{"id":"nsw:act-1967-033","name":"Parramatta Park (Old Government House) Act 1967","slug":"parramatta-park-old-government-house-act-1967","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nsw","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"33 of 1967","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":110779,"registerId":"nsw-act-1967-033-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name of Act","content":"#### 1 Name of Act\n\n1 Name of Act\n\n> This Act may be cited as the [Parramatta Park (Old Government House) Act 1967](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1967-033).","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 2 Definitions\n\n2 Definitions\n\n> In this Act, unless the context or subject matter otherwise indicates or requires:\n> \n> National Trust means The National Trust of Australia (New South Wales) constituted and incorporated under [The National Trust of Australia (New South Wales) Act 1960](/view/pdf/asmade/act-1960-10).\n> \n> Principal Act means the [Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913](/view/pdf/asmade/act-1913-7), as amended by subsequent Acts.\n> \n> the land means the land described in the Schedule and any buildings, structures or other improvements thereon.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Divesting and rededicating of the land","content":"#### 3 Divesting and rededicating of the land\n\n3 Divesting and rededicating of the land\n\n> > (1) The land is hereby vested in Her Majesty freed and discharged from any trusts, estates, interests, dedications, conditions, restrictions, covenants and provisions affecting the land\n> \n> > (2) The land shall be deemed to be Crown land and to be dedicated under the Principal Act for the preservation of the land and the old Government House and other buildings on the land as a historical site and historical buildings.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Appointment of trustee","content":"#### 4 Appointment of trustee\n\n4 Appointment of trustee\n\n> The National Trust shall be the trustee of the land, and, notwithstanding the provisions of section 5, shall be deemed to have been appointed under subsection (1) of section 26 of the Principal Act.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Application of Principal Act","content":"#### 5 Application of Principal Act\n\n5 Application of Principal Act\n\n> Such provisions of the Principal Act (other than subsections (1), (1A), (1B), (1D) and (1E) of section 26) as relate to Crown lands dedicated under section 24 of the Principal Act and to trustees thereof shall apply to and in respect of the land and the National Trust as trustee of the land.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Application of The National Trust of Australia (NSW) Act 1960","content":"#### 6 Application of The National Trust of Australia (NSW) Act 1960\n\n6 Application of The National Trust of Australia (NSW) Act 1960\n\n> Any provisions of:\n> \n> > (a) [The National Trust of Australia (New South Wales) Act 1960](/view/pdf/asmade/act-1960-10) which permit, in accordance with that Act:\n> > \n> > > (i) the selling, exchanging, leasing, mortgaging or other disposal of land,\n> > \n> > > (ii) the making of by-laws, or\n> \n> > (b) any by-laws made under that Act,\n> \n> shall not apply to or in respect of the land.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Access through Parramatta Park","content":"#### 7 Access through Parramatta Park\n\n7 Access through Parramatta Park\n\n> > (1) Members, officers, employees and servants of the National Trust, and the other persons lawfully authorised by the National Trust or its members, officers, employees or servants, for all purposes of the National Trust (and in particular as trustee of the land), and persons lawfully visiting the land, may go to and from the land, over Parramatta Park or any part thereof, at such times, in such manner and subject to such conditions:\n> > \n> > > (a) as may be arranged by agreement from time to time between the National Trust and the trustees or any person or body of persons in which the care, control and management of Parramatta Park may be vested, or\n> > \n> > > (b) failing such agreement, as may be determined by the Minister.\n> \n> > (2) The provisions of subsection (1) shall apply notwithstanding the provisions of any other Act, or of any rules, regulations, by-laws or ordinances, applying in respect of Parramatta Park.\n> \n> > (3) Subject to subsection (1) and to any agreement or determination under that subsection, the provisions referred to in subsection (2) shall continue to apply in respect of Parramatta Park in all other respects.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Use of the land","content":"#### 8 Use of the land\n\n8 Use of the land\n\n> Subject to this Act, the National Trust as trustee of the land may use the land for such purposes as the Minister may from time to time approve.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Debts, liabilities and actions to continue","content":"#### 9 Debts, liabilities and actions to continue\n\n9 Debts, liabilities and actions to continue\n\n> Nothing in this Act affects any debts owing or liabilities incurred or actions which were or might have been commenced, before the commencement of this Act, in respect of the land or of anything done or omitted to be done in connection therewith.","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"sch","sectionType":"schedule","heading":null,"content":"# sch\n\nSchedule\n\nSection 2\n\nALL that piece or parcel of land containing by admeasurement 2 acres 0 roods 23 perches be the same more or less situate in the Town of Parramatta, Parish of St. John, County of Cumberland, being portion 369 commencing at a point bearing 297 degrees 16 minutes 456 feet 9 inches from the most northerly north-western corner of portion 362 and bounded thence on the south-west by lines successively bearing 292 degrees 8 minutes 157 feet 10 1/4 inches and 275 degrees 9 minutes 30 seconds 175 feet 6 1/8 inches, again on the south-west by a line bearing 353 degrees 3 minutes 77 feet 9 1/2 inches, on the north-west by a line bearing 55 degrees 41 minutes 291 feet 8 3/8 inches, on the north-east by lines successively bearing 93 degrees 3 minutes 83 feet 7 5/8 inches, 113 degrees 33 minutes 55 feet 1 1/8 inches and 139 degrees 57 minutes 30 seconds 102 feet 3 7/8 inches, and on the south-east by lines successively bearing 185 degrees 34 minutes 30 seconds 175 feet 1 inch and 247 degrees 54 minutes 30 seconds 100 feet 7 5/8 inches to the point of commencement, and being also the whole of the land shown on plan catalogued C9290–2030 in the Department of Lands, Sydney.","sortOrder":9}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Cannot meaningfully assess whether scope changed from original intent, as the actual text of the legislation was not included in the provided extract. The Act has not been amended since 1979, which may suggest the original scope has been preserved, but this cannot be confirmed without the full legislative text."},"complexity_factors":["Insufficient legislative text provided — only website navigation and metadata were captured, preventing substantive analysis","The Act appears narrow in scope, focused on a single specific heritage site","No amendments appear to have occurred since 1979, suggesting limited regulatory evolution","Responsible Minister is identifiable but the governance structure of the Act itself cannot be assessed from available text"],"plain_english_summary":"The Parramatta Park (Old Government House) Act 1967 governs the management and preservation of Parramatta Park and Old Government House, affecting visitors, site managers, and anyone undertaking work or events there. Administered by the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, the Act—largely unchanged since 1979—sets the legal framework for who has authority over the site and what activities are permitted, so it matters for conservation, public access, and site governance."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: the specific transfer, dedication and management arrangements for the Old Government House site in Parramatta. There is no evidence of scope creep — the Act deals precisely with the land described in the Schedule and does not extend to broader heritage management or other National Trust properties."},"complexity_factors":["Only 3 defined terms in the interpretation section (section 2)","Heavy reliance on external legislation — the Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913 and National Trust of Australia (NSW) Act 1960 are incorporated by reference without reproducing their provisions","Nested exceptions in section 5 (applying provisions of Principal Act except specific subsections)","Conditional access arrangements in section 7 requiring agreement between parties or ministerial determination","Schedule contains archaic land measurement terminology (roods, perches, bearings in degrees/minutes) requiring specialist knowledge to interpret geographically","Relatively short length (9 substantive sections plus schedule)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis Act transfers a specific parcel of land in Parramatta (containing Old Government House) from its previous legal status to a new arrangement where it is preserved as a historical site.\n\n**Key points:**\n\n- **The land** (about 2 acres in Parramatta, described in precise surveyor's terms in the Schedule) is **cleared of all previous legal burdens** — any old restrictions, trusts, or conditions are wiped away (section 3).\n- The land is then **rededicated** as Crown land specifically for preserving Old Government House and its buildings as a historical site (section 3).\n- **The National Trust** (a heritage conservation organisation) is appointed as the **trustee** to manage the land (section 4).\n- **Special rules apply:**\n  - Normal Crown land laws apply to the National Trust's management, *except* specific sections about how trustees are normally appointed (section 5).\n  - The National Trust **cannot sell, lease, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of the land**, nor make its own by-laws for it — these powers are blocked (section 6).\n  - People visiting or working at Old Government House are allowed **access through Parramatta Park** even if normal park rules would stop them. If the National Trust and park managers can't agree on access terms, the Minister decides (section 7).\n  - The National Trust can only use the land for purposes **approved by the Minister** (section 8).\n- **Existing legal matters** (debts, lawsuits, liabilities) connected to the land before this Act started remain unaffected (section 9).\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n- The National Trust of Australia (NSW) — gains responsibility but with restricted powers\n- Visitors to Old Government House — guaranteed access rights\n- The NSW Government — retains ultimate control through ministerial approval powers\n- Parramatta Park managers — must accommodate access for Old Government House purposes\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis Act protects a significant colonial heritage site (Old Government House, built in 1799) by ensuring it stays in public hands, cannot be sold off, and is managed by a heritage body while remaining under government oversight. It balances conservation with practical access needs."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act changes the land's legal status by vesting it in the Crown and dedicating it for preservation (s3). It appoints the National Trust as trustee (s4) while applying most trustee provisions of the Principal Act (s5), which imposes administrative and compliance obligations on the Trust. The Act removes certain disposal and by‑law powers under the National Trust Act for this parcel (s6), gives the Minister fallback authority over access and approves uses (s7(1)(b), s8), and preserves existing debts and legal actions affecting the land (s9)."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-references to the Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913 and partial incorporation of its trustee regime (s5) increases interpretive complexity.","Deemed appointment of the National Trust under a specific subsection of the Principal Act creates technical legal effects (s4).","Express exclusion of certain powers under the National Trust Act (sale, lease, mortgage, by‑laws) generates a constrained operating regime for the Trust (s6).","Ministerial discretion to determine access (if no agreement) and to approve uses centralises decision-making (s7(1)(b), s8).","Provision that access rights override other Parramatta Park rules adds an inter-act statutory conflict to resolve (s7(2)).","Detailed cadastral description in the Schedule fixes a precise boundary which can complicate survey and title issues.","Savings clause preserving prior debts, liabilities and actions requires administrators to check historical obligations (s9)."],"plain_english_summary":"**What it does:** This Act vests the parcel containing Old Government House in the Crown, dedicates it for preservation as a historic site, and appoints the National Trust (NSW) as trustee. It removes certain disposal and by‑law powers for that parcel, allows access across Parramatta Park subject to agreement or the Minister’s decision, requires Minister approval for uses, and preserves existing debts and legal actions."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/parramatta-park-old-government-house-act-1967","history":"/api/acts/parramatta-park-old-government-house-act-1967/history","analysis":"/api/acts/parramatta-park-old-government-house-act-1967/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/parramatta-park-old-government-house-act-1967/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/parramatta-park-old-government-house-act-1967/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/parramatta-park-old-government-house-act-1967/documents"}}