AGY-1946 | Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Gold Districts

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On 3 April 1851 the Government was notified of the discovery of gold (1). On 22 May 1851 a proclamation was issued stating "that all mines of gold and all gold in its natural place of deposit, within the Territory of New South Wales, whether on the lands of the Queen or of any of Her Majesty's subjects, belong to the Crown", and "that all persons who take from any lands within the said Territory, any gold metal or ore containing gold, or who within any of the Waste Lands which have not yet been alienated by the Crown, shall dig for and disturb the soil in search of such gold metal or ore, without having been duly authorised in that behalf, by Her Majesty's Colonial Government, will be prosecuted" (2) On 23 May 1851 Gold Regulations were proclaimed and a Commissioner was appointed to carry the Regulations into effect (3). The Regulations stated that no person was permitted to dig, search for, or remove gold on or from any land without first taking out and paying for a licence. Rules adjusting the extent and position of land were cover by each licence. A fee was charged for the issue of a licence (4). The Commissioner was responsible for issuing the licence and collecting the fee, as well as settling disputes over claims and water and establishing the basis of law and order in the goldfields (5). As the gold fields developed, Assistant Commissioners were appointed (6). In November 1851 the Chief Commissioner administered the gold fields from an office in Sydney, and the local management of the gold fields was left to the Assistant Gold Commissioners who reported monthly on the general condition and prospects of the gold fields, the number of licences issued, the number of cases tried at Courts of Petty Sessions, and on the conduct of the troopers (7). In 1852 a Select Committee of the Legislative Council found that the existing arrangement had led to delay and irregularity in the discharge of duties. As a result in 1853 the office of the Chief Commissioner was abolished and a Gold Commissioner reporting directly to the Colonial Secretary was placed in charge of each gold district (8). Footnotes and References: (1) Concise Guide to the New South Wales State archives p.13 (2) NSW Government Gazette 22 May 1851 Vol. 1, p.831 (3) Op Cit (4) Op Cit (5) Concise Guide, Loc Cit (6) Op Cit (7) Op Cit (8) NSW Votes and Proceedings 14 December 1852, Vol 2