Folio Plans in Tasmania: What They Show and How They Relate to Title

Plain-English Answer

In Tasmania, land is recorded under the Torrens system administered by the Recorder of Titles, with each property identified by a volume and folio reference (for example, "Volume 55736 Folio 7"). The folio plan is the diagram showing the lot the folio relates to, while the folio text is the written record of current ownership and registered interests. The folio plan supports the folio text, and the two are typically supplied together as a title search — though the Register maintained by the Recorder of Titles remains the authoritative record of title, and can include more than these two documents.

Folio plans are held and made available through The LIST (Land Information System Tasmania), the state's online land information service.

What the Document Can Show

A folio plan shows the lot boundaries and dimensions, the plan number the lot was created from, the parish and land district, and how the current lot relates to the parcel it was originally granted or subdivided from.

It cross-references the volume and folio number so it can be read alongside the folio text, which shows current ownership, mortgages, easements and other registered interests (see mortgages on title).

What It Cannot Establish

A folio plan does not confirm where boundary pegs currently sit on the ground, and does not reflect fences, buildings or other changes made to the land after the plan was registered. Some older or compiled folio plans are illustrative only rather than based on a full field survey, so the plan alone may not be conclusive evidence of a boundary's exact position.

It also does not include Tasmanian planning scheme zoning, planning overlays, council rates or building condition — these are covered by separate planning and property reports available through The LIST, not the folio plan itself.

Practical Next Steps

Find your volume and folio reference on your existing title documents or rates notice, then, where available, order the folio plan (and folio text, if needed) through TitleNow.

If you're assessing a boundary or subdivision question for an owner-builder project, ordering the folio plan and folio text together gives you both the physical lot layout and the current registered ownership and interests.

When to Seek Professional Advice

A folio plan does not re-establish a boundary on the ground. For boundary marking or verification, engage a licensed surveyor registered in Tasmania.

For advice on how a registered interest or plan notation affects a specific purchase or build, speak with a conveyancer or solicitor.

Related: What is a registered survey plan? · What is an encumbrance on a property title?

This article provides general information only and is not legal, conveyancing, surveying or financial advice. Property title and plan terminology can differ between Australian states and territories. Check the relevant land registry records for your property and obtain professional advice for your specific situation.