| Agency DetailsThe Northern Territory Gold Mining Act defined miners' rights and mining leases; the Mining Board and its powers; and the powers and duties of the Wardens. The Wardens were given power to give judgement, make decisions and orders in disputes. From 1896 Chief Warden, Mr. R.C. Playford, was also designated as Surveyor heading the Land Office.
The powers and functions of the Office continued under the Commonwealth Government "whereas by the Northern Territory Acceptance Act 1910 any power vested by an Act of the State of South Australia, continued in force in the Northern Territory ... is vested in the Governor-General."
During 1912 several changes in the administration of lands, survey and mines functions were made resulting in the creation of a Lands Department, a Survey Department and a Mines Department. The Chief Warden's Office passed some functions to the new Mines Department. The Director of Mines and Chief Warden prepared separate annual reports for the Administrator until 1919/20.
In 1921 the positions of Director of Mines and Chief Warden were amalgamated with the Director of Surveys into the position of Director of Lands and Mines heading a new Lands and Mines Department. Mr. Playford assumed this position on 3 October 1921.
| Period | Title | Group Id |
| 1874 - 1900 | Colony of South Australia | 6 |
| 1901 - 1910 | South Australia | 5 |
| 1911 - 1921 | Commonwealth of Australia | 1 |
| Series Id | Series Title | Series Date Range | Number of Units | Public Access | Location |
| NTRS 3708 | Mineral production cards (alphabetical) | c 1843 - c 1970 | 6 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 1924 | Master microfilm copy of Northern Territory gold claim plans, volumes 1-2 | 1872 - 1893 | 1 | Restricted | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 2576 | Reference microfiche copy of Northern Territory gold claim plans | 1872 - 1893 | 1 | Open | Darwin (Danala) |
| NTRS 4318 | Survey plans of gold claims | 1872 - 1920 | 5 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 1925 | Master microfilm copy of book of plans of Northern Territory gold mining leases, numbers 19-85 | 1873 - 1874 | 1 | Restricted | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 2577 | Reference microfiche copy of books of plans of Northern Territory gold mining leases, numbers 19-85 | 1873 - 1874 | 1 | Open | Darwin (Danala) |
| NTRS 4315 | Survey plans of gold mining leases (GML) | 1873 - 1915 | 14 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 1926 | Master microfilm copy of book of plans of Northern Territory mineral claims, numbers 1-100 | 1881 - 1918 | 1 | Restricted | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 2578 | Reference microfiche copy of books of plans of Northern Territory mineral claims, numbers 1-100 | 1881 - 1918 | 1 | Open | Darwin (Danala) |
| NTRS 3707 | Mineral production cards (annual) | c 1881 - c 1986 | 20 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 4316 | Survey plans of mineral claims | 1881 - 1918 | 2 | Restricted | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 4317 | Survey plans of mineral leases | 1881 - 1917 | 3 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 427 | Mineral industry statistics | 1886 - 1975 | 3 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 4496 | Register of forfeiture of gold mining leases | 1898 - 1921 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 392 | Gold returns, monthly statements of mineral returns and royalty returns | 1899 - 1953 | 3 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 4474 | Register of assay and ore purchase returns | 1903 - 1909 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 3281 | Register of registered agreements | 1904 - 1940 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 3282 | Register of appointed agents | 1904 - 1948 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 3284 | Register for transfers of mining tenements | 1904 - 1940 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 3285 | Plaint book | 1904 - 1940 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 3287 | Register of amalgamation of tenements | 1904 - 1937 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 4333 | Register of amalgamations and applications for mining leases | 1904 - 1939 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 4414 | Register of applications for protected mining leases | 1904 - 1941 | 2 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 400 | Account sales of ore for Palmerston Government Smelting Works | 1905 - 1908 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 4255 | Lien tickets, annual single number series | 1905 - 1933 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 2900 | Register of business licences and permits | 1907 - 1943 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 3286 | Register of miscellaneous tenements | 1907 - 1948 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 4320 | Register of gold tenements | 1907 - 1941 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 2715 | Correspondence dockets | 1908 - 1938 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 2884 | Correspondence files, annual single number | 1908 - 1934 | 3 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 2881 | Correspondence files, single number | 1910 - 1915 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 3283 | Register of garden rents | 1910 - 1948 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 2727 | Outward letterbook | 1911 - 1912 | 1 | Restricted | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 2882 | Correspondence files with "M" prefix | 1911 - 1913 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 3288 | Register of suspension of leases | 1911 - 1940 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 3290 | Register of suspension of tenements | 1911 - 1940 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |
| NTRS 2843 | Indentures of mineral leases, Central Australia register | 1918 - 1923 | 1 | Agreement Pending | Darwin (NTAC) |