Full description
The Closer Settlement Branch was established by the end of 1948. The exact date is unknown but is likely to be 6 April 1948 when the First Draftsman was appointed. (1) The branch was created by the Division of the Closer Settlement and Returned Soldiers Settlement Branch into two separate branches, viz: The Closer Settlement Branch and The War Service Settlement Branch.
The role of the branch was to administer the various Closer Settlement Acts specifically the acquisition of new and management of existing closer settlement lands. This responsibility included dealing with applications and transfers; administering advances to settlers; and maintaining the Closer Settlement Fund. It would appear that, although the War Service Settlement Branch was separated, the work concerned in transferring the land still resided with the Closer Settlement Branch and this was a major pressure in the branch during the immediate post-war period. (2)
The Under Secretary for Lands had undertaken in 1947 to report on the history of land settlement in the State in order to demonstrate that almost all suitable land had been alienated from the Crown and virtually any new land brought under the Closer Settlement Acts was already in private hands. The report was prepared by the following year and indicated that in order to meet the shortfall in demand for land, the State had acquired 1983 private estates at a cost of £20,146,135 for closer settlement including the ex-servicemen’s settlement schemes from both world wars. In addition 37 sites had been designated villages, subdivided and been sold at auction as residential or business sites. (3)
The Closer Settlement Amendment (Conversion) Act, 1943 enabled holders of settlement purchases taken up before 15 December 1937 or Soldiers Group Purchases to apply for leases in perpetuity. The new leases would become Settlement Purchase Leases or Soldiers’ Group Purchase Leases. Initially applications were to be lodged by 6 March 1945, but the period was later extended to 30 June 1946. A total of 2,425 applications were received, and there was considerable work for the branch in processing these applications which was spread over several years. (4)
The War Service Land Settlement and Closer Settlement (Amendment) Act 1950 extended the period for lodging applications under the ‘conversion’ act 1943 and extended the eligibility to settlement purchases which commenced on or after 15 December 1937 and some tender purchases in the Young Orchard Settlement. However there was only a small response to this provision. (5)
On 29 June 1951 the Public Service Board resolved to abolish the Closer Settlement Branch in addition to the Sales and Lease branches and to divide their functions into newly-established Tenure and Transfer branches. The function of following up closer settlement arrears was transferred to the Arrears Branch. (6) It seems that the branch was formally abolished on 16 July 1951. (7)
Endnotes
1. Public Service List 1948, p.71.
2. Department of Lands report for the year ended 30 June 1948, p.14 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1948-49-50 Volume 1, p.312.
3. loc cit.
4. loc. cit.
5. Department of Lands report for the year ended 30 June 1951, p.19 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1950-51-52 Volume 1, p.393.
6. ibid. p. 3
7. Public Service List 1952, p.83.
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