{"id":"railway-melbourne-lands-exchange-act-1888","name":"The Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888","slug":"the-railway-melbourne-lands-exchange-act-1888","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":176411,"registerId":"vic-railway-melbourne-lands-exchange-act-1888-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"The Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888","content":"Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documentsi\nVersion No. 001\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act\n1888\nAct No. 1003/1888\nVersion incorporating amendments as at 21 February 2001\nTABLE OF PROVISIONS\nSection Page\n1. Short title 2\n2. Lands vested in Railways Commissioners 2\n3. Lands to vest by force of this Act 3\n4. Railway or tramway to be constructed into market lands at\nexpense of Corporation 3\n__________________\nSCHEDULES 5\nSCHEDULE 1 5\nSCHEDULE 2 11\nSCHEDULE 3—Repealed 13\n══════════════\nENDNOTES 14\n1. General Information 14\n2. Table of Amendments 15\n3. Explanatory Details 16\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents1\nVersion No. 001\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act\n1888\nAct No. 1003/1888\nVersion incorporating amendments as at 21 February 2001\nAn Act to make provision for the Vesting of certain Lands in the\nBoard of Lands and Works, the Victorian Railways\nCommissioners, the Mayor Aldermen Councillors and Citizens\nof the City of Melbourne respectively.\nPreamble\nWHEREAS the lands described in the First\nSchedule hereto are required by the Victorian\nRailways Commissioners for the purposes of \"The\nVictorian Railways Commissioners Act 1883\":\nAND WHEREAS the said lands are under the\nmanagement and control of or are vested in the\nMayor Aldermen Councillors and Citizens of the\nCity of Melbourne or the said Mayor Aldermen\nCouncillors and Citizens jointly with the Board of\nLand and Works or the said Board:\nAND WHEREAS it has been agreed between the\nsaid Commissioners of the one part and the said\nMayor Aldermen Councillors and Citizens and the\nsaid Board of the other part that the said lands\ntogether with the buildings and erections thereon\nshould be vested in the said Commissioners subject\nto certain conditions and provisoes:\nAND WHEREAS the same cannot be done\nwithout the authority of Parliament:\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 1003/1888\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888\n2\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 for all purposes be cited as \"The\nRailway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act\n1888.\"\n2. Lands vested in Railways Commissioners\nImmediately upon the payment by the Victorian\nRailways Commissioners to the Mayor Aldermen\nCouncillors and Citizens of the City of Melbourne\n(hereinafter termed the \"Corporation\") of the sum\nof Eight thousand pounds the lands described in\nthe First Schedule hereto together with the\nbuildings thereon shall become vested in the said\nCommissioners for the purposes of \"The\nVictorian Railways Commissioners Act 1883\"\nsubject to the conditions and provisos mentioned\nin the said First Schedule.\nImmediately on such payment aforesaid the lands\ndescribed in the Second Schedule hereto together\nwith the buildings thereon shall become vested in\nthe Corporation for the purposes following and for\nno other purposes whatsoever (that is to say):\nThe lands numbered one two and three in the said\nSecond Schedule for the purposes of a general\nmarket, provided that the Corporation shall pay to\nthe Board of Land and Works the sum of Five\nthousand pounds as the value of any buildings or\nimprovements thereon:\nThe lands numbered five in the said Second\nSchedule for market and refrigerating chambers\nand storage purposes:\ns. 1\nS. 2\namended by\nNo. 1054\nss 2(Sch. 1), 8.\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 1003/1888\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888\n3\nThe lands numbered four in the said Second\nSchedule for yardage for sanitary vehicles and\nappliances and materials requisite for the public\npurposes of the city:\nThe lands numbered six in the said Second\nSchedule for market and other purposes or for\nyardage for plant utensils and appliances for\nmaintenance of the streets and public works of the\ncity:\nThe lands numbered seven in the said Second\nSchedule for the purposes of a street.\n3. Lands to vest by force of this Act\nThe said lands shall vest in and belong to the\nrespective corporations in which they are\nrespectively vested by this Act and shall without\nfurther or other conveyance or assurance than this\nAct be and become vested in and be held and\nenjoyed by such corporations respectively for the\npurposes hereinbefore in this Act specified but not\notherwise freed from the terms and conditions of\nany Crown grant reservation or dedication of any\nkind whatsoever affecting the same or any part\nthereof.\n4. Railway or tramway to be constructed into market\nlands at expense of Corporation\nIt shall be lawful for the said Commissioners\nwhen so requested and when furnished with\nsufficient funds for the purpose by the\nCorporation to construct into and to such part of\nthe lands described in the Second Schedule hereto\nand therein numbered one two and three as the\nCorporation may specify a railway or tramway\nfrom and connected with the railways vested in\nthe said Commissioners, the cost of which railway\nor tramway and the maintenance thereof for the\nentire length thereof beyond the limits of the land\ns. 3\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 1003/1888\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888\n4\nvested in the Commissioners shall be borne and\ndefrayed by the Corporation.\n__________________\ns. 4\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 1003/1888\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888\n5\nSCHEDULES\nTHE FIRST SCHEDULE\nI. Commencing on the south side of Flinders-street at a point in a line\nwith the eastern side of Queen-street and proceeding thence for four\nchains sixteen links more or less in a straight line bearing south twenty-\neight degrees east to the northern bank of the River Yarra and bounded\non the east by land belonging to the Victorian Railways\nCommissioners; thence for seven chains more or less in a straight line\nbearing westerly along the said northern bank of the River Yarra to the\nnorth-eastern angle of the new Falls Bridge; thence for seven chains\nfour links more or less by a curve of six chains radius the centre of\nwhich lies to the south-east to a point on the south side of Flinders-\nstreet in line with the western side of Queen-street; and thence for one\nchain fifty links in a straight line bearing north sixty-two degrees east\nalong the said southern side of Flinders-street to the commencing point,\nand containing an area of two acres thirty-eight perches more or less.\nII. Commencing at the intersection of the western side of Swanston-street\nwith the southern side of Flinders-street and proceeding thence for\nninety feet in a straight line bearing south twenty-eight degrees east\nalong the western side of Swanston-street; thence for seventy-nine feet\nand two-tenths of a foot in a straight line bearing south sixty-two\ndegrees west to the eastern boundary of land belonging to the Victorian\nRailways Commissioners; thence for ninety feet in a straight line\nbearing north twenty-eight degrees west to the southern side of\nFlinders-street and bounded on the west by the aforesaid land belonging\nto the Victorian Railways Commissioners; thence for seventy-nine feet\nand two-tenths of a foot in a line bearing north sixty-two degrees east\nalong the said southern side of Flinders-street to the commencing point,\nand containing an area of twenty-six perches and two-tenths of a perch\nmore or less.\nIII. Commencing at a point on the western side of Swanston-street being\nthe south-eastern angle of the Fishmarket Reserve and proceeding\nthence for five chains fifty-four links more or less in a straight line\nbearing south twenty-eight degrees east to the northern bank of the\nRiver Yarra; thence for one chain twenty links more or less in a straight\nline bearing westerly along the said northern bank of the River Yarra to\nthe eastern boundary of land belonging to the Victorian Railways\nCommissioners; thence for five chains twenty-four links more or less in\na straight line bearing north twenty-eight degrees west to the south-\nwestern angle of the said Fishmarket Reserve, and bounded on the west\nby the said land of the Victorian Railways Commissioners; thence for\nseventy-nine feet and two-tenths of a foot in a straight line bearing\nSch. 1\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 1003/1888\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888\n6\nnorth sixty-two degrees east along the southern boundary of the said\nFishmarket Reserve to the commencing point, and containing an area of\ntwo roods twenty-three perches more or less.\nIV. Commencing at the intersection of the southern side of Flinders-street\nwith the eastern side of Swanston-street and proceeding thence in a\nstraight line bearing north sixty-two degrees east along the said south\nside of Flinders-street to the north-western angle of land belonging to\nthe Victorian Railways Commissioners; thence for five chains seventy-\nseven links more or less in a straight line bearing south twenty-eight\ndegrees east to the northern side of the Yarra Bank-road and bounded\non the east by the said property of the Victorian Railways\nCommissioners; thence for one chain sixty-two links more or less in a\nstraight line bearing westerly along the said road to the eastern side of\nSwanston-street; thence for five chains twenty links more or less in a\nstraight line bearing north twenty-eight degrees west along the said\neastern side of Swanston-street to the commencing point, and\ncontaining an area of three roods eleven perches more or less.\nV. Commencing at a point on the southern side of Flinders-street in a line\nwith the eastern side of Stephen-street and proceeding thence for three\nchains forty links in a straight line bearing south twenty-eight degrees\neast and bounded on the east by land vested in the Victorian Railways\nCommissioners; thence for six chains seventy-eight links more or less\nin a straight line bearing westerly and for thirty-six links in another\nstraight line bearing north-westerly to the south side of Flinders-street\naforesaid and bounded on the south and south-west by land vested in\nthe Victorian Railways Commissioners; thence for six chains fifteen\nlinks more or less in a straight line bearing north sixty-two degrees east\nalong the said south side of Flinders street to the commencing point,\nand containing an area of one acre and sixteen perches more or less.\nVI. Commencing at a point on the western side of the Jolimont-road being\nthe intersection of the northern boundary of land the freehold property\nof the Victorian Railways Commissioners and proceeding thence for\nfourteen chains thirty links more or less in a north-westerly direction\nalong the said northern boundary of freehold land to the south-eastern\nangle of other land belonging to the Victorian Railways\nCommissioners; thence for five chains twenty-eight links more or less\nin a straight line bearing north twenty-eight degrees west and in line\nwith the west side of Spring-street to the intersection of the southern\nfence of the ground occupied by the Victorian Militia Engineers; thence\nfor nineteen chains six links in a south-easterly direction along the\nfences of the lands occupied by the said Engineer Corps the National\nGymnasium and the East Melbourne Cricket Club to the west side of\nthe Jolimont-road; thence for fifty links more or less in a straight line\nbearing south along the said west side of the Jolimont-road to the\nSch. 1\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 1003/1888\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888\n7\ncommencing point, and containing an area of three acres two roods\nmore or less.\nVII. Commencing at a point on the southern side of Wellington-parade south\nin a line with the western side of Spring-street and forming the north-\neastern angle of land vested in the Victorian Railways Commissioners\nand proceeding thence for nine chains ten links more or less in an\neasterly direction along the said southern side of Wellington-parade\nsouth and the lands occupied respectively by the Victorian Militia\nEngineers and National Gymnasium to the north-western angle of the\nland occupied by the East Melbourne Cricket Club; thence for six\nchains eight links more or less in a southerly direction to the south-\neastern angle of land occupied by the National Gymnasium; thence for\nnine chains twenty-four links more or less in a straight line in a north-\nwesterly direction along the fenced southern boundary of lands\noccupied respectively by the National Gymnasium and Victorian\nMilitia Engineers to the eastern boundary of land vested in the\nVictorian Railways Commissioners; thence for two chains thirty links\nmore or less in a straight line bearing north twenty-eight degrees west\nalong the said eastern boundary of land vested in the Victorian\nRailways Commissioners to the commencing point, and containing an\narea of three acres one rood eleven perches more or less, subject to the\ncondition that the present occupiers shall not be disturbed until the land\nis actually required for railway purposes, of which the Commissioners\nshall be the sole judges, and until so required the revenue now derived\nfrom it (if any) by the Board shall continue to be received by the Board.\nVIII. Commencing at the north-east angle of the ground occupied by the East\nMelbourne Cricket Club being the point of intersection of the southern\nside of Wellington-parade south by the western side of Jolimont-road\nand proceeding thence for eleven chains sixty links more or less in a\nstraight line bearing south along the west side of the Jolimont-road to\nthe south-eastern angle of the said land occupied by the East Melbourne\nCricket Club; thence for fifteen chains ninety links more or less in a\nnorth-westerly and northerly direction along the fence boundaries of the\nsaid land occupied by the East Melbourne Cricket Club to the north-\nwestern angle thereof on the south side of Wellington-parade south and\nbounded on the south by land occupied by the Victorian Railways\nCommissioners and on the west by that occupied by the National\nGymnasium; thence for seven chains seventy links more or less in a\nstraight line bearing east along the said south side of Wellington-parade\nsouth to the commencing point, and containing six acres one rood\ntwenty-nine perches more or less, subject to the conditions that the\npresent occupiers shall not be disturbed until the land is actually\nrequired for railway purposes, of which the Commissioners shall be the\nsole judges, and until so required the revenue now derived from it (if\nany) by the Board shall continue to be received by the Board.\nSch. 1\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 1003/1888\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888\n8\nIX. Commencing on the west side of the Jolimont-road at its intersection\nwith the northern boundary of the freehold land of the Victorian\nRailways Commissioners and proceeding thence for one chain sixty-\neight links in a straight line bearing south-easterly to the intersection of\nthe eastern side of the Jolimont-road with the northern side of another\nportion of freehold land belonging to the Victorian Railways\nCommissioners; thence for two chains forty-five links more or less in a\nstraight line bearing south along the said east side of the Jolimont-road\nto its intersection with the south side of the said last-mentioned freehold\nrailway land; thence for one chain sixty-eight links more or less in a\nstraight line bearing north-westerly to the intersection of the west side\nof the Jolimont-road with the southern side of the first-mentioned\nfreehold railway land; and thence for two chains forty-five links more\nor less in a straight line bearing north along the west side of the\nJolimont-road to the commencing point, and containing an area of one\nrood nineteen perches more or less.\nX. Commencing at the intersection of the west side of the Jolimont-road\nwith the northern side of freehold land belonging to the Victorian\nRailways Commissioners and proceeding thence for fifty links more or\nless in a straight line bearing north along the said west side of the\nJolimont-road; thence for one chain eighty-six links more or less in a\nstraight line bearing south-easterly to the east side of the said Jolimont-\nroad; thence for thirty links more or less in a straight line bearing south\nalong the said east side of the Jolimont-road to the northern side of\nother freehold land belonging to the Victorian Railways\nCommissioners; thence for one chain sixty-eight links more or less in a\nstraight line bearing north-westerly to the commencing point, and\ncontaining an area of fourteen perches more or less.\nXI. Commencing at the intersection of the west side of the Jolimont-road\nwith the southern side of freehold land belonging to the Victorian\nRailways Commissioners and proceeding thence for one chain sixty-\neight links in a straight line bearing south-easterly to the intersection of\nthe east side of Jolimont-road with the southern side of other freehold\nland belonging to the Victorian Railways Commissioners; thence for\nthree chains eighteen links more or less in a straight line bearing south\nalong the said east side of Jolimont-road; thence for one chain fifty-six\nlinks more or less in a straight line bearing north-westerly to the west\nside of the said Jolimont-road; thence for three chains eighty links in a\nstraight line bearing north along the said west side of Jolimont-road to\nthe commencing point, and containing an area of two roods two perches\nmore or less.\nWith the proviso as to the portions of land described as numbers nine\nten and eleven in this Schedule that the Commissioners shall provide\nand maintain for public use on and over the same and over the railway\nSch. 1\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 1003/1888\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888\n9\nlines constructed thereon a footbridge and approaches thereto of not\nless breadth than the present footbridge in the line of the Jolimont-road.\nXII. Commencing at a point on the Yarra Bank-road which is the south-west\nangle of freehold land belonging to the Victorian Railways\nCommissioners and proceeding thence for forty-seven chains more or\nless in a north-easterly and easterly direction along the southern\nboundary of the said freehold railway land to its intersection with the\nwest side of the Jolimont-road; thence for three chains eighty links\nmore or less in a straight line bearing south along the said west side of\nthe Jolimont-road; thence for eighteen chains sixteen links more or less\nin a straight line bearing north-west to the north-east corner of the new\nMorgue site; thence for one chain fifty links north-westerly in a straight\nline along the northern boundary of the said new Morgue site to its\nnorth-west angle; thence for three chains seventy-two links more or less\nin a straight line north-westerly to the north-eastern angle of the\nCorporation Baths site; thence for one chain fifty links more or less\nnorth-westerly along the northern boundary of the said baths site to its\nnorth-west angle; and thence for nineteen chains thirty-two links more\nor less in a straight line still north-westerly to the commencing point,\nand containing an area of twenty acres more or less with a right-of-way\nwhen it may be required by the Railway Department over that portion\nof land lying between the south of the last-described line the western\nside of the Corporation Baths site and the northern side of the Yarra\nBank-road, and also a right-of-way over a strip of land of one chain\nwide lying between the land hereinbefore described as No. 12 in this\nSchedule and the Yarra Bank-road and parallel to and adjoining the\neastern boundary line of the new Morgue site.\nXIII. Commencing at the intersection of the east side of the Jolimont-road\nwith the southern side of freehold land belonging to the Victorian\nRailways Commissioners and proceeding thence for seven hundred and\nseventy feet in a straight line bearing south-easterly along the southern\nboundary of the said railway land; thence for six hundred and ninety-\nfour feet more or less in a straight line bearing north-westerly to the\nsaid east side of Jolimont-road; thence for two hundred and ten feet\nmore or less in a straight line bearing north along the said east side of\nJolimont-road to the commencing point, and containing an area of one\nacre two roods twenty-six perches more or less.\nXIV. Commencing at the intersection of the east side of the Jolimont-road\nwith the northern boundary of freehold land the property of the\nVictorian Railways Commissioners and proceeding thence for thirty\nlinks more or less in a straight line bearing north along the said east side\nof Jolimont-road; thence for one chain sixty-five links more or less in a\nstraight line bearing south-easterly to the northern boundary of the said\nrailway land; thence for one chain fifty links in a straight line bearing\nnorth-westerly along the said northern boundary of railway land to the\nSch. 1\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 1003/1888\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888\n10\ncommencing point, and containing an area of three and a quarter\nperches more or less.\nXV. Commencing at the intersection of the north side of the Footscray-road\nwith the eastern side of the cut channel of the Moonee Ponds Creek and\nproceeding thence for four chains more or less in a northerly direction\nalong the eastern bank of the said creek channel; thence for eleven\nchains thirty-six links more or less in a straight line bearing easterly to\nthe fenced line of present Railway Reserve forming the western side of\nthe approach to the old level crossing over the main line of railway to\nthe north-west of the North Melbourne station; thence for eleven chains\ntwenty links more or less southerly and westerly along the said fence\nand the north side of the Footscray-road to the commencing point, and\ncontaining an area of two acres three roods and sixteen perches more or\nless. This land to be held and used for the purposes of the Department\nof the Postmaster-General.\n_______________\nSch. 1\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 1003/1888\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888\n11\nTHE SECOND SCHEDULE\nI. Commencing at a point on the eastern side of Spencer-street forming the\nnorth-western angle of allotment 7 section 1A Melbourne and\nproceeding thence for two chains forty links more or less in a straight\nline bearing north twenty-eight degrees west along the eastern side of\nSpencer-street aforesaid to its intersection with the southern side of\nFlinders-street one and a half chains wide; thence for ten chains more or\nless in a straight line bearing north sixty-two degrees east along the said\nsouthern side of Flinders-street one and a half chains wide to the\nintersection of the western side of King-street; thence for three chains\nthirty links more or less in a straight line bearing south twenty-eight\ndegrees east along the western side of King-street aforesaid to its\nintersection with the northern side of the new street formed by the\nMelbourne Harbour Trust along the Queen's Wharf; thence for four\nchains seventy-eight links more or less in a straight line bearing south-\nwesterly along the north side of the said new street to the eastern\nboundary of allotment 3 section 1A aforesaid; thence for two chains\ntwenty-two links more or less in a straight line bearing north twenty-\neight degrees west along the said eastern boundary of allotment 3\nsection 1A to the north-eastern angle thereof; thence for six chains more\nor less in a straight line bearing south sixty-two degrees west along the\nnorthern boundary of the said section 1A to the commencing point, and\ncontaining an area of three acres and thirty-four perches more or less,\nexcepting therefrom so much as shall be required for the proposed\nFlinders-street Viaduct Railway authorized by Act 48 Victoria No. 821.\nII. Commencing at a point on the eastern side of Spencer-street being the\nnorth-western angle of allotment 7 section 1A Melbourne and\nproceeding thence for six chains more or less in a straight line bearing\nnorth sixty-two degrees east along the northern boundary of the said\nsection to the north-eastern angle of allotment 3 thereof; thence for two\nchains twenty-two links more or less in a straight line bearing south\ntwenty-eight degrees east to the intersection of the northern side of the\nnew street formed by the Melbourne Harbour Trust along the Queen's\nWharf; thence for six chains fourteen links more or less in a south-\nwesterly direction along the northern side of the said new street to the\nintersection of the eastern side of Spencer-street aforesaid; thence for\nthree chains sixty-two links more or less in a straight line bearing north\ntwenty-eight degrees west along the said eastern side of Spencer-street\nto the commencing point, and containing an area of one acre three roods\nseven perches more or less, excepting therefrom so much as shall be\nrequired for the proposed Flinders-street Viaduct Railway authorized by\nAct 48 Victoria No. 821.\nSch. 2\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 1003/1888\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888\n12\nIII. Commencing at a point being the intersection of the southern side of\nFlinders-street one chain fifty links wide with the eastern side of King-\nstreet and proceeding thence for six chains sixty links more or less in a\nstraight line bearing north sixty-two degrees east along the said southern\nside of Flinders-street one chain fifty links wide to the intersection of\nthe northern side of the new street constructed by the Melbourne\nHarbour Trust along the Queen's Wharf; thence for seven chains twelve\nlinks more or less in a south-westerly direction along the northern side\nof the said new street to the intersection of the eastern side of King-\nstreet aforesaid; thence for two chains eighty links more or less in a\nstraight line bearing north twenty-eight degrees west along the eastern\nside of King-street to the commencing point, and containing an area of\nthree roods thirty-five perches more or less, excepting therefrom so\nmuch as shall be required for the proposed Flinders-street Viaduct\nRailway authorized by Act 48 Victoria No. 821, with the proviso that\nthe Council shall be entitled to the use of the spaces under the Flinders-\nstreet Viaduct Railway mentioned in the description of portions of land\nnumbered one two and three in this Schedule subject to railway\nrequirements.\n* * * * *\nV. Commencing at the intersection of the south-eastern side of Lonsdale-\nstreet with the north-eastern side of Spencer-street and proceeding\nthence for five chains more or less in a straight line bearing north sixty-\ntwo degrees east along the said south-eastern side of Lonsdale-street;\nthence for four chains seventy-five links more or less in a straight line\nbearing south twenty-eight degrees east to the north-western side of\nLittle Bourke-street; thence for five chains more or less in a straight line\nbearing south sixty-two degrees west along the said north-western side\nof Little Bourke-street to its intersection with the north-eastern side of\nSpencer-street; thence for four chains seventy-five links more or less in\na straight line bearing north twenty-eight degrees west along the north-\neastern side of Spencer-street to the commencing point, and containing\nan area of two acres one rood twenty perches more or less.\nVI. Commencing at the intersection of the south side of Victoria-street with\nthe north side of Therry-street and proceeding thence in a straight line\nbearing westerly along the north side of Therry-street to Elizabeth-\nstreet; thence in a straight line bearing northerly along the eastern side\nof Elizabeth-street in line with the eastern side of Leicester-street one\nhundred and fifty-one feet; thence by a line bearing easterly twenty-five\nfeet three inches; thence by a line northerly thirty-two feet to a point on\nthe southern side of Victoria-street distant twenty-nine feet eight inches\nfrom the south-eastern corner of Victoria-street and Elizabeth-street;\nthence easterly along the southern side of Victoria-street three hundred\nSch. 2 Pt 4\nrepealed by\nNo. 1182 s. 9.\nSch. 2\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 1003/1888\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888\n13\nand twenty-four feet six inches to the commencing point, and containing\nan area of two roods twenty-three perches and seven-tenths of a perch\nmere or less.\nVII. Commencing at a point on the western side of Spencer-street formed by\nthe intersection of the production westerly of the northern side of\nFlinders-street and proceeding thence for thirty-two links more or less in\na straight line bearing south twenty-eight degrees east; thence for three\nchains six links more or less in a straight line bearing south-westerly to\nthe intersection of the production westerly of the southern side of\nFlinders-street one and a half chains wide; thence for nineteen chains\ntwelve links more or less in a straight line bearing south sixty-two\ndegrees west being a production westerly of the said south side of\nFlinders-street to the intersection of the fenced line forming the\nsouthernmost boundary of the Spencer-street Railway Reserve; thence\nfor three chains thirty-six links more or less in a straight line bearing\nwesterly along the said Railway Reserve boundary; thence for twenty-\nfour chains ninety links more or less in a straight line bearing north\nsixty-two degrees east being a production westerly of the said northern\nside of Flinders-street to the commencing point, and containing three\nacres one rood seven perches more or less.\n_______________\n* * * * *\n══════════════\nSch. 2\nSch. 3\nrepealed by\nNo. 1054\ns. 2(Sch. 1).\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 1003/1888\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888\n14\nENDNOTES\n1. General Information\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888 was assented to on\n22 December 1888 and came into operation on 22 December 1888.\nEndnotes\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 1003/1888\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888\n15\n2. Table of Amendments\nThis Version incorporates amendments made to The Railway Melbourne\nLands Exchange Act 1888 by Acts and subordinate instruments.\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1889, No. 1054/1889\nAssent Date: 25.11.1889\nCommencement Date: 25.11.1889\nCurrent State: All of Act in operation\nMelbourne Harbor Trust Act 1890 (No. 2), No. 1182/1890\nAssent Date: 19.12.1890\nCommencement Date: 19.12.1890\nCurrent State: All of Act in operation\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\nEndnotes\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 1003/1888\nThe Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888\n16\n3. Explanatory Details\nNo entries at date of publication.\nEndnotes","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act has been amended since enactment: Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1889 (No. 1054) and Melbourne Harbor Trust Act 1890 (No. 1182) altered s.2 and parts of the Schedules and repealed Schedule 3. Amendments introduced exceptions relating to the Flinders-street Viaduct and reallocated or excised portions of listed parcels; they therefore modified which lands and uses the original Act vested and preserved. (See Table of Amendments and endnotes.)"},"complexity_factors":["Detailed cadastral descriptions and multiple land parcels set out across lengthy First and Second Schedules (Schedules contain precise bearings, areas and parcel numbers).","Conditional vesting tied to specific monetary payments and apportionments (payment of £8,000 to the Corporation; Corporation to pay £5,000 to the Board of Land and Works) (s.2).","Use-limited vesting: lands vested to the Corporation are limited to enumerated public uses and 'for no other purposes whatsoever' (s.2), increasing legal constraints on subsequent use.","Rights preserved for current occupiers until land is actually required, with the Commissioners as sole judges of when required—delegated administrative discretion with potential occupancy-termination effects (Sch.1 provisos).","Obligation on the Corporation to fund construction and ongoing maintenance of any rail/tram connection beyond Commissioner's land—creates ongoing fiscal and operational burden on the City (s.4).","Cross-references to other statutes and works (Victorian Railways Commissioners Act 1883; exceptions for Flinders-street Viaduct and Melbourne Harbour Trust works) and later amendments/repeals (see endnotes and Table of Amendments).","Express preservation of Crown grant reservations and dedications, leaving layers of prior title burdens unaffected (s.3).","Historical drafting and multiple later amendments/repeals (e.g. Sch.3 repealed) raise interpretive and application complexity for modern use."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act transfers specific parcels of Melbourne land: on payment it vests named lots in the Victorian Railways Commissioners and other lots in the City of Melbourne, subject to stated payments, reservations and provisos. It also allows the City to pay for a railway or tramway connection into designated market lands. The measure affects the Victorian Railways Commissioners, the City (the Corporation), the Board of Land and Works and existing occupiers of the named land, and preserves Crown reservations and occupiers’ temporary rights."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available information, this appears to be a narrowly scoped, single-purpose Act that accomplished a specific land exchange transaction. There is no evidence that its scope changed from its original intent. Its continued 'in force' status likely reflects that the title arrangements it created remain legally operative rather than any expansion of purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Very limited legislative text available for analysis — the document appears to contain mostly metadata and version history rather than substantive provisions","Historical legislation from 1888 may use archaic legal language and concepts unfamiliar to modern readers","Determining which specific land parcels are affected requires knowledge of 19th-century Melbourne land records","The ongoing legal effect of a completed land exchange can be conceptually tricky — it is 'in force' but may have already fully operated","Cross-referencing with contemporary railway and Crown land legislation would be needed for full understanding"],"plain_english_summary":"The Railway Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1888 authorised a one‑off land swap involving railway lands in Melbourne, enabling the government to exchange specific parcels and fix title arrangements arising from that transaction.  \n\nToday it has no practical effect for the general public but matters to property lawyers, land managers and historians tracing chains of title or the origins of Crown and railway land."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: the specific land exchange between the Victorian Railways Commissioners and the City of Melbourne. The amendments noted (1889 and 1890) appear to be minor technical adjustments or repeals of specific schedule items rather than expansion of the Act's scope. The core mechanism—payment for land transfer—remains unchanged from the 1888 intent."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely detailed metes-and-bounds land descriptions in Schedules 1 and 2 (15 parcels in Schedule 1, 7 in Schedule 2) using chains, links, and compass bearings","Simple conditional structure: payment triggers vesting, with straightforward provisos","Only 4 operative sections plus schedules","Minimal cross-referencing (only to the Victorian Railways Commissioners Act 1883 and one other Act regarding the Flinders Street Viaduct)","No defined terms section—terms like 'Corporation' defined inline","Historical currency denominations (£8,000, £5,000) and imperial measurements (acres, roods, perches, chains, links)","Some protective conditions for existing occupiers (East Melbourne Cricket Club, Militia Engineers) but these are clearly stated exceptions rather than nested logic"],"plain_english_summary":"This 1888 Victorian law is essentially a **land swap agreement** between the Victorian Railways Commissioners and the City of Melbourne, formalised by Parliament.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **The Exchange:** The Railways Commissioners pay £8,000 to the City of Melbourne. In return, they receive specific parcels of land near Flinders Street, the Yarra River, and Jolimont (described in painstaking detail in the First Schedule). These lands become railway property.\n- **What the City Gets:** The City receives different parcels of land (described in the Second Schedule) to use for:\n  - A general market (lands 1-3)\n  - Market and refrigerating chambers (land 5)\n  - Storage for sanitary vehicles and street maintenance equipment (lands 4 and 6)\n  - A new street (land 7)\n  \n  The City must pay £5,000 to the Board of Land and Works for any buildings on the market lands.\n\n**Key Features:**\n- **Automatic Transfer:** The land transfers happen automatically by force of the Act—no separate paperwork (conveyance) needed. The lands are also freed from any previous restrictions or Crown grants.\n- **Railway Connection:** The City can request the Railways Commissioners to build a railway or tramway into the new market lands, but the City must pay for anything beyond the railway's own land.\n- **Protections:** Some lands (like cricket grounds at Jolimont) have conditions protecting current occupants until the land is actually needed for railways.\n\n**Why it matters:** This Act facilitated major infrastructure development in central Melbourne, enabling the expansion of the railway network (including what became the Flinders Street area) while compensating the City with land for public markets and utilities. It's a snapshot of 19th-century urban planning where land swaps required specific parliamentary legislation."},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/the-railway-melbourne-lands-exchange-act-1888","history":"/api/acts/the-railway-melbourne-lands-exchange-act-1888/history","analysis":"/api/acts/the-railway-melbourne-lands-exchange-act-1888/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/the-railway-melbourne-lands-exchange-act-1888/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/the-railway-melbourne-lands-exchange-act-1888/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/the-railway-melbourne-lands-exchange-act-1888/documents"}}