These records comprise the second of the annual, single number series recorded by the Federal Capital Office Melbourne (and Canberra). This series commenced in April 1917 (an overlap of 3 months with the previous series) and continued possibly to 1921, when the Federal Capital Office was abolished, although the extant files of the series only go as far as 19 18/301. The existing control record for this series is CRS A215 - Subject index cards, which gives no indication of the final date with the concomitant file number. However it is possible that items were registered in this series until 1921. These titles probably became the main correspondence file series for the Federal Capital Office, particularly for the correspondence of Walter Burley Griffin. The folios and files were registered the same square shaped date stamp - Federal Capital Office, Melbourne - used in the previous series CRS A791, with the first registration number dated to April 1917. This date coincided with the findings of the Royal Commission on Federal Capital Administration: (1) Issues relating to Mr Griffin dated April 17, 1917, which confirmed W.B. Griffin's position as Director of Design and Construction. However the findings appear to have been anticipated as many of the folios date back to October 1916, when Griffin had written asking for a permanent office organisation to be arranged. This was agreed to and confirmed by the Minister of Home Affairs - King O'Malley on 15 November 1916. However W.B. Griffin's own office stamp an oval shaped one, marked Federal Capital D&C, as distinct from the Melbourne office square stamp came into use about July 1917 two or three months after the series began. The oval stamp then took precedence over the Melbourne one, and continued with the sequential numbering originating in April 1917. The records in this series deal with all subjects pertaining to the construction of the Capital City ranging from general administration of the office, including accounts, staffing estimates, stores, to the problems and decisions concerning the building of the city, such as railways, water sources, power houses, roads, city plans, cemeteries and specific buildings e.g. Royal Military College, as well, as afforestation of the city, materials used in construction, machinery required and finally telephone communications. Many of the folios were without proper coverings and have been organised by Australian Archives into manila folders according to the subject matter, dating and stamp (both square and oval) numbers, then annotated in the correct sequence.Of the few  
file covers that do still exist and are clearly part of the Federal Capital records, three types are to be formed - 1. Folder of plain white reinforced, material (? paper) 2. Similar folder as no. 1 but with printed identification title - "Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Home Affairs, File of papers, Subject" 3. Folders of blue cardboard, known as 'Duo Quick Binders". As far as can be ascertained, the plain folders carried the oval stamp; the printed folders - the square stamp and the blue folders - no stamp or number, but sometimes a file title. But this was by no means consistent and a number of file covers had no proper markings. In some cases the printed folders were turned inside out, leaving a plain white cover, which was then reused. There is also a great deal of top-numbering due to the early practice of registering single items of correspondence rather than registering files. The file numbers that have been imposed are the latest on each file. The files of this series are occasionally notated by a
complicated group of alphabetical letters e.g. DBBE or EBBE. These were letter notations for a functional classification divided under four headings, Administration, Accommodation and Special (Resources). These classifications were further sub-divided and files were given a letter notation to express the relationships of these four. This system of control seems to have applied to the Works side of the Federal Capital Office.