Trustees of the Public Library, Museums and National Gallery of Victoria

Full description

Appointment

The Trustees of the Public Library, Museums and the National Gallery of Victoria were appointed under the provisions of the Library Museums and National Gallery Act 1869 to enable the incorporation and government of the Public Library of Victoria (VA 913), the Industrial and Technological Museum (VA 1411), the National Museum of Victoria (VA 431) and the National Gallery of Victoria (VA 930). The Governor-in-Council was to appoint no less than fifteen trustees.

Functions

The trustees assumed responsibility for

• land and assets previously owned and/or managed by the trustees of the Melbourne Public Library (VA 928);
• collections, works of art, goods, and chattels in the possession of the trustees of the Melbourne Public Library;
• industrial collections housed in the Exhibition buildings; and
• natural history object collections housed in the National Museum, with the exception of objects, goods and chattel owned by the University of Melbourne.

Along with the management of assets, property and collections, the Trustees were responsible for regulations pertaining to:

• Governance of the Trustees
• Management of the corporation
• Admission or exclusion of the public or any individual to and from a building in their purview
• Conditions of access to the collections in their purview, including any reproduction, fees, loans or instruction related to these collections
• Most effectual use of books and exhibits for the purposes of public education and enjoyment

Abolishment

The Public Library National Gallery and Museums Act 1944 saw governance of the Public Library, National Gallery and Museums separated into four Bodies of Trustees: Trustees of the Public Library, Trustees of the National Gallery of Victoria (VA 3119), Trustees of the National Museums of Victoria and the Building Trustees.