 1930s some plans are available through the Malvern Archives - Ph 8290 1360 ( see also the Stonnington History Centre ).

Costs

A non-refundable fee of $90 for domestic buildings and $110 for commercial buildings is charged for plan searches to cover administration, archive retrieval and transport - see link elsewhere on this page to download the form. It is recommended that a free pre-enquiry be made for a quick check of what is likely to be available at a particular address (call 8290 3218).

The written authority of the current owner of the land is required to view any building plan.

Other Types of Searches

Note that the above information relates only to searches for old building permit documents. Searching for other types of documents is also possible via other departments - eg Town Planning, general Freedom of Information and Stonnington Archives (go to the Stonnington Local History Service).