Before undertaking any further research, often visiting the site of a property can itself be a highly useful source of information. Even if the original building was demolished long ago, clues to its history may still be apparent in the surrounding environment. For instance, since the addresses of properties sometimes varied over time, it can be worth noting whether a property is on a corner site, whether the associated land extends to another street or may have in the past, and if it seems that a site may have been subdivided from a neighbouring property. It can also be useful to note the age and architectural style of nearby buildings, as well as the proximity of fixed reference points such as intersections, parks or prominent buildings.
House numbers change so it is crucial to have the correct Lot and Deposited Plan number.
Land title deeds are essential documents that list the previous owners of a property. It is possible to work backwards from the present certificate of title to gain information about previous owners, mortgagees, etc.
Take note of the current volume and folio number of the title and then contact the Land Information Centre for further information. Some offices allow searching online; others may require a visit to search through archives. Please note that in some cases there may be a fee for accessing these records.