This series began in 1904 with a simple single number arrangement with year suffix working in five year cycles. Applications were allocated a number on lodgement which was retained throughout their life as applications or patents if accepted. The year suffix is not normally cited unless there is some danger of confusion with a number in a previous or subsequent cycle of numbers. This practice changed in December 1935. All applications accepted between December 1935 and April 1954 were top numbered into a six figure series CRS A661 . From May 1954 to April 1970 a second six figure series CRS A1506 was used. A third six figure series CRS A3920 was in operation 1970-1979. Another CRS A5691 has been used since 1979. During its lifetime several lapses have occurred in the five year cycle allocation of numbers. From 1936 to 1940 a new cycle was started each year. Since 1960 it has been the practice to commence each cycle with 10,000. However the 1966 cycle started with the number one. Year and cycle of numbers used: 1904/1910 1-20337; 1911/1915 1-18302; 1938 1-5764; 1916/1920 1-19351; 1939 1-5741; 1921/1925 1-26553 1940 1-4439; 1926/1930 1-30946; 1941/1945; 1-25722; 1931/1935 1-25875; 1946/1950 1- 8931; 1936 1-5484; 1951/1954 1-27301; 1937 1-5585; 1954/ 1- ; 1960 56169. Prior to 31 December 1969 all applications for Patent were registered in this series. Since 1 January 1970 applications lodged with provisional specifications are registered in a new single number series with two letter prefix CRS A3919. They are top-numbered into this series on lodgement of completespecifications. An application for patent may lapse or be withdrawn prior to acceptance. If an application lodged with provisional specification lapses it is not available for public inspection under the terms of the Patent Act. An application with complete specification falls open to public inspection 18 months after lodgement. The part of this series created between 1904 and 1935 was culled in 1964. All those accepted applications considered to be of historical or legal interest have been converted for permanent retention (218 cases). A typical file in this series comprises: Form IN Index sheet; Form 1 Application for patent; Form 7 Declaration in support; Form 9 Provisional specification; Form 9A True copy provisional specification; Form 10 Complete specification; Form 2B Correspondence cover; Form 2C File cover application for letter patent complete; and various forms andcorrespondence relating to the examination of the application.The file cover (Form 2C) has provision for number and date of lodgement; then down the left hand side it lists the formal proceedings: OP1 date, OP1 advertised, abstract completed, microfilmed date and batch, Section 47A action commenced, Form FE sent, advertised accepted, Sec 77 request advertised, allowance advertised, final date for sealing, sealing directed in list of, Patent sealed, Patent despatched, advertised, lapsed, refused or withdrawn, and other proceedings. The right hand side is taken up with the normal folio/for action/movement details. The bottom section covers the payment of fees and period of acceptance. The inside front cover has provision for the notation of brief details of the invention, its classification and any amendments.Access provisions for this series are covered by the act. Lapsed or withdrawn applications lodged with provisional specifications are not open to public inspection and are destroyed (after 20 years) in the agency. Lapsed applications with complete specifications open to public inspection 18 months after lodgement) are sentenced for review after 53 years. Accepted applications (after December 1935) are top numbered into one of the six figure series.

Disposal history

Consignment A627/69(33.12m) was destroyed on 18 September 2014. Refer to 2014/1324 (electronic) for destruction documentation.
Destruction Job:2014/496956

Consignments A627T29, A627T30, A627T31, A627T34, A627T35, A627T36, A627T37, A627T39, A627T40, A627T41, A627T47, A627T48, A627T49, A627T50 were permanently withdrawn by the agency on 15 December 2015.