{"id":"royal-agricultural-showgrounds-act-2003","name":"Royal Agricultural Showgrounds Act 2003","slug":"royal-agricultural-showgrounds-act-2003","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":175217,"registerId":"vic-royal-agricultural-showgrounds-act-2003-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Royal Agricultural Showgrounds Act 2003","content":"Version No. 004\n\n**Royal Agricultural Showgrounds Act 2003**\n\n**No. 45 of 2003**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n15 December 2017\n\n**table of provisions**\n\n*Section Page*\n\nPart 1—Preliminary 2\n\n1 Purposes 2\n\n2 Commencement 2\n\n3 Definitions 3\n\nPart 2—Agreement and approval of corporation 4\n\n4 Recognised agreement between the Crown and the Society 4\n\n5 Approval of corporation by the Minister 4\n\nPart 3—Land to become unalienated Crown land 6\n\n6 Effect of surrender of freehold showgrounds land to the Crown 6\n\n7 Revocation of Reservations and Crown Grants 6\n\nPart 4—Land grants and allocations to approved corporation 8\n\n8 Definitions 8\n\n9 Issue of Crown Grant 9\n\n10 Preparation of allocation statement 9\n\n11 Property transferred to approved corporation 10\n\n12 Allocation of property etc. subject to encumbrances 10\n\n13 Substitution of party to agreement 11\n\n14 Society instruments 11\n\n15 Taxes 11\n\n16 Validity of things done under this Part 11\n\nPart 5—Miscellaneous and savings provisions 13\n\n17 Registrar of Titles to make necessary amendments 13\n\n18 Preservation of leases 13\n\nPart 6—Amendment of other Acts 15\n\n19 Repeal of certain sections in the Royal Agricultural Show-grounds Act 1931 15\n\n20 Repeal of section 48 of the Racing Act 1958 15\n\nSchedules 16\n\nSchedule 1—Freehold showgrounds land 16\n\nSchedule 2—Land in respect of which reservations are revoked 17\n\nSchedule 3—Preserved leases 19\n\nEndnotes 21\n\n1 General information 21\n\n2 Table of Amendments 23\n\n3 Amendments Not in Operation 24\n\n4 Explanatory details 25\n\n**Version No.** **004**\n\n**Royal Agricultural Showgrounds Act 2003**\n\n**No. 45 of 2003**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n15 December 2017\n\n**Preamble**\n\nOn 15 May 1882 land at Flemington and Essendon was permanently reserved as a site for the use of the National Agricultural Society of Victoria for Show Yards and other purposes:\n\nThat land, by Crown grant, was subsequently granted, on 27 August 1886, to Trustees upon trust to be maintained and used as a site for show yards of the National Agricultural Society of Victoria:\n\nOn 5 August 1913 other land at Flemington was permanently reserved as a site for Agricultural Show purposes:\n\nThat land, by Crown grant, was subsequently granted on 22 June 1914 to Trustees upon trust to be maintained and used for agricultural show purposes:\n\nCertain parts of that land were subsequently transferred to The Victorian Railways Commissioners and the Mayor, aldermen, councillors and citizens of the City of Melbourne:\n\nSubsequently, by the **Royal Agricultural Show-grounds Act 1931**, certain alterations were made to the purposes for which the remaining land could be used and certain references to the National Agricultural Society of Victoria were deemed to be references to the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria Limited, A.C.N. 006 728 785:\n\nIn addition freehold titles to several parcels of land in the vicinity were acquired by predecessors in law to the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria Limited, A.C.N. 006 728 785 for use as part of the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds:\n\nIt is now proposed to make provision for the land that is needed for use as showgrounds and for other recreation, entertainment and amusement purposes. To facilitate that proposal, it is expedient to provide that, on surrender of the freehold land, the reservations and Crown grants of the reserved lands are revoked and to provide for the granting of a new Crown grant to a corporation representing the Crown and the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria Limited, A.C.N. 006 728 785.\n\n**The Parliament of Victoria therefore enacts as follows:**\n\nPart 1—Preliminary\n\n\t1 Purposes\n\nThe purposes of this Act are—\n\n(a) to make provision relating to the use of land for the purposes of the Royal Melbourne Show and for other recreation, entertainment and amusement purposes; and\n\n(b) to amend the **Royal Agricultural Show-grounds Act 1931** and the **Racing Act 1958**.\n\n\t2 Commencement\n\n(1) Subject to subsection (3), this Act, other than Part 6, comes into operation on a day to be proclaimed.\n\n(2) Subject to subsection (3), Part 6 comes into operation on a day to be proclaimed, not being a day earlier than the day on which this Act (other than Part 6) comes into operation.\n\n(3) If this Act (other than Part 6) does not come into operation before 31 December 2004, this Act expires on that day.\n\n\t3 Definitions\n\nIn this Act—\n\n***approved corporation*** means the corporation approved by the Minister under Part 2;\n\n***freehold showgrounds land*** means the land described in the folios of the Register set out in Schedule 1, to the extent that that land is shown on the plan numbered  \nLEGL./02–062;\n\nS. 3 def. of *plan numbered LEGL./02–062* amended by No. 53/2017 s. 91.\n\n***plan numbered LEGL./02****–****062*** means the plan lodged in the Central Plan Office and numbered LEGL./02–062;\n\n***Society*** means the company incorporated under the Corporations Law of Victoria called the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria Limited, A.C.N. 006 728 785, or, if that company changes its name, that company under its new name.\n\nPart 2—Agreement and approval of corporation\n\n\t4 Recognised agreement between the Crown and the Society\n\nFor the purposes of this Act the recognised agreement is an agreement in which the Society and the Minister on behalf of the Crown agree—\n\n(a) that a corporation be incorporated under the Corporations Act, having as its members the Crown and the Society; and\n\n(b) that the freehold showgrounds land be surrendered to the Crown; and\n\n(c) that, on the surrender of the freehold showgrounds land to the Crown, the reservation of the land described in items 1, 2 and 3 of Schedule 2 be revoked; and\n\n(d) that the part of the land shown on the plan numbered LEGL./02–062 that is specified in the agreement be granted to the approved corporation; and\n\n(e) that any such grant is to be subject to any terms, conditions, covenants, exceptions, reservations and limitations specified in the agreement.\n\n\t5 Approval of corporation by the Minister\n\n(1) For the purposes of this Act the Minister may approve a corporation.\n\n(2) The Minister must not approve a corporation under subsection (1) unless the Minister is satisfied that—\n\n(a) the Society and the Crown have entered into the recognised agreement; and\n\n(b) the corporation is incorporated under the Corporations Act; and\n\n(c) the corporation has two members only, of whom one is the Crown and the other is the Society; and\n\n(d) each member of the corporation is represented on the governing body of the corporation; and\n\n(e) the corporation has, as one of its objects, the facilitation and enhancement of Victorian agricultural industries.\n\n(3) As soon as possible after making an approval under this section, the Minister must cause notice of the making of the approval to be given to the Society and published in the Government Gazette.\n\n(4) An approval under this section has effect from the day on which notice of it is given to the Society.\n\n(5) Once the Minister has approved the corporation under this section, the power to make the approval is exhausted and the Minister does not have the power to make any further approval under this section, or to amend or revoke the approval so made.\n\nPart 3—Land to become unalienated Crown land\n\n\t6 Effect of surrender of freehold showgrounds land to the Crown\n\nOn the surrender of the whole of the freehold showgrounds land to the Crown—\n\n(a) if any part of the land is a road or is being used as a road, that part of the land ceases to be a road and all rights, easements and privileges existing or claimed in it either in the public or in any body or person as incident to any express or implied grant, or past dedication or supposed dedication or by user or operation of law or otherwise, cease and determine; and\n\n(b) the land is deemed to be unalienated Crown land, freed and discharged from all trusts, limitations, reservations, restrictions, encumbrances, estates and interests; and\n\n(c) the folios of the Register set out in Schedule 1 are revoked in so far as they apply to the freehold showgrounds land.\n\n\t7 Revocation of Reservations and Crown Grants\n\n(1) On the surrender of the whole of the freehold showgrounds land to the Crown—\n\n(a) Crown Grant Volume 1902 Folio 325 is revoked to the extent that it applies to the land shown on the plan numbered LEGL./02–062; and\n\n(b) the Order in Council specified in item 1 of Schedule 2 is revoked, to the extent that it applies to the land shown on the plan numbered LEGL./02–062.\n\n(2) On the surrender of the whole of the freehold showgrounds land to the Crown—\n\n(a) Crown Grant Volume 3807 Folio 226 is revoked to the extent that it applies to the land shown on the plan numbered LEGL./02–062; and\n\n(b) the Order in Council specified in item 2 of Schedule 2 is revoked, to the extent that it applies to the land shown on the plan numbered LEGL./02–062.\n\n(3) On the surrender of the whole of the freehold showgrounds land to the Crown, the Order in Council specified in item 3 of Schedule 2 is revoked.\n\n(4) On the revocation, specified in subsections (1), (2) and (3), of the Orders in Council specified in items 1, 2 and 3 of Schedule 2—\n\n(a) the land to which that part of those Orders that is revoked applies, is deemed to be unalienated land of the Crown, freed and discharged from all trusts, limitations, reservations, restrictions, encumbrances, estates and interests; and\n\n(b) the appointment of any persons to act as Trustees of that land is revoked, to the extent that that appointment relates to that land; and\n\n(c) any regulations under section 13 of the **Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978** are revoked to the extent that they apply to that land.\n\nPart 4—Land grants and allocations to approved corporation\n\n\t8 Definitions\n\nIn this Part—\n\n***appointed day*** means the day on which the Crown grant is issued under section 9;\n\n***former Society property*** means property, rights or liabilities of the Society that, under this Part, have vested in or become property, rights or liabilities of the approved corporation;\n\n***instrument*** includes a document and an oral agreement;\n\n***liabilities*** means all liabilities, duties and obligations, whether actual, contingent or prospective;\n\n***property*** means any legal or equitable estate or interest (whether present or future and whether vested or contingent) in personal property of any description;\n\n***rights*** means all rights, powers, privileges and immunities, whether actual, contingent or prospective;\n\n***Society instrument*** means an instrument subsisting immediately before the appointed day—\n\n(a) to which the Society was a party; or\n\n(b) that was given in favour of the Society; or\n\n(c) that refers to the Society; or\n\n(d) under which—\n\n(i) money is or may become payable to or by the Society; or\n\n(ii) other property is to be or may become liable to be transferred to or by the Society.\n\n\t9 Issue of Crown Grant\n\n(1) As soon as possible after the surrender of the whole of the freehold showgrounds land to the Crown, the Governor in Council, on behalf of the Crown, must grant to the approved corporation that part of the land shown on the plan numbered LEGL./02–062 that has been specified in the recognised agreement as land that is to be granted to the approved corporation.\n\n(2) A Crown grant under this section is subject to any terms, conditions, covenants, exceptions, reservations and limitations—\n\n(a) that are determined by the Governor in Council; and\n\n(b) that are not inconsistent with the terms of the recognised agreement.\n\n\t10 Preparation of allocation statement\n\n(1) The Society may give to the Minister, before the day on which the Crown grant is issued under section 9, a statement of any property, rights and liabilities of the Society that relate to the land shown on the plan numbered LEGL./02–062 that are to be assigned to the approved corporation.\n\n(2) A statement under this section must be signed by the Chairperson of the Society, the Minister and the Chairperson of the approved corporation.\n\n(3) If the Minister and the Chairperson of the Society and of the approved corporation agree, the statement is an allocation statement for the purposes of this Part.\n\n\t11 Property transferred to approved corporation\n\nOn the appointed day—\n\n(a) all property and rights of the Society that are allocated to the approved corporation under the allocation statement, vest in the approved corporation; and\n\n(b) all liabilities of the Society that are allocated to the approved corporation under the allocation statement, become liabilities of the approved corporation and cease to be liabilities of the Society.\n\n\t12 Allocation of property etc. subject to encumbrances\n\nUnless an allocation statement under this Part otherwise provides, where, under this Part property and rights vest in the approved corporation or liabilities become liabilities of the approved corporation—\n\n(a) the property and rights so vested are subject to the encumbrances (if any) to which they were subject immediately before so vesting; and\n\n(b) the rights to which the Society was entitled in respect of those liabilities immediately before they ceased to be liabilities of the Society, vest in the approved corporation.\n\n\t13 Substitution of party to agreement\n\nIf, under an allocation statement, the rights and liabilities of the Society under an agreement are allocated to the approved corporation—\n\n(a) the approved corporation becomes, on the appointed day, a party to the agreement in place of the Society; and\n\n(b) on and after the appointed day, the agreement has effect as if the approved corporation had always been a party to the agreement.\n\n\t14 Society instruments\n\nEach Society instrument relating to former Society property continues to have effect according to its tenor on and after the appointed day as if a reference in the instrument to the Society were a reference to the approved corporation.\n\n\t15 Taxes\n\nNo duty or other tax is chargeable under any Act in respect of anything done under this Part or in respect of any act or transaction connected with or necessary to be done by reason of this Part, including a transaction entered into or an instrument made, executed, lodged or given, for the purpose of, or connected with the transfer of property, rights or liabilities of the Society.\n\n\t16 Validity of things done under this Part\n\n(1) Nothing effected by this Part or done or suffered by the Society, the State, a Minister or the approved corporation under this Part—\n\n(a) is to be regarded as placing the Society, the State, a Minister or the approved corporation in breach of contract or confidence or as otherwise making any of them guilty of a civil wrong; or\n\n(b) is to be regarded as placing any of them in breach of or as constituting a default under any Act or other law or any provision in any agreement, arrangement or understanding including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any provision prohibiting, restricting or regulating the assignment or transfer of any property or the disclosure of any information; or\n\n(c) is to be regarded as fulfilling any condition which allows a person to exercise a right or remedy in respect of or to terminate any agreement or obligation; or\n\n(d) releases any surety or other obligor wholly or in part from any obligation.\n\n(2) The validity of any act or transaction of the Society or the approved corporation must not be called in question in any proceedings on the ground that any provision of this Part had not been complied with.\n\nPart 5—Miscellaneous and savings provisions\n\n\t17 Registrar of Titles to make necessary amendments\n\nThe Registrar of Titles must make any recordings in or amendments to the Register under the **Transfer of Land Act 1958** that are necessary because of the operation of any provision of this Act.\n\n\t18 Preservation of leases\n\n  (1) In this section ***lease*** includes an agreement, licence or other interest arising under or in relation to a lease whether or not the lease has expired and an interest in the nature of a lease.\n\n  (2) The surrender by the Society to the Crown of any land affected by a lease specified in Schedule 3 and existing immediately before that surrender does not affect the status or continuity of that lease, and that lease has effect, on and from that surrender—\n\n(a) as a lease between the Minister and the lessee for the time being under the lease, as if it had been assigned to the Minister; and\n\n(b) as if the lease referred to the Minister instead of to the lessor (however described).\n\n(3) The revocation under section 7 of the reservation of any land affected by a lease specified in Schedule 3 and existing immediately before that revocation does not affect the status or continuity of that lease, and that lease has effect, on and from that revocation—\n\n(a) as a lease between the Minister and the lessee for the time being under the lease, as if it had been assigned to the Minister; and\n\n(b) as if the lease referred to the Minister instead of to the lessor (however described).\n\n(4) The issue of a Crown grant of any land affected by a lease specified in Schedule 3 and existing immediately before that issue does not affect the status or continuity of that lease, and the lease has effect on and from that issue—\n\n(a) as a lease between the person to whom the Crown grant is made and the lessee for the time being under the lease, as if it had been assigned to the person to whom the Crown grant is made; and\n\n(b) as if the lease referred to the person to whom the Crown grant is made instead of to the lessor (however described).\n\n(5) This section has effect despite anything to the contrary in any Act or law or in a Crown grant of the land.\n\n(6) Nothing effected by this section—\n\n(a) is to be regarded as placing any person in breach of or as constituting a default under any provision prohibiting, restricting or regulating the assignment of the lease; or\n\n(b) is to be regarded as fulfilling any condition which allows a person to exercise a right or remedy in respect of, or to terminate, any agreement or obligation; or\n\n(c) releases any surety or other obligor wholly or in part from any obligation.\n\nPart 6—Amendment of other Acts\n\n\t19 Repeal of certain sections in the Royal Agricultural Show-grounds Act 1931\n\nIn the **Royal Agricultural Show-grounds Act 1931**, sections 1A, 2, 4, 5 and 6 are **repealed**.\n\n\t20 Repeal of section 48 of the Racing Act 1958\n\nSection 48 of the **Racing Act 1958** is **repealed**.\n\nSchedules\n\nSchedule 1—Freehold showgrounds land\n\nVolume 4950 Folio 829\n\nVolume 4950 Folio 830\n\nVolume 1588 Folio 409\n\nVolume 6333 Folio 488\n\nVolume 3859 Folio 752\n\nVolume 3893 Folio 500\n\nVolume 8038 Folio 127\n\nVolume 1463 Folio 579\n\nVolume 6826 Folio 164\n\nVolume 2859 Folio 661\n\nVolume 2859 Folio 662\n\nVolume 4956 Folio 111\n\nSchedule 2—Land in respect of which reservations are revoked\n\n**Item 1**\n\n| Situation and area of land: | Essendon and Flemington, being the land described in Crown Grant Volume 1902 Folio 325. |\n| --- | --- |\n| Instrument and date of reservation: | Order in Council dated 15 May 1882. |\n| Description of land by reference to Government Gazette: | Government Gazette dated 19 May 1882, page 1127. |\n| Purpose of reservation: | Site for the use of the National Agricultural Society of Victoria for Show Yards and other purposes. |\n| Extent of revocation: | That part of the reserve that applies to the land shown on the plan numbered LEGL./02–062. |\n\n\n**Item 2**\n\n| Situation and area of land: | Flemington, being the land described in Crown Grant Volume 3807 Folio 226. |\n| --- | --- |\n| Instrument and date of reservation: | Order in Council dated 5 August 1913. |\n| Description of land by reference to Government Gazette: | Government Gazette dated 13 August 1913, page 3532. |\n| Purpose of reservation: | Site for Agricultural Show purposes. |\n| Extent of revocation: | That part of the reserve that applies to the land shown on the plan numbered LEGL./02–062. |\n\n\n**Item 3**\n\n| Situation and area of land: | Flemington, Parish of Doutta Galla, County of Bourke, 0⋅024 hectares. |\n| --- | --- |\n| Instrument and date of reservation: | Order in Council dated 15 January 1959. |\n| Description of land by reference to Government Gazette: | Government Gazette dated 21 January 1959, page 140. |\n| Purpose of reservation: | Site for Showground and Public Recreation. |\n| Extent of revocation: | The whole reserve. |\n\n\nSchedule 3—Preserved leases\n\n| **Parties** | **Location** | **Date of lease** | **Affected Titles** |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| The Society<br>The Ascot Showgrounds Day Nursery Incorporated | Corner of McCaw Avenue and Staughton Parade | Lease dated 28 September 1988<br>Lease to expire 30 December 2008 | Volume 1902 Folio 325 |\n| The Society<br>Australian Meat Board | Meat Pavilion, Corner Lennon Avenue and Mitchell Street | Deed dated 2 March 1965 | Volume 1902 Folio 325 |\n| The Society<br>Minister for Finance, State Government of Victoria | Victorian Expo Centre | Lease commenced 27 September 1996<br>Lease expires 30 June 2018 | Volume 4950 Folio 829<br>Volume 4950 Folio 830 |\n| The Society<br>Victorian Agricultural Societies Association Incorporated | VASA Building<br>McGregor Street | Lease commenced 22 April 1991<br>Lease expires 22 April 2011 | Volume 4950 Folio 829 |\n| The Society<br>Victorian Canine Association Incorporated | Woodful and Cockbill Pavilion and surrounds | Lease dated 24 November 1993<br>Lease expires 1 January 2007 | Volume 3807 Folio 226 |\n\n| **Parties** | **Location** | **Date of lease** | **Affected Titles** |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| The Society<br>Horseland Pty. Ltd. | Scott Pavilion<br>Plummer Avenue | Licence commenced 1 February 1998<br>Licence expired 31 January 2001<br>Option for further licence for 3 years exercised | Volume 1902<br>Folio 325 |\n\n\n\n\nEndnotes\n\n1 General information\n\nSee [www.legislation.vic.gov.au](http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au) for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.\n\n*Minister's second reading speech—*\n\n*Legislative Assembly: 1 May 2003*\n\n*Legislative Council: 22 May 2003*\n\nThe long title for the Bill for this Act was \"to make provision relating to the use of land for the purposes of the Royal Melbourne Show and for other recreation, entertainment and amusement purposes, to amend the **Royal Agricultural Show-grounds Act 1931** and the **Racing Act 1958** and for other purposes.\"\n\nThe **Royal Agricultural Showgrounds Act 2003** was assented to on 11 June 2003 and came into operation as follows:\n\nSections 1–18, Schedules 1–3 on 30 December 2004: Government Gazette 23 December 2004 page 3476; Part 6 (sections 19, 20) not yet proclaimed.\n\nINTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)\n\nStyle changes\n\nSection 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.\n\nReferences to ILA s. 39B\n\nSidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided section or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subsections or subclauses, the original section or clause becomes subsection or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression \"(1)\" at the beginning of the original section or clause.\n\nInterpretation\n\nAs from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:\n\n• Headings\n\nAll headings included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Act. Any heading inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Act. This includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; sections; clauses; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms. See section 36(1A)(2A).\n\n• Examples, diagrams or notes\n\nAll examples, diagrams or notes included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Act. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Act. See section 36(3A).\n\n• Punctuation\n\nAll punctuation included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 forms part of that Act. Any punctuation inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Act. See section 36(3B).\n\n• Provision numbers\n\nAll provision numbers included in an Act form part of that Act, whether inserted in the Act before, on or after 1 January 2001. Provision numbers include section numbers, subsection numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).\n\n• Location of \"legislative items\"\n\nA \"legislative item\" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of an Act is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.\n\n• Other material\n\nAny explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of an Act.  \nSee section 36(3)(3D)(3E).\n\n2 Table of Amendments\n\nThis publication incorporates amendments made to the **Royal Agricultural Showgrounds Act 2003** by Acts and subordinate instruments.\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\n**Parks and Crown Land Legislation Amendment Act 2017, No. 53/2017**\n\n| Assent Date: | 24.10.17 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 91 on 15.12.17: Special Gazette (No. 433) 12.12.17 p. 1 |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Royal Agricultural Showgrounds Act 2003** |\n\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\n3 Amendments Not in Operation\n\nThere are no amendments which were Not in Operation at the date of this publication.\n\n4 Explanatory details\n\nNo entries at date of publication.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act changes the legal status and governance of the showgrounds land from privately held freehold/Trust arrangements to unalienated Crown land and then to land granted to a jointly owned Crown–Society corporation. It revokes historical reservations and Crown grants and preserves certain pre‑existing leases, while also repealing specified provisions of earlier Acts (see Preamble; ss 6–9, 7, 14–18; Schedules 1–3; ss 19–20). This alters who holds title, who decides grant terms, and how existing rights and liabilities are allocated."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple land‑title operations: surrender of freehold, declaration of unalienated Crown land and issuance of a new Crown grant (ss 6–9; Schedules 1–2).","Ministerial and Governor‑in‑Council discretions over approval criteria and grant conditions (ss 5,9).","Transfer and vesting mechanics for property, rights and liabilities via an allocation statement requiring signatures from Society, Minister and approved corporation (ss 10–13).","Continuity and transfer of extant instruments and leases, including statutory preservation of listed leases and protection against breach or default claims (ss 14,16,18; Schedule 3).","Interaction with other statutes and land registers: revocation of earlier Crown grants and reservations, Registrar of Titles amendments, and repeal of provisions in earlier Acts (ss 7,17,19–20).","Tax exemption for transactions effected under Part 4, which alters usual revenue and compliance consequences (s 15).","Defined terms and plan references that require cross‑checking with external instruments and land plans (s 3, definition of plan LEGL./02–062).","Exhaustive single approval rule: Minister may approve only once, fixing corporate structure and limiting later flexibility (s 5(5))."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act converts specified freehold land used for the Royal Melbourne Show into unalienated Crown land, revokes older reservations and Crown grants, and authorises a Crown grant of part of that land to a new two‑member corporation made up of the Crown and the Royal Agricultural Society (ss 6–9; Schedules 1–2). It sets out how property, rights, liabilities and existing leases transfer to that approved corporation, exempts related duties and taxes, preserves listed leases, and requires ministerial approval and Governor‑in‑Council conditions for the grant (ss 5,10–18)."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose: facilitating the restructuring of the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds land tenure. The 2017 amendment (No. 53/2017) was a minor technical amendment to the definition of 'plan numbered LEGL./02–062' (s. 91), updating a reference. The core scheme—surrender of freehold, revocation of historical reservations, creation of the approved corporation, and transfer of assets—remains unchanged from the 2003 intent."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple interdependent triggers: The entire scheme depends on the 'surrender' of freehold land as a precondition for subsequent steps (ss. 6, 7, 9), creating conditional chains","Defined terms with specific statutory meanings: 9 defined terms in Part 1 and 7 additional definitions in Part 4, some referencing external plans and schedules (e.g., 'plan numbered LEGL./02–062')","Cross-references between Parts: Part 4 operates by reference to the 'appointed day' (defined by reference to s. 9), the 'recognised agreement' (defined in s. 4), and the 'approved corporation' (defined in s. 3 and approved under s. 5)","Historical land law concepts: References to Crown grants, Orders in Council, reservations, and unalienated Crown land require understanding of Victorian land tenure history","Schedule-dependent operation: Critical operative provisions depend on land descriptions in Schedules 1, 2, and 3, including specific folio references and plan numbers","Nested protective provisions: Section 18 contains multiple subsections preserving leases through successive transformations (surrender, revocation, Crown grant), each with deeming provisions","Exhaustive powers: Section 5(5) contains a 'spent power' provision stating the Minister's approval power is exhausted after first use, which is an unusual limiting mechanism"],"plain_english_summary":"This Act is about restructuring who owns and manages the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds in Flemington and Essendon.\n\n**What it does:**\nThe legislation facilitates a complex land swap involving the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (the Society that runs the Royal Melbourne Show) and the Victorian Government (the Crown).\n\n**The key changes are:**\n- **Land surrender and transfer:** The Society gives up (surrenders) its freehold ownership of certain parcels of land to the State. In exchange, the State creates a new special-purpose company—a corporation jointly owned by the Crown and the Society—to hold and manage the showgrounds land.\n- **Cleaning up old titles:** The Act revokes old Crown grants and reservations dating back to 1882, 1913, and 1959 that originally set aside this land for agricultural show purposes. This clears the way for a fresh legal structure.\n- **Creating a new entity:** The Minister must approve a corporation with exactly two members: the Crown and the Society. This new body becomes the landlord for the showgrounds.\n- **Transferring assets and liabilities:** The Society can transfer property, rights, and liabilities related to the land to this new corporation through an \"allocation statement.\"\n- **Protecting existing leases:** Any leases already in place (like those for the Victorian Expo Centre or various pavilions) continue uninterrupted—they simply transfer to the new corporation or the Minister.\n- **Tax exemptions:** The transfers happen without stamp duty or other taxes.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria\n- The Victorian Government\n- Existing tenants and leaseholders on the showgrounds\n- Anyone with interests in the specified land parcels\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis modernises the governance of one of Victoria's most iconic venues. Instead of the Society owning some land outright and holding other parts under complex historical trusts, everything moves into a single, jointly-controlled entity. This makes management clearer while ensuring the site remains available for agricultural shows, recreation, and entertainment."},"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"},"summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the limited metadata available, there is no evidence of scope change from the original intent. The Act appears to remain in its original form (as made) with no substantive amendments indicated in the version history provided. However, this assessment is necessarily limited given that only administrative metadata — not the actual legislative text — was supplied for analysis."},"complexity_factors":["Insufficient legislative content provided — only title and version metadata were supplied, preventing analysis of actual provisions","Land management legislation of this type typically involves interplay between property law, government authority, and corporate governance of the managing society","Potential complexity around land tenure, Crown land classifications, and heritage or rezoning protections","Likely limited scope — applies to a specific geographic location and narrow class of organisations, keeping overall complexity low"],"plain_english_summary":"The Act sets out the legal framework for how Royal Agricultural Showgrounds land and facilities are to be managed, used and protected. It governs the bodies that run the grounds, government oversight, and people who lease, use or attend the site.\n\nThis matters because showgrounds are valuable community assets: the law preserves their use for agricultural shows and events, clarifies authority and dispute handling, and limits redevelopment. Note: only title and metadata were provided, not the Act’s substantive text."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/royal-agricultural-showgrounds-act-2003","history":"/api/acts/royal-agricultural-showgrounds-act-2003/history","analysis":"/api/acts/royal-agricultural-showgrounds-act-2003/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/royal-agricultural-showgrounds-act-2003/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/royal-agricultural-showgrounds-act-2003/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/royal-agricultural-showgrounds-act-2003/documents"}}