{"id":"richmond-and-hawthorn-lands-act-1970","name":"Richmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970","slug":"richmond-and-hawthorn-lands-act-1970","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":176188,"registerId":"vic-richmond-and-hawthorn-lands-act-1970-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Richmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970","content":"Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documentsi\nVersion No. 001\nRichmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970\nAct No. 7957/1970\nVersion as at 3 March 2003\nTABLE OF PROVISIONS\nSection Page\n1. Short title 4\n2. Definition 4\n3. Excision of land to be surveyed from reservation and Crown\ngrant of Richmond Park 5\n4. Power to excise area to be surveyed from reservation and\nCrown grant of Richmond Park 6\n5. Power to excise area to be surveyed from reservation and\nCrown grant of Richmond Park 7\n6. Closure of portion of Morrison-street 8\n7. No liability to attach to Crown 9\n__________________\nSCHEDULES 10\nSCHEDULE 1 10\nSCHEDULE 2 11\nSCHEDULE 3 12\n═══════════════\nENDNOTES 13\n1. General Information 13\n2. Table of Amendments 14\n3. Explanatory Details 15\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents1\nVersion No. 001\nRichmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970\nAct No. 7957/1970\nVersion as at 3 March 2003\nAn Act relating to certain Lands in the Cities of Richmond and\nHawthorn and for other purposes.\nPreamble\nWHEREAS certain land in the City of Richmond\nwas by Order in Council of the 13th day of\nOctober, 18731 permanently reserved as a site for\npublic park and recreation designated Richmond\nPark and by Crown grant dated the 19th day of\nNovember, 1886 granted to the Board of Land and\nWorks and the Mayor Councillors and Citizens of\nthe City of Richmond:\nAND WHEREAS it is provided by the Richmond\n(South-Eastern Freeway) Lands Act 1967 that\non completion by the Melbourne and Metropolitan\nBoard of Works of works in connexion with the\ndiversion of the Yarra River in the locality north-\nwest of Heyington railway station in the city of\nPrahran and the extension of the metropolitan main\nhighway known as the South-Eastern Freeway\nthrough the said land and certain other land and\nupon the registration in the Office of Titles of a\ntransfer and surrender to Her Majesty of certain\nland the said Order in Council and Crown grant\nshall be deemed to relate also to that land and to\ncertain other lands:\nAND WHEREAS—\n(a) sections of the Yarra Boulevard have been\nconstructed and maintained by the Public\nWorks Department and are now to be\nmaintained by the Country Roads Board;\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 7957/1970\nRichmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970\n2\n(b) portion of the land to which the said Order in\nCouncil and Crown grant relate has been\nused for the construction of the section of the\nYarra Boulevard which runs from the\nMacRobertson Bridge easterly northerly\nwesterly and northerly to Bridge-road in the\ncity of Richmond;\n(c) in consequence of the construction of the\nextension to the said highway and diversion\nof the Yarra River it is necessary that part of\nthe said section of the Yarra Boulevard be\nre-constructed in a new position between the\nsaid highway and the right bank of the Yarra\nRiver in its diverted course; and\n(d) it is expedient that a strip of land containing\nnot more than 21 acres, being the land on\nwhich the said section of the Yarra\nBoulevard is constructed or is to be\nre-constructed in a new position as aforesaid\nbut not including the land occupied in its old\nposition by the part to be re-constructed, be\nexcised from the land to which the said Order\nin Council and Crown grant relate or are to\nbe deemed to relate and become a public\nroad:\nAND WHEREAS the area and position of the\nboundaries of the strip of land required for the\nYarra Boulevard cannot be exactly determined\nuntil the works in connexion with the diversion of\nthe Yarra River and the extension of the said\nhighway have been completed:\nAND WHEREAS by reason of the construction of\nthe extension to the said highway and the taking of\nlands for that purpose, the schools known as\nSt. Kevin's College and Scotch College have been\nadversely affected in their sporting facilities and it\nis expedient to make provision whereby the loss\nthey have suffered may be mitigated:\nPreamble\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 7957/1970\nRichmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970\n3\nAND WHEREAS it is expedient that an area of not\nmore than 3 roods and 10 perches between the\nYarra Boulevard and the Yarra River being the\narea approximately indicated by hatching on the\nplan in the First Schedule be excised from the land\nto which the said Order in Council relates in order\nthat it may be leased as hereinafter provided:\nAND WHEREAS the said St. Kevin's College is\nconducted by a community whose property is held\nby trustees who are a body corporate incorporated\nunder the Act of the Parliament of New South\nWales known as the Roman Catholic Church\nCommunities' Lands Act 1942 under the name of\nthe \"Trustees of the Christian Brothers\":\nAND WHEREAS the land indicated by hatching\non the plan in the Second Schedule is by virtue of\nthe provisions of the Richmond High School\nLand Act 1967 permanently reserved for the\npurposes of a State High School and in order to\nprovide a site for a boathouse for the use of the\nsaid high school it is expedient that an area of not\nmore than 2 roods and 35 perches between the land\nreserved by virtue of the said Act and the Yarra\nRiver being the area indicated by cross-hatching on\nthe plan in the Second Schedule be excised from\nthe land to which the said Order in Council relates\nand be added to the land reserved by virtue of the\nsaid Act:\nAND WHEREAS—\n(a) the land delineated and shown hatched on the\nplan in the Third Schedule is part of a road in\nthe city of Hawthorn known as Morrison-\nstreet;\n(b) the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of\nWorks is registered as the proprietor of an\nestate in fee simple in the land comprised in\ncertificate of title entered in the register book\nof the Office of Titles volume 8740 folium\n170 being part of Crown portion 11 in the\nParish of Boroondara;\nPreamble\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 7957/1970\nRichmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970\n4\n(c) the land delineated and shown cross-hatched\non the plan in the Third Schedule is part of\nthe land comprised in the said certificate of\ntitle;\n(d) it is expedient that the said portion of the said\nroad be closed and that the land comprised\ntherein be granted to The Presbyterian\nChurch of Victoria Trusts Corporation and\nthe said land shown cross-hatched on the said\nplan should be a public highway:\nAND WHEREAS the said Scotch College is\nconducted on land abutting Morrison-street in the\ncity of Hawthorn held in fee simple by The\nPresbyterian Church of Victoria Trusts\nCorporation, a body corporate incorporated under\nthe Presbyterian Trusts Act 1890:\nBE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Queen's Most\nExcellent Majesty by and with the advice and consent of the\nLegislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of Victoria\nin this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of\nthe same as follows (that is to say):\n1. Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Richmond and\nHawthorn Lands Act 1970.\n2. Definition\nIn this Act unless inconsistent with the context or\nsubject-matter—\n\"reserved land\" means the land reserved by the\nhereinbefore recited Order in Council of the\n13th day of October, 1873 and comprised in\nCrown grant entered in the register book of\nthe Office of Titles volume 1902 folium 326\nand includes the land to which the said Order\nin Council and Crown grant are by virtue of\nthe provisions of the Richmond (South-\ns. 1\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 7957/1970\nRichmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970\n5\nEastern Freeway) Lands Act 1967 to be\ndeemed to relate.\n3. Excision of land to be surveyed from reservation\nand Crown grant of Richmond Park\n(1) Upon submission to the Minister of Lands of a\nplan or plans of survey signed by the Surveyor-\nGeneral showing the strip of the reserved land on\nthe right bank of the Yarra River between the\nMacRobertson Bridge and Bridge-road which is\nrequired for the Yarra Boulevard and containing\nnot more than 21 acres, the Minister may\nrecommend to the Governor in Council that the\nsaid land be excised from the reservation.\n(2) Upon receiving such a recommendation the\nGovernor in Council may by proclamation\npublished in the Government Gazette revoke the\nhereinbefore recited Order in Council of the 13th\nday of October, 1873 and Crown grant dated the\n19th day of November, 1886 so far as they relate\nor are to be deemed to relate to the land shown in\nthe plan or plans of survey.\n(3) On the day on which a proclamation revoking the\nsaid Order in Council as provided in sub-section\n(2) is published in the Government Gazette every\nother Order in Council or proclamation so far as it\nreserves or affects or purports to reserve or affect\nthe land shown in the plan or plans of survey shall\nalso be revoked and the said land—\n(a) shall notwithstanding anything in any Act\nbecome and be unalienated land of the\nCrown freed and discharged from all trusts\nencumbrances reservations limitations and\nrestrictions whatsoever and from every estate\nor interest therein; and\ns. 3\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 7957/1970\nRichmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970\n6\n(b) shall be deemed to be proclaimed as a road\nunder the provisions of section 25 of the\nLand Act 1958.\n4. Power to excise area to be surveyed from\nreservation and Crown grant of Richmond Park\n(1) Upon submission to the Minister of Lands of a\nplan of survey signed by the Surveyor-General of\nnot more than 3 roods and 10 perches of the\nreserved land corresponding as nearly as\npracticable with the land indicated by hatching on\nthe plan in the First Schedule and upon being\nsatisfied that the land described in the plan of\nsurvey does so correspond the Minister may\nrecommend to the Governor in Council that the\nland shown in the plan of survey be excised from\nthe reservation.\n(2) Upon receiving a recommendation pursuant to\nsub-section (1) the Governor in Council may by\nproclamation published in the Government\nGazette revoke the said Order in Council of the\n13th day of October, 1873 and Crown grant dated\nthe 19th day of November, 1886 so far as they\nrelate to the land shown in the plan of survey.\n(3) On the day on which a proclamation revoking the\nsaid Order in Council as provided in sub-section\n(2) is published in the Government Gazette every\nother Order in Council or proclamation so far as it\nreserves or affects or purports to reserve or affect\nthe land shown in the plan of survey shall also be\nrevoked and the said land—\n(a) shall become and be unalienated land of the\nCrown freed and discharged from all trusts\nencumbrances reservations limitations and\nrestrictions whatsoever and from every estate\nor interest therein; and\ns. 4\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 7957/1970\nRichmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970\n7\n(b) may from time to time be leased pursuant to\nsection 134 of the Land Act 1958 to the\nTrustees of the Christian Brothers of Mount\nSt. Mary's, Albert-road, Strathfield in the\nState of New South Wales for the purposes\nof a boat-house and dressing rooms and\npurposes connected therewith for use in\nconnexion with St. Kevin's College.\n5. Power to excise area to be surveyed from\nreservation and Crown grant of Richmond Park\n(1) Upon submission to the Minister of Lands of a\nplan of survey signed by the Surveyor-General of\nnot more than 2 roods and 35 perches of the\nreserved land corresponding as nearly as\npracticable with the land indicated by cross-\nhatching on the plan in the Second Schedule and\nupon being satisfied that the land described in the\nplan of survey does so correspond the Minister\nmay recommend to the Governor in Council that\nthe land shown in the plan of survey be excised\nfrom the reservation.\n(2) Upon receiving a recommendation pursuant to\nsub-section (1) the Governor in Council may by\nproclamation published in the Government\nGazette revoke the said Order in Council of the\n13th day of October, 1873, the Crown grant dated\nthe 19th day of November, 1886 so far as they\nrelate to the land shown in the plan of survey.\n(3) On the day on which a proclamation revoking the\nsaid Order in Council as provided in sub-section\n(2) is published in the Government Gazette every\nother Order in Council or proclamation so far as it\nreserves or affects or purports to reserve or affect\nthe land shown in the plan of survey shall also be\nrevoked and the said land—\ns. 5\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 7957/1970\nRichmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970\n8\n(a) shall become and be unalienated land of the\nCrown freed and discharged from all trusts\nencumbrances reservations limitations and\nrestrictions whatsoever and from every estate\nor interest therein; and\n(b) shall be deemed to be permanently reserved\nas an addition to the land reserved for the\npurposes of a State High School by virtue of\nthe Richmond High School Land Act 1967.\n6. Closure of portion of Morrison-street\n(1) The land delineated and shown hatched on the\nplan in the Third Schedule shall be closed as a\nroad and all rights easements and privileges\nexisting or claimed either in the public or by any\nbody or person whatsoever or whomsoever as\nincident to any past dedication or supposed\ndedication thereof or by user thereof or by any\nfiction of law shall cease and determine and the\nsaid land shall be deemed to be and may be dealt\nwith as unalienated land of the Crown.\n(2) Upon payment to the Treasurer of Victoria of the\nsum of $28,800 the Governor in Council may\ngrant the land delineated and shown hatched on\nthe plan in the Third Schedule to The Presbyterian\nChurch of Victoria Trusts Corporation in fee\nsimple subject to such covenants conditions\nreservations exceptions and restrictions as the\nGovernor in Council thinks fit.\n(3) The land delineated and shown cross-hatched on\nthe plan in the Third Schedule shall be deemed to\nbe dedicated to the public as a public highway.\ns. 6\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 7957/1970\nRichmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970\n9\n(4) The Registrar of Titles is hereby authorized and\ndirected to make all such entries or endorsements\non the said certificate of title and the duplicate\nthereof or on any other document as may be\nnecessary or expedient in consequence of this Act\nand the holder of the duplicate certificate of title\nor other document shall produce it to the Registrar\nof Titles for that purpose.\n7. No liability to attach to Crown\nNo person or body of persons whosoever or\nwhatsoever shall be entitled to receive or shall\nreceive from the Crown any money or\nconsideration or compensation in respect of or in\nany manner whatsoever arising out of any act\nmatter or thing under this Act.\n__________________\ns. 7\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 7957/1970\nRichmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970\n10\nSCHEDULES\nFIRST SCHEDULE\nLand, having an area of approximately 3 roods and 10 perches and being\npart of the land in the City of Richmond, Parish of Jika Jika,\npermanently reserved as a site for public park and recreation\ndesignated \"Richmond Park\" which may be excised from the\nreservation and leased for the purposes of a boat-house and dressing\nrooms and purposes connected therewith for use in connexion with\nSt. Kevin's College.\n__________________\nPreamble and\nsection 4.\nSch. 1\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 7957/1970\nRichmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970\n11\nSECOND SCHEDULE\nLands in the city of Richmond parish of Jika Jika reserved and to be reserved\nfor the purposes of a State High School.\n__________________\nPreamble and\nsection 5.\nSch. 2\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 7957/1970\nRichmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970\n12\nTHIRD SCHEDULE\nLands in the City of Hawthorn, Parish of Boroondara.\n═══════════════\nPreamble and\nsection 6.\nSch. 3\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 7957/1970\nRichmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970\n13\nENDNOTES\n1. General Information\nThe Richmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970 was assented to on 7 April\n1970 and came into operation on 7 April 1970.\nEndnotes\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 7957/1970\nRichmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970\n14\n2. Table of Amendments\nThere are no amendments made to the Richmond and Hawthorn Lands Act\n1970 by Acts and subordinate instruments.\nEndnotes\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 7957/1970\nRichmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970\n15\n3. Explanatory Details\n1 Preamble: Government Gazettes 19 September 1873 page 1651 and\n14 November 1873 page 2004.\nEndnotes","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: facilitating land adjustments for the South-Eastern Freeway project and compensating affected schools. The preamble clearly sets out the specific infrastructure context (Yarra River diversion, freeway extension) and the compensatory intent for St Kevin's College and Scotch College. The operative sections execute exactly these purposes without expansion into broader planning or land management matters."},"complexity_factors":["Single defined term ('reserved land') but heavy reliance on external documents (Crown grants, Orders in Council from 1873 and 1886, plans in three Schedules)","Extensive cross-referencing to other Acts: Richmond (South-Eastern Freeway) Lands Act 1967, Richmond High School Land Act 1967, Land Act 1958, Roman Catholic Church Communities' Lands Act 1942 (NSW), Presbyterian Trusts Act 1890","Conditional implementation: All excisions depend on future survey plans being submitted to and approved by the Minister of Lands and Governor in Council","Complex land measurement terminology: Uses archaic imperial units (roods, perches, acres) requiring conversion knowledge","Nested historical dependencies: The Act's operation depends on completion of Yarra River diversion and freeway construction works mentioned in the 1967 Act","Specific procedural requirements: Requires Surveyor-General signed plans, Ministerial recommendations, Governor in Council proclamations, and Gazette publication for each excision","Multiple land status transformations: Reserved parkland → unalienated Crown land → public road/leasehold/fee simple in different sections"],"plain_english_summary":"This 1970 Victorian law deals with land swaps and adjustments in Richmond and Hawthorn, Melbourne, mainly to accommodate major infrastructure projects and compensate schools affected by them.\n\n**What it does:**\n\nThe Act makes four main changes to land ownership and status:\n\n1. **Creates the Yarra Boulevard road corridor** — Up to 21 acres of Richmond Park (public parkland) can be excised to become a public road. This land runs along the Yarra River between MacRobertson Bridge and Bridge Road. The road needed to be rebuilt in a new position due to the South-Eastern Freeway extension and Yarra River diversion works.\n\n2. **Leases land to St Kevin's College** — Up to 3 roods and 10 perches (about 0.8 acres) of Richmond Park can be cut out and leased to the Christian Brothers (trustees of St Kevin's College) for a boathouse and dressing rooms. This was compensation because the college lost sporting facilities when the freeway was built.\n\n3. **Expands Richmond High School land** — Up to 2 roods and 35 perches (about 0.6 acres) of Richmond Park can be excised and added to the land reserved for Richmond High School, also for a boathouse.\n\n4. **Closes part of Morrison Street, Hawthorn** — A section of Morrison Street is closed as a public road. The land is sold to The Presbyterian Church of Victoria Trusts Corporation (which runs Scotch College) for $28,800. Part of this land becomes a public highway instead. This was also compensation for the college losing sporting facilities to the freeway.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **St Kevin's College** — Gets a lease for riverfront land for rowing facilities\n- **Scotch College** — Gets to buy closed road land for sporting facilities\n- **Richmond High School** — Gets additional land for a boathouse\n- **The public** — Gets the Yarra Boulevard as a public road, but loses some parkland\n- **The Crown (government)** — Avoids paying compensation for any of these changes\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis is a classic example of \"compensatory planning\" — when major infrastructure (the South-Eastern Freeway) destroys private facilities, the government uses public land to make up for it rather than paying cash. It also shows how specific and technical land law can be, dealing with exact measurements (roods and perches — old imperial land units), Crown grants, and complex land titles from the 1870s.\n\n**Key legal mechanism:** The Act uses \"excision\" — cutting specific parcels out of existing Crown grants and reservations — then either converting them to public roads, leasing them, or selling them to specific religious/educational bodies."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This version does not materially change the scope from the Act's original purpose as stated in the preamble: it remains a narrowly targeted local land‑management statute authorising excision, reservation changes, a lease, and a grant related to road and school needs. There are no recorded amendments to expand or repurpose the Act beyond those original functions (Endnotes: Table of Amendments)."},"complexity_factors":["Short Act: 7 substantive sections plus 3 schedules (compact structure).","Only 1 defined term in the interpretation section ('reserved land').","Several external cross-references to other Acts: Land Act 1958 (s. 25 and s. 134), Richmond High School Land Act 1967, Richmond (South‑Eastern Freeway) Lands Act 1967.","Procedural conditions with sequential steps: Surveyor‑General plan → Minister recommendation → Governor in Council proclamation (sections 3–5).","Multiple small, separate outcomes (road proclamation, lease to religious trustees, reservation addition, road closure and sale) requiring different legal consequences.","A single fixed monetary transaction ($28,800 payment) triggers a fee‑simple grant (section 6(2)).","Dependence on external facts (completion of river diversion/highway works) and precision of survey plans introduces conditionality."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this Act does (mechanics first)**\n\n- The Act authorises specific changes to several small parcels of Crown land in Richmond and Hawthorn (Melbourne suburbs): excising (removing) parts of land formerly reserved as Richmond Park so they can become a public road (the Yarra Boulevard), be leased for a boathouse for St Kevin's College, or be added to land reserved for a State high school; and closing a short section of Morrison Street in Hawthorn and granting that land to a church trust (section 3–6, Schedules).\n\n- The changes proceed only after technical steps: plans of survey prepared and signed by the Surveyor‑General must be submitted to the Minister of Lands, the Minister may then recommend excision, and the Governor in Council gives effect by proclamation published in the Government Gazette (sections 3, 4, 5). The Registrar of Titles is directed to make any necessary title entries (section 6(4)).\n\n- One payment is required: on payment of $28,800 to the Victorian Treasurer the Governor in Council may grant the closed part of Morrison Street in fee simple to The Presbyterian Church of Victoria Trusts Corporation (section 6(2)).\n\n- The Act makes clear that no person or body is entitled to compensation from the Crown for anything done under the Act (section 7).\n\n**Who it affects**\n\n- The Crown (land administration) — the Act converts/reserves/clears encumbrances on specified Crown parcels and changes how they may be used (sections 3–6).\n- Users of the affected parts of Richmond Park and Yarra Boulevard — portions are to be proclaimed as road or otherwise excised (sections 3–5).\n- St Kevin's College (Trustees of the Christian Brothers) — authorised to obtain a lease for a boathouse and dressing rooms on a small parcel (section 4 and Schedule 1).\n- A State high school — a small parcel may be added to land already reserved for the high school (section 5 and Schedule 2).\n- The Presbyterian Church of Victoria Trusts Corporation (Scotch College landholder) — may acquire fee simple title to the closed part of Morrison Street upon payment (section 6 and Schedule 3).\n- The public — some land formerly reserved for public park may be converted to road or otherwise removed from the public park reservation (preamble; sections 3–5).\n\n**Why it matters (official purpose, then practical trade-offs)**\n\n- Official purpose stated in the Act: to permit construction/re‑alignment of the Yarra Boulevard and accommodate works related to diversion of the Yarra River and extension of the South‑Eastern Freeway; and to mitigate adverse effects on the sporting facilities of two schools by providing a boathouse site and a reserve addition, and to close and re‑grant a portion of Morrison Street (preamble; sections 3–6).\n\n- Practical trade-offs, incentives and costs:\n  - Who decides: the Minister of Lands recommends, the Governor in Council proclaims; Surveyor‑General supplies the survey plans; Registrar of Titles records the changes (sections 3–6).\n  - Who pays: the Presbyterian Church must pay $28,800 to obtain fee simple title to the closed road land (section 6(2)). No one is entitled to compensation from the Crown under this Act (section 7).\n  - Behaviour changes: specified parcels cease to be park reservation land and become either Crown unalienated land, a proclaimed road, leased land for a private school boathouse, or reserved land for a State high school; a portion of public road is closed and transferred into private ownership subject to conditions (sections 3–6).\n  - Opportunity costs and concentration of benefits: small, clearly identified parcels of public reserve are reallocated to serve road infrastructure and particular educational institutions (preamble; sections 4–5, Schedules). The benefits are concentrated (specific lessee/grantee), while the cost (loss or alteration of portions of park/reserve) is borne by the public estate.\n  - Implementation risk and conditions: the excisions depend on completed works and precise surveys (preamble; sections 3–5). The Governor in Council retains discretion about proclamations and any conditions on the fee simple grant (sections 3–6).\n  - Administrative burden: primarily limited to preparing survey plans, publishing proclamations, and updating title records (sections 3–6). There is no provision for compensation claims under this Act (section 7).\n\n**Concrete legal effects to watch for**\n\n- Once proclaimed, excised land is freed from prior reservations and encumbrances and becomes Crown unalienated land; some excised parts are then proclaimed as road (section 3(3)(a)–(b)).\n- A small parcel may be leased to the Trustees of the Christian Brothers for boathouse purposes under the Land Act 1958 (section 4(3)(b)).\n- A different small parcel is to be permanently reserved as an addition for a State High School under the Richmond High School Land Act 1967 (section 5(3)(b)).\n- Closing of Morrison Street terminates public rights and permits grant to the Presbyterian Church subject to payment and conditions (section 6(1)–(3)).\n\n**Bottom line**: This is a narrowly focused statute that rearranges title and reservation status of specific parcels near the Yarra River to enable road construction and to allocate small parcels to particular schools and a church trust. The Act sets procedural steps (survey, Minister recommendation, proclamation) and precludes compensation claims against the Crown for these acts (sections 3–7)."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available metadata, there is no indication that the scope of the Act changed from its original intent. The Act appears to remain in force in its original form with no amendments noted that would suggest scope expansion or contraction. However, the absence of substantive legislative text makes a definitive assessment impossible."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely narrow geographic and subject matter scope — limited to specific land parcels in two Melbourne suburbs","1970 vintage legislation likely uses older drafting conventions but deals with a straightforward topic","Insufficient legislative text provided to assess internal complexity — only metadata was supplied","Land transaction Acts of this type are typically short, specific, and self-contained with minimal interpretive difficulty","Potential complexity arises only if the Act interacts with subsequent land law reforms or council amalgamations that affected Richmond and Hawthorn"],"plain_english_summary":"The Richmond and Hawthorn Lands Act 1970 is a narrow Victorian law addressing ownership, disposal or dedication of specific land parcels in Melbourne’s Richmond and Hawthorn. It primarily affects the Crown, the local councils and any named landholders by altering title, use or custody of those properties. For most people it is immaterial today, but it can still be relevant to owners or developers of the specified sites."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/richmond-and-hawthorn-lands-act-1970","history":"/api/acts/richmond-and-hawthorn-lands-act-1970/history","analysis":"/api/acts/richmond-and-hawthorn-lands-act-1970/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/richmond-and-hawthorn-lands-act-1970/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/richmond-and-hawthorn-lands-act-1970/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/richmond-and-hawthorn-lands-act-1970/documents"}}