AGY-41 | Housing Commission of New South Wales

Full description

The Housing Commission of New South Wales was established by the Housing Act, 1941 (Act. no.65, 1941), the first Commissioners took office from 20 February, 1942, (1) and the Act was proclaimed on 20 February 1942 (2) with the exception of Part III (Sections 7- 16) which was proclaimed on 1 May, 1942. (3) The agency, however, did not commence effective operation until 1945. (4)

The role of the Commission was to
(a) initially conduct investigations to determine ways of providing "adequate housing accommodation upon reasonable terms or at reasonable rentals". (5)
(b) determine ways to co-ordinate the activities of the Co-operative Building Societies and the Rural Bank of New South Wales in relation to both the construction and financing of houses. (6)
(c) obtain co-operation with local councils to ensure the provision of adequate housing at reasonable terms or at reasonable rentals. (7)
(d) recommend further necessary legislation (8)
(e) examine housing conditions within a given locality and publish the results (9)
(f) publish general information about housing (10)
(g) take steps to improve the standard of housing and land subdivision for housing. (11)

The Housing Commission re-constituted the Housing Improvement Board which had been established under the Housing Improvement Act (No.59, 1936) This Board had the role of raising the standard and availability of housing by clearing unsatisfactory housing lands and following a negotiation process with local government erecting housing a an acceptable standard.(12) . In addition the Commission administered the Housing of the Unemployed Act, 1934 - 1941 and continued to give assistance for the purchase, rent, erection or additions to dwellings to people eligible under that Act.

In June 1942 the Commission was declared an agency of the Commonwealth War Workers Housing Trust and its energies were diverted into the construction of accommodation for munitions workers. (13) Although the activities of the Housing Commission (which commenced in earnest in 1945) were administered by the New South Wales Government, it was largely financed by loan funds made available through the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreements (14). Tenants were selected according to their needs including their former house being condemned or overcrowded , the rental being outside their means or simple inability to afford any acquire any property on the rental market. (15)

By 1946 the Housing Commission of New South Wales consisted of the following branches (16):
* Secretarial Branch;
* Accounts Branch;
* Architectural Branch;
* Records Section;
* Lands Branch;
* Legal Branch;
* Property Branch;
* Stores Branch;
* Quantity Survey Branch;
* Manpower and Materials Supply Branch; and
* Planning Branch


By 1960 the following branches were added to the Housing Commission of New South Wales (17):
* Administrative and Statistical Branch
* Personnel and Staff Branch
* Estates Management
* Engineers Branch
* Revenue Branch

By 1977 the Housing Commission of New South Wales consisted of the following branches (18):

* Allocations Branch;
* Property Management Branch;
* Government Real Estate Branch; and
* Maintenance, Commercial Properties, Engineers and Building Construction Branch.

In that year the Commission described its role as follows:
" Provision of housing for low-income earners.
Construction of accommodation for other groups throughout the state including servicemen, public servants, teachers, aborigines and employees of decentralised industries.
Management of some 75,000 rental properties, shops and other leases throughout the State." (19)

Effective from 20 February, 1983 the New South Wales Government approved the reconstitution of the Housing Commission of New South Wales as provided for in the Housing Amendment Act, 1982 ((Act No 121, 1982). The legislation provided for the Commission to consist of seven members, of whom six are part-time and a Chief Executive as a full-time member of the Commission and also Department Head. (20)

The Housing Act (No. 163, 1985) came into operation from 1 January, 1986, establishing the Department of Housing (21) and the New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation. (22) This new department amalgamated the following former agencies (23):

* the Housing Commission of New South Wales
* the Land Commission of New South Wales
* the Rental Board (previously part of the Department of Consumer Affairs)
* parts of the Department of Co-operative Societies including the Home Purchase Advisory Service (and various low-cost housing schemes)
* the Mortgage Relief Scheme (previously part of the Department of Consumer Affairs)



FOOTNOTES:

(1) New South Wales Government Gazette 27 February, 1942
(2) Ibid. 20 February, 1942 p. 720
(3) New South Wales Government Gazette 1 May, 1942 p. 1483
(4)
(5) The Housing Act, 1941 s. 17 (1)
(6) Ibid. s. 17 (2) a
(7) Ibid. s. 17 (2) b
(8) Ibid. s. 17 (3)
(9) Ibid. s. 18 (a)
(10) Ibid. s. 18 (b)
(11) Ibid. s. 18 (d)
(12) Housing Improvement Act, s. 11
(13) Housing Commission of New South Wales report for the year ended 30 June, 1944, p. 1.
(14) Ibid.
(15) Ibid. p. 2
(16) Public Service Lists, 1946, p. 98 -99.
(17) Public Service Lists, 1960, p. 142 - 150
(18) NSW Government Directory, 1977-1978 p. 145 – 6
(19) NSW Government Directory 1977-1978 p. 145
(20) Housing (Amendment) Act, 1982 Schedule 1 (1)
(21) Housing Act, 1985 s. 5
(22) Housing Act, 1985 s.6
(23) NSW Department of Housing First Report, 1986 p. 7