Company registrations

Introduction

Tasmanian companies have had to register their details with the Tasmanian Government since 1870. Company records are not available online.

What is online?

• Historical images of some Tasmanian businesses
• Post Office directories

What else is there?

Company records

• Returns of companies 1861-1980 (SC323). Arranged by file number but all entries are searchable by company name.
• Company files 1921-1990 (SC331). Most files are searchable by company name. Some types of companies such as building societies and friendly societies, operated under different legislation until they were brought under the regular act.
• Returns of foreign companies 1869-1979 (SC327). Numerical (with gaps). Separate registration remained for foreign companies despite the 1920 Act removing the distinction.
• Alphabetical registers of companies 1869-1964 (AF9). Consolidated master records for companies registered from the 1869 Act onwards, including foreign companies.
• Card register of documents filed by companies under various acts 1929-1936 (SC349). Alphabetical.
• Register of returns of companies 1859 – 1920 (SC337). Indexed and chronological. Lists company number, name and date of registration plus the dates and nature of all documents lodged.
• Index to defunct companies, business names, trade unions and others 1966-1990 (AE382). Alphabetical. Records companies that stopped trading between the mid-1960s and the end of 1990. Provides name and registration number, and the date and method of removal from the register.
• Records of companies in liquidation 1894-1988 (SC400). [Indexes companies in consignment 1 to 1963 only online]
• Company registers 1950-1990 (AC45). Content varies from volume to volume (see online notes on How to Use Series).
• List of companies struck off the Register 1961-1981 (AC53). Chronological. Records date struck off, the registered number and name of the Company. Use with Register of struck off company notices (AC54) to confirm the struck off date.
• Register of struck off company notices appearing in the Gazette 1955-1987 (AC54). Alphabetical then in chronological order of date of first Gazette notice. Contains company number, company name and dates of first and second gazette notices. Useful to confirm the accuracy of ‘struck off’ dates.
• Registers of defunct companies 1869-1966 (AC47). Alphabetical. Registration sheets of extinct or defunct companies. Covers companies registered under the 1869, 1920, 1959 and 1962 Acts, including foreign companies.
• Index to registered companies 1940 (AC50). Alphabetical then numerical. Serves as an index to companies registered under the 1869 and 1920 Acts, including foreign companies to about 1947. Lists company number, company name, and if struck off, the date on which this took place.
• List of companies struck off the register 1961-1981 (AC53). Chronological. Records date struck off and the registered number and name of the Company. Use with Register of struck off company notices (AC54) which confirms the ‘struck off’ dates by reference to the formal Gazette notices.
• Alphabetical registers of bills of sale 1867-1993 (SC361). Alphabetical. Record the interests of lenders, including banks, finance companies and individuals.
• Register of foreign companies 1922-1964 (AC46). Alphabetical. Registers of foreign companies, where foreign meant incorporation outside Tasmania where there was a registered Tasmanian office or agent.
• Register of foreign companies 1940-1949 (AC52). Numerical. The register contains the name and number of the company, date of registration and a remarks column which notes when the company ended.
• See the entry for the Companies Office for a full list of records.

Firm and business names

• Documents about registering firms 1900-1963 (SC341). Arranged by Firm number. Information includes name of firm, nature of business, address and name of owner.
• Alphabetical list of firms struck off the register 1923-1944 (SC348) Records name and number of firm, reference to book and page (SC342), Gazette date and date struck off.
• Indexes to registers of applications as firms 1900-1941 (SC343). Alphabetical. The first index records the name of the firm, registration number and page number in the register. The second index records only the name and date struck off, if applicable.
• Index cards to firms whose registration has expired, been cancelled or renewed 1942-1964 (SC351). Alphabetical. Records firm name and registration number, business of the firm, registered address, date of registration, members and date of expiry, cancellation or renewal.
• Index cards to business names cancelled, renewed or expired 1963-1967 (SC534). Alphabetical. Records name, registered number, place and nature of business, and date of registration.
• See also Index AE382 1966-1990, above.
• Register of applications for firms 1900-1941 (SC342). Numerical. Records the number, name and business of firm, address, person/s registering, date of registration and date struck off.
• Register of businesses 1962-1993 (SC537). Numerical. Contains date, number and name of business noting if business expired or cancelled.
• Card index of 19th century business advertisements in the History Room, Hobart.

Notes

To find company registration details:

• Perform a basic search by placing the company name in the Title field. This often works but sometimes companies are listed only by company number.
• To find the company number within the company series, look at the registers then search online by that number. We do not hold private company records, unless the company has chosen to deposit them. To find if we hold records for a company, try an agency search. For example, entering Electrolytic Zinc in the Title field will find E. Z. Company holdings. A Basic search produces many related entries rather than just the records transferred by the E. Z. Company.
• Before 1870 people lodged company registrations with the Supreme Court to create an official record but it was voluntary.
• Before the Business Names Act 1962, ‘firm’ was the preferred term.
• The Companies Office was responsible for company registration and control, firms and business names, friendly societies and some trade unions and other bodies.
• When the Companies Office closed, records for current businesses transferred to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).
• There is no longer state-based registration for business names in Australia. Like companies, ASIC manages business names.

Related

• Mines Department records
• Trove
• Guide: How can I find out about a person’s work?
• Publican licence records guide
• Library resources about the history of Tasmanian businesses.

What can I find from other organisations?

• Australian Securities and Investments Commission