AGY-1896 | Aboriginal Lands Trust

Full description

The Aboriginal Lands Trust was established by the Aborigines (Amendment) Act, 1973 which was proclaimed on 18 June 1973. (1)

The Trust consisted of the members of the Aborigines Advisory Council - that is nine Aboriginal people each chosen by popular election to represent the Aboriginal people of a particular area of New South Wales. Each member was elected for a term of three years. (2) Those eligible for election were persons of Aboriginal descent who were resident in New South Wales. (3)

The Trust met for the first time as an independent body from the Aborigines Advisory Council on 5 February 1974. Thereafter it met monthly in Sydney or in other places in New South Wales with significant Aboriginal populations. (4)

The Trust was independently funded, had its own administrator, premises and clerical staff, occupied its own premises, and reported to the Minister. (5)

The Aboriginal Lands Trust assumed the corporate ownership of all Aboriginal reserves throughout the State on behalf of, and for the benefit of Aboriginal people. (6) Under the Act freehold title to existing reserves in NSW plus the mineral right to such lands were transferred to the Trust, which was free to maintain, develop or dispose of these reserves in the manner which would best serve the needs of the Aboriginal community. The Trust was also responsible for houses located on the reserves. (7)

The Aboriginal Lands Trust was abolished by the NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act, 1983 (Act No.42, 1983). The property of the Trust was transferred to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs pending their eventual transfer to relevant Aboriginal Land Councils. (6).

Endnotes
1. NSW Government Gazette, 18 June 1973, Vol 2 0.2680.
2. Report of the Aboriginal Lands Trust for the year ended 30 June, 1974 p.3 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1975-76 Vol , 1 p.3.
3. Aborigines (Amendment) Act, 1973 s. 4.
4. Report for the year ended 30 June, 1974, op. cit., p.10.
5. Annual Report for Youth and Community Services 30 June 1974 p.28.
6. loc. cit.
7. loc. cit.
8. NSW State Archive Disposal Authority No.3871.