AGY-2026 | Housing Board

Full description

The Housing Board was established under the provisions of the Housing Act, 1912, and consisted of three members, each appointed by the Governor for a term of five years, with one of them appointed the Chairman.(1) On 24 April 1912 the first appointments to the Board were published in the Government Gazette.(2) The Act provided for the Board to acquire land by purchase, resumption, or appropriation (3), to construct and maintain buildings, and to use, lease, or dispose of such land and buildings. The activities of the Board were financed by money set apart to a special account in Treasury as the Housing Fund, controlled by the Board, and maintained in capital and revenue divisions.(4) The Board was required to provide the Minister with a plan of any land acquired, showing proposed roads and reserves, and land to be set apart as sites for buildings, or for religious, charitable, or municipal purposes.(5) Proposals for the construction of buildings for residential, business, or other purposes, or for public use, with an estimate of cost, also required the Minister's approval. The Board was responsible for the maintenance, repair and insurance of buildings.(6) In disposing of land, the Board could lease for residential, building, or other purposes for any term not exceeding seven years, or sell land and buildings to buyers for their own or a family member's use, provided no one person purchased more than one property.(7) The Housing Board was abolished by the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1924, assented to 17 November 1924. The Act vested all powers, duties, and authorities of the Board in the Minister responsible for administration of the Housing Act.(8) FOOTNOTES 1.Housing Act, Act No 7, 1912, s.3 2.NSW Government Gazette, 24 April 1912, p.2475 3.Housing Act, op cit, s.4 4.ibid, s.14 5.ibid, s.5 6.ibid, s.7 7.ibid, s.8 8.Housing (Amendment) Act, Act No 27, 1924, s.2(1)