The Crown Lands Alienation Act of 1868 was assented to on 28 February 1868.  It repealed all previous acts relating to the occupation, alienation or other disposal of Crown Lands.  It defined terminology, classed the land, stipulated the terms purchase, and, uses of land.  Within an eight year period, the original Act of 1860 grew from a document of some 5 pages in length, to a whopping 29 pages – which included some 9 schedules stipulating pro-formas and fees.  It is interesting to observe the evolution of these legislative documents, as they tried to overcome the problems encountered along the way . . .

For example, the new Act stipulated and wives and children were not able to select lands – as obviously selectors had previously used their family members to increase their land holdings:

” . . . No person shall become the lessee or assignee of any of such land who is an infant or a married woman not having obtained a decree for judicial separation or an order protecting her separate property binding in Queensland or who is not a natural born or naturalized subject of Her Majesty or who is in respect of the land which he applies to select or any part thereof an agent or a servant of or a trustee for any other person or who at the time of his application has entered into my agreement expressed or implied to permit any other person to acquire by purchase or otherwise the land for which he applies . . . “

Today, the Land Act comprises of some 570 pages – the index alone, is some 30 pages long !!! . . .

.

View other important events in Queensland’s History . . .