VPRS 3120 Court Of Mines Register

Full description

Courts of Mines were constituted in each mining district. Although there was only one Court of Mines constituted in each district, the court may have sat at several different locations. Each Court of Mines was presided over by a Judge who was usually also a County Court Judge. Courts of Mines heard and ruled upon a wide range of mining related disputes including disputes over the entitlements of partners, shareholders and employees of mining enterprises. They also acted as courts of appeal against decisions of Mining Wardens regarding territory-related matters such as disputes about the boundaries of claims and leases. Courts of Mines were not responsible for issuing Miner's Rights, surveying or registering claims or granting mining leases. These activities were the responsibility of district mining officials.

Courts of Mines continued to operate until 1969, although the volume of business diminished in the twentieth century. In 1969 the Mines (Abolition of Courts) Act abolished Courts of Mines and transferred their jurisdiction to County Courts.

A register of the decrees (orders) of the Court of Mines was kept at each place the Court sat. For example, in the Beechworth Mining District separate registers are known to have been kept at Alexandra, Yackandandah, Beechworth, Bright and Mansfield.

Court of Mines Registers record details of the number and date of each complaint or case before the court, the names and addresses of the plaintiff and defendant, the nature of the complaint, the amount or value of the complaint, details of court fees, the decree (ie. order), date of carrying out the order and other remarks.