VPRS 14106 Acts of the Legislative Council

Full description

On 13 November 1851, Victoria's first Legislative Council met at St. Patrick's Hall in Bourke Street, Melbourne, the site now occupied by the Law Institute of Victoria. Between 1851 and the creation of the Legislative Assembly in 1856, the Legislative Council was responsible for passing Bills, creating the Acts that formed the laws of Victoria.

The Legislative Council drafted Victoria's Constitution in Melbourne between September 1853 and March 1854. The Constitution was granted Royal Assent in 1855. One of its most important features was the requirement that Victoria be ruled by a Parliament comprising the Crown, represented by the Governor, a Legislative Assembly, and a Legislative Council. In future, these two houses of Parliament, and the Crown, would need to approve legislation.

[The above is taken from http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/hist.html and paraphrased.]

The series contains the Acts passed by the Legislative Council. The Acts were signed by the Speaker, Clerk and Registrar of the Parliament, and the Governor of Victoria.