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Dictionary of Sydney

The Dictionary of Sydney
Subjects
Politics and Government
Legislation

The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

Legislation

Subject

Bassett-Darley Estate

ANZAC Memorial (Building) Act 1923

Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983

Aborigines Protection (Amendment) Act 1963

Aborigines Protection Act 1909

Act to empower Coroners to hold Inquests concerning Fires 1861

Alignment of Sydney Streets Act 1834

Anti-Discrimination Act 1977

Bank of New South Wales (Change of Name) Act 1982

Bassett-Darley Estates Act 1877

Borough of Balmain Electric Lighting Act 1906

Child Welfare Act 1923

Child Welfare Act 1939

Chinese Restriction and Regulation Act 1888

Church Act 1836

City and Suburban Electric Railways (Amendment) Act 1947

City and Suburban Electric Railways Act 1915

City of Sydney Improvement Act 1879

Clean Waters Act 1970

Conveyancing (Strata Titles) Act 1961

Cooks River Improvement Act 1897

Cooks River Improvement Act 1946

Coroners' Act 1898

Coroners' Act 1901 No 54

Coroners' Act 1912 No 30

Coroners' Bail for Manslaughter Act of 1861 No 15a

Crown Lands Alienation Act 1861

Crown Lands Occupation Act 1861

Darling Harbour Authority (Further Amendment) Act 1985

Darling Harbour Authority Act 1984

Darling Harbour Wharves Resumption Act 1900

Defence Act 1903

Dental Hospital Unions Bill 1904

Destitute Children Act 1866

Divorce Extension and Amendment Act 1892

Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979

Explosives Act 1905

Factories and Shops Act 1896

Field of Mars Common Resumption Act 1874

Fire Brigades Act 1884

Fire Brigades Act 1909

Fisheries Act 1881

Heritage Act 1977

Housing Act 1912

Immigration Restriction Act 1901

Industrial Arbitration Act 1940

Industrial Schools Act, 1866

Influx of Chinese Restriction Act 1881

Jeanneret's Tramway Act 1881

Land for Public Purposes Acquisition Act 1880

Library Act 1939

Liquor Acts 1882/83

Lunacy Amendment Act 1934

Main Roads Management Act, 1858

Masters' and Servants' Act 1845

Miscellaneous Acts Amendment (Same Sex Relationships) Act 2008

Municipalities Act 1858

Municipalities Act 1867

Neglected Children's and Juvenile Offenders Act 1905

New South Wales Customs Regulation Act 1830

North Shore, Manly, and Pittwater Tramway and Railway Act 1889

Noxious Trades and Cattle Slaughtering Act 1894

Old Age Pensions Act 1900

Parramatta Domain Act 1857

Parramatta Park Trust Act 2001

Party Processions Prevention Act 1846

Police Offences (Amendment) Act 1908

Postage Act 1825

Prevention and Relief of Unemployment Act 1930

Prisoners' Detention Act 1908

Public Health Act 1896

Public Hospitals Act No.8 1929

Public Instruction (Amendment) Act 1916

Public Instruction Act 1880

Public Schools Act 1866

Real Property Act 1862

Reformatory Schools Act 1866

State Children Relief Act 1881

Summary Offences Act No 96, 1970

Sydney Building Act 1837

Sydney City Incorporation Act 1842

Sydney Harbour Bridge (Administration) Act 1922

Sydney Harbour Bridge Act No. 28 1922

Sydney Harbour Collieries Act 1903

Sydney Police Act 1833

Sydney Slaughter-houses Act 1849

Technical Education and New South Wales University of Technology Act 1949

The Glebe Lands (Apppropriation) Act 1974

Theatres and Public Halls Act 1908

Treason Felony Act 1868

Vagrancy (Amendment) Act 1929

Walker Trust Act 1838

Width of Streets and Lanes Act 1881

Women's Legal Status Act 1918

Immigration Restriction Act 1901

New South Wales Legislative Council, University of Sydney Bill 1852

Title page of 'Manual for coroners and magistrates in New South Wales' by Thomas E. Mac Nevin 1884

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Legislation

Bassett-Darley Estate

The history of the Bassett-Darley estates chronicles D'Arcy Wentworth's attempts to control his lands after his death, which ultimately failed, resulting in the type of subdivision typical in Sydney in the nineteenth century.

ANZAC Memorial (Building) Act 1923

Legislation passed to enable the building of an Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park, amended in 1984 and 1996 to rededicate the memorial to all the conflicts in which Australians have been involved.

full record »

Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983

Legislation which provided land rights for Aboriginal persons and provides representative Land Councils which may acquire and manage lands and other assets.

full record »

Aborigines Protection (Amendment) Act 1963

Legislation which removed certain restrictions of previous acts governing Aboriginal affairs, including restrictions on the drinking of alcohol.

full record »

Aborigines Protection Act 1909

Legislation which increased state government control of Aboriginal people's lives including the power to remove children from families.

full record »

Act to empower Coroners to hold Inquests concerning Fires 1861

Act that was passed by the New South Wales government in April 1861 to empower coroners to hold inquests concerning fires. The Bill had been brought into the Legislative Councilon 12 October 1859 by Mr Holden.

full record »

Alignment of Sydney Streets Act 1834

Legislation to prevent encroachments onto public ways and to regulate alignments of streets.

full record »

Anti-Discrimination Act 1977

Legislation relating to discrimination in employment, the public education system, delivery of goods and services, racial, sexual and other forms of discrimination.

full record »

Bank of New South Wales (Change of Name) Act 1982

Legislation to change the name of the Bank of New South Wales to Westpac so as to more accurately reflect its place in the region.

full record »

Bassett-Darley Estates Act 1877

Legislation passed to enable the sale of the Basset-Darley estate.

full record »

Borough of Balmain Electric Lighting Act 1906

Legislation that enabled Balmain council to generate power for supply to neighbouring areas. The privately owned Electric Light and Power Supply Corporation was contracted to build a power station which commenced operation in September 1909.

full record »

Child Welfare Act 1923

Legislation to amend previous acts and increase government powers to place children at risk in institutions and the legal framework for those institutions.

full record »

Child Welfare Act 1939

Legislation to consolidate and amend previous laws relating to young people and giving much greater power to the Child Welfare Department including the power to remove Aboriginal children from their families.

full record »

Chinese Restriction and Regulation Act 1888

Legislation of 1888 to restrict Chinese immigration.

full record »

Church Act 1836

Legislation which provided Government subsidies for clerical salaries and for new church construction.

full record »

City and Suburban Electric Railways (Amendment) Act 1947

Legislation to allow the expansion of the electric railway to the south east (the Illawarra Line) and to the eastern suburbs though this was not achieved until 1979.

full record »

City and Suburban Electric Railways Act 1915

Legislation to provide for the construction of electric railways in Sydney.

full record »

City of Sydney Improvement Act 1879

Legislation to improve building practice and sanitation in Sydney buildings.

full record »

Clean Waters Act 1970

Legislation which classified the waters of the Cooks River and its tributaries as 'restricted', that is, unsuitable for domestic purposes but suitable to maintain aquatic life and associated wildlife. This classification was given to control industry and domestic outflows into the river.

full record »

Conveyancing (Strata Titles) Act 1961

Legislation to facilitate the subdivision of land into lots by registering a strata thereby allowing the lots to be leased or sold individually.

full record »

Cooks River Improvement Act 1897

Legislation to effect the construction of an embankment, extending the sluice gates and dredging to allow better discharge of flood waters.

full record »

Cooks River Improvement Act 1946

Legislation to allow construction of certain works for the improvement of Wolli Creek and the Cooks River.

full record »

Coroners' Act 1898

An Act passed by the New South Wales parliament in July 1898 to consolidate the Enactments relating to Coroners' inquests, and to Magisterial inquiries into the cause of death.

full record »

Coroners' Act 1901 No 54

Act passed by the New South Wales parliament to give coroners and deputy coroners the powers and duties of justices; to give certain magistrates the powers and duties of coroners; and to amend the law relating to coronial inquisitions.

full record »

Coroners' Act 1912 No 30

Act passed by the New South Wales parliament in November 1912 to consolidate the enactments relating to coroners' inquests, and to magisterial inquiries into the cause of death.

full record »

Coroners' Bail for Manslaughter Act of 1861 No 15a

An Act passed by the New South Wales parliament to enable Coroners to admit to bail persons charged with manslaughter.

full record »

Crown Lands Alienation Act 1861

Legislation to allow the sale of Crown land.

full record »

Crown Lands Occupation Act 1861

Legislation to allow the leasing of Crown land.

full record »

Darling Harbour Authority (Further Amendment) Act 1985

Legislation to allow the Darling Harbour Authority to install and operate the monorail.

full record »

Darling Harbour Authority Act 1984

Legislation to constitute the New Darling Harbour Authority and to specify its powers, authorities, duties and functions.

full record »

Darling Harbour Wharves Resumption Act 1900

Legislation to allow the resumption and cleansing of wharves and residential areas which was seen as a necessary response to prevent the spread of the 'Bubonic Plague'.

full record »

Defence Act 1903

Legislation which the government the power to conscript for the purposes of home defence. The legislation did not allow soldiers to be conscripted for overseas service.
It was the first pieces of legislation passed by the new Commonwealth government.

full record »

Dental Hospital Unions Bill 1904

Legislation to provide for the union of the University Dental Hospital and the Dental Hospital of Sydney.

full record »

Destitute Children Act 1866

Legislation to establish training institutions for destitute or delinquent children.

full record »

Divorce Extension and Amendment Act 1892

Legislation that widened the grounds for divorce and gave the court more powers to divide property and to forbid publication of evidence.

full record »

Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979

Legislation first enacted in 1979 ensure the proper management and conservation of threatened species and their habitat.

full record »

Explosives Act 1905

Legislation to amend the then current laws relating to explosives. Repealed in 1978.

full record »

Factories and Shops Act 1896

Legislation regulating working conditions and hours in industry and shops, and restricting the working hours of women and children.

full record »

Field of Mars Common Resumption Act 1874

Legislation enacted to enable the sale of the Field of Mars Common, which was resumed to raise finance for infrastructure.

full record »

Fire Brigades Act 1884

Legislation to protect life and property against loss or damage by fire by establishing a board with the powers to administer both the existing commercial and voluntary brigades.

full record »

Fire Brigades Act 1909

Legislation which dissolved volunteer brigades and consolidated protection of life and property under the Board of Fire Commissioners of New South Wales.

full record »

Fisheries Act 1881

Legislation to repeal previous acts and create more effective laws to prevent the destruction of breeding grounds, and to protect and regulate the industry.

full record »

Heritage Act 1977

Legislation to conserve the environmental heritage of the State.

full record »

Housing Act 1912

Legislation to provide for the purchase of lands and construction and maintenance of buildings and works, by the Housing Board which this Act also established.

full record »

Immigration Restriction Act 1901

full record »

Federal legislation which formed the basis of the White Australia policy. It introduced a dictation test which could be given in any language, thereby giving immigration officers wide discretion in preventing entry. The dictation test was abolished in 1958 and the White Australia policy in March 1966 when it was announced that restriction on immigration by non-Europeans would be eased.

Industrial Arbitration Act 1940

Legislation that consolidated previous Acts and rationalised the procedures of the Industrial Commission.

full record »

Industrial Schools Act, 1866

Act of parliament which allowed the establishment of the Nautical School Ships Vernon and Sobraon.

full record »

Influx of Chinese Restriction Act 1881

Legislation to place restrictions on immigration of Chinese to the Colony.

full record »

Jeanneret's Tramway Act 1881

Legislation to allow the construction of a tramway along George Street Parramatta from the wharf to the town centre by Charles Edward Jeanneret.

full record »

Land for Public Purposes Acquisition Act 1880

Legislation to provide for the acquisition by the government of lands for public purposes.

full record »

Library Act 1939

Legislation passed by the New South Wales Government on 2 November 1939 that aimed to encourage local governments to establish free public libraries for their citizens, including financial subsidies. Full proclamation of the Act was delayed until January 1944 due to World War II. The Library Board overseeing the establishment and running of the libraries was constituted in February, and public libraries were rapidly established around the state by councils adopting the Act.

full record »

Liquor Acts 1882/83

Legislation which introduced municipal Local Option allowing ratepayers to decide the fate of their neighbourhood hotels. They could vote to either increase the number of licenses in their municipality or to continue the existing number, but not to decrease them. Opening hours were also restricted - to 6am til 11pm and no Sunday trading.

full record »

Lunacy Amendment Act 1934

Legislation which made provision for admission of voluntary patients to hospitals, licensed houses and reception houses,

full record »

Main Roads Management Act, 1858

Act of parliament governing the management of the colony's three main roads.

full record »

Masters' and Servants' Act 1845

Legislation to regulate labour relations by requiring loyalty and obedience from contracted servants, and which in reality disciplined employees and repressed combination of workers in labour unions.

full record »

Miscellaneous Acts Amendment (Same Sex Relationships) Act 2008

Legislation to amend previous Acts in relation to same sex and other de facto relationships.

full record »

Municipalities Act 1858

Legislation which enabled a group of at least 50 ratepayers to petition for a municipality to be created.

full record »

Municipalities Act 1867

Legislation which provided for the subdivision of municipalities into boroughs and districts, each with designated area and population qualifications.

full record »

Neglected Children's and Juvenile Offenders Act 1905

Legislation to make better provision for the protection, control, education, maintenance, and reformation of neglected and uncontrollable children, to provide for the establishment and control of institutions, to constitute children's courts and to provide for the licensing and regulation of children trading in streets.

full record »

New South Wales Customs Regulation Act 1830

An Act to regulate the customs and trade within New South Wales and its dependencies.

full record »

North Shore, Manly, and Pittwater Tramway and Railway Act 1889

Legislation enacted to authorise the construction of the tramway from the North Shore terminus to The Spit, Manly and Pittwater.

full record »

Noxious Trades and Cattle Slaughtering Act 1894

Legislation to restrict the establishment of polluting industries near residential areas and to regulate the industries by means of a Board of Health.

full record »

Old Age Pensions Act 1900

Legislation enacted in 1901 to provide a pension to deserving persons in New South Wales. Federal legislation was introduced in 1908 and the state legislation repealed in 1911.

full record »

Parramatta Domain Act 1857

Legislation which created a public park from the southern portion of Parramatta Domain in 1857.

full record »

Parramatta Park Trust Act 2001

Legislation of 2001 to establish the governance of Parramatta Park.

full record »

Party Processions Prevention Act 1846

Legislation to limit political and religious processions by societies or associations.

full record »

Police Offences (Amendment) Act 1908

Legislation which made it an offence for men to operate a brothel, act as a pimp, or profit from the earnings of prostitution. As it did not apply to women many saw it as a business opportunity and became a madam.

full record »

Postage Act 1825

Legislation to establish a general post office and postal service throughout the colony.

full record »

Prevention and Relief of Unemployment Act 1930

Legislation that established the Council for Prevention and Relief of Unemployment which had wide powers to establish schemes for unemployed workers during the Depression.

full record »

Prisoners' Detention Act 1908

Act of parliament governing the penal system in New South Wales.

full record »

Public Health Act 1896

Legislation which increased the powers of the Board of Health over many aspects of municipal jurisdiction concerning public health and established compulsory notification of infectious diseases.

full record »

Public Hospitals Act No.8 1929

Legislation to incorporate, regulate and promote public hospitals.

full record »

Public Instruction (Amendment) Act 1916

Act making school attendance compulsory for all children.

full record »

Public Instruction Act 1880

Legislation that removed government funding from church schools and established a Department of Public Instruction.

full record »

Public Schools Act 1866

Legislation to make better provision for public education by creating the Council of Education to provide centralised administration. It was repealed by the Public Instruction Act 1880.

full record »

Real Property Act 1862

Legislation based on registration of the land itself in a single register so that it was no longer necessary to prove ownership back to the original grant.

full record »

Reformatory Schools Act 1866

Legislation that established reformatory schools to which any child under 16 could be sent if convicted of a criminal offence, for up to five years.

full record »

State Children Relief Act 1881

Legislation to allow the boarding out and apprenticeship of destitute children.

full record »

Summary Offences Act No 96, 1970

Legislation which made certain offences punishable in a summary manner. These included prostitution, vagrancy, betting, public assembly and drunkeness.

full record »

Sydney Building Act 1837

Legislation designed to bring order into building and subdivision of land in Sydney

full record »

Sydney City Incorporation Act 1842

Act to incorporate the City of Sydney and empower the City Corporation to make by-laws.

full record »

Sydney Harbour Bridge (Administration) Act 1922

Legislation to amend the management of the Bridge including the levying of tolls and charges.

full record »

Sydney Harbour Bridge Act No. 28 1922

Legislation which provided for the construction of a high level cantilevered or arch bridge across the Harbour including the approaches and electric railway lines. Tenders were called and an arched design was chosen.

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Sydney Harbour Collieries Act 1903

Legislation to allow the company of the same name to drive two headings or shafts under the harbour and Balmain peninsula.

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Sydney Police Act 1833

An Act to regulate and prevent various nuisances in the growing city of Sydney.

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Sydney Slaughter-houses Act 1849

Legislation to ensure no new slaughter houses could be licensed within two miles of the city limits as it was believed that they had become a nuisance to the health and comfort of residents.

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Technical Education and New South Wales University of Technology Act 1949

Act establishing a Technical Education Advisory Council to advise the Minister for Education.

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The Glebe Lands (Apppropriation) Act 1974

Federal legislation championed by Tom Uren, Minister for Urban and Rural Development and passed by the Whitlam government, to enable the purchase and transfer of housing from church to state. It thereby allowed the preservation of the townscape and the opportunity for low income earners and families to stay close to the city.

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Theatres and Public Halls Act 1908

Legislation to regulate the holding of any public entertainment to ensure the preservation of good manners and decorum.

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Treason Felony Act 1868

Repressive legislation for the suppression and punishment of sedition after an attempt was made on the life of Prince Alfred at Clontarff. That the perpertrator was Irish inflamed prejudice and racism against Irish and Catholics.

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Vagrancy (Amendment) Act 1929

Legislation which made it an offence to consort with known criminals, prostitutes and others of dubious repute. These heightened powers for police drove prostitution in to underworld brothels.

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Walker Trust Act 1838

Legislation to establish the Dame Eadith Walker Convalescent Hospital for Men at Concord and, according to the wills of Thomas and Eadith Walker, vested control of the Walker trusts in the Crown.

full record »

Width of Streets and Lanes Act 1881

Legislation to regulate the width of streets and lanes and for certain other purposes.

full record »

Women's Legal Status Act 1918

Legislation to provide that women should not be discriminated against by reason of sex from holding certain positions or to practising certain professions.

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Immigration Restriction Act 1901

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Contributed By

National Archives of Australia

[A1559, 1901/17]

New South Wales Legislative Council, University of Sydney Bill 1852

full record »

Contributed By

New South Wales Parliamentary Archives

[Legislative Council 1, Manuscript Records (Box 58) - 6th Council, 2nd Session (1852), Public Acts - 16 Vic No. 28]

Title page of 'Manual for coroners and magistrates in New South Wales' by Thomas E. Mac Nevin 1884

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

(Manual for coroners and magistrates in New South Wales : being a practical guide to the proceedings of the coroner's court and to the holding of magisterial inquiries in lieu of inquests by justices of the peace, by Thomas E. Mac Nevin, Chief Clerk, Department of Justice, Sydney : Govt. Printer, 1884.) (Mitchell Library)

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