AGY-517 | Sydney Harbour Trust Commissioners

Full description

The body corporate by the name of the "Sydney Harbour Trust Commissioners" was established by the Sydney Harbour Trust Act, 1901 (Act No.1, 1901), which received assent on 11 February 1901. (1) The responsibilities of the Navigation Department which related to Sydney Harbour were taken over by the Trust.

The Trust consisted of three commissioners appointed by the Governor, to be generally responsible for the improvement and preservation of the Port of Sydney. To this end it had power to regulate the movement of vessels and the handling of cargo in the port through a Harbour Master, to carry out dredging operations, remove wrecks, grant licences for the erection of piers, maintain wharf facilities and collect wharfage rates, maintain swimming baths, fire fighting and other safety equipment. All foreshores, lighthouses and tugs within the harbour which belonged to the Government were vested in the Trust, which also had the power to reclaim land for the erection of necessary infrastructure. The first meeting of the Commissioners was held on 4 March 1901. (3)

The Sydney Harbour Trust was dissolved, and the Maritime Services Board was established on 1 February 1936 (4) under the Maritime Services Board Act, 1935 (Act No.47, 1935) , which received assent on 10 December 1935. (5) The new Board combined the functions of the Navigation Department and the Sydney Harbour Trust.

Endnotes
(1) New South Wales Government Gazette No.122, 15 February 1901, p.1153; Sydney Harbour Trust Act, 1901 (Act No.1, 1901), s.5.
(2) Sydney Harbour Trust Act, 1901, s.1.
(3) Votes and Proceedings 1902, Vol.4, p.549.
(4) New South Wales Government Gazette No.27, 31 January 1936, Vol.1, p.547.
(5) New South Wales Government Gazette No.210, 13 December 1935, Vol.4, p.4761.