{"id":"nsw:act-1917-025","name":"Voluntary Workers (Soldiers’ Holdings) Act 1917","slug":"voluntary-workers-soldiers-holdings-act-1917","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nsw","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"25 of 1917","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":111964,"registerId":"nsw-act-1917-025-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name of Act","content":"#### 1 Name of Act\n\n1 Name of Act\n\n> This Act may be cited as the [Voluntary Workers (Soldiers’ Holdings) Act 1917](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1917-025).","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 2 Definitions\n\n2 Definitions\n\n> In this Act:\n> \n> Dependent means any member of the family of a member of the forces who has died as a result of employment in connection with warlike operations in the present war, such dependents being wholly or in part dependent upon the earnings or pension of the member of the forces at the time of death; and where such member, being the parent or grandparent of an illegitimate child, leaves such a child, or being an illegitimate child, leaves a parent or grandparent so dependent upon the deceased member’s earnings or pension, shall include such an illegitimate child and parent or grandparent respectively.\n> \n> Disabled member of the forces means any such member who is permanently disabled.\n> \n> Member of a family means wife or husband, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, stepfather, stepmother, son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, stepson, stepdaughter, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister.\n> \n> Member of the forces means member of the Commonwealth naval or military forces, including member of the Imperial Reserve residing in New South Wales before the war, enlisted or appointed for or employed on active service outside Australia, or employed on a ship of war, or enlisted or appointed for service in connection with naval or military preparations or operations, including munition workers, and includes a member of the army medical corps or of the nursing service who is accepted or appointed by the Director-General of Medical Service for service outside Australia.\n> \n> Voluntary Workers’ Association means any association formed for the purpose of acquiring land and material for constructing buildings and effecting improvements by voluntary labour on land for homes for members of the forces and dependents under such conditions as the Governor may by regulation prescribe.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Issue of Crown grants","content":"#### 3 Issue of Crown grants\n\n3 Issue of Crown grants\n\n> The Governor may issue Crown grants to the Public Trustee of land which shall be held and disposed of in pursuance of this Act.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Public Trustee may acquire land to provide homes","content":"#### 4 Public Trustee may acquire land to provide homes\n\n4 Public Trustee may acquire land to provide homes\n\n> The Public Trustee may at the request of a Voluntary Workers’ Association acquire, hold, subdivide, alienate, and mortgage lands for the purpose of providing homes for members of the forces and dependents.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Borrowing of money for Voluntary Workers’ Associations","content":"#### 5 Borrowing of money for Voluntary Workers’ Associations\n\n5 Borrowing of money for Voluntary Workers’ Associations\n\n> The Public Trustee may borrow moneys on the security of any land so granted to, or acquired or held by, the Public Trustee and on the security of any buildings, improvements, and materials thereon, and shall from time to time, as the Public Trustee thinks fit, make advances out of such moneys to Voluntary Workers’ Associations for the purchase of materials for constructing buildings and effecting improvements by voluntary labour on such land for homes for disabled members of the forces and dependents.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Application of money","content":"#### 6 Application of money\n\n6 Application of money\n\n> A Voluntary Workers’ Association receiving money from the Public Trustee shall apply it to the purposes aforesaid and shall inform the Public Trustee of the portions of the said land on which it proposes to construct buildings and effect improvements as aforesaid, and give such other particulars in relation to such proposal as the Public Trustee may require.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Conveyance to soldier or dependent","content":"#### 7 Conveyance to soldier or dependent\n\n7 Conveyance to soldier or dependent\n\n> > (1) When a Voluntary Workers’ Association has constructed buildings and effected improvements on any such portion it shall give to the Public Trustee particulars of the materials used therein and its estimate of their value. The Public Trustee shall, at the request of such association or, where the Public Trustee is satisfied that the association has disbanded or ceased to function, at the request of the Minister, convey such portion with all buildings and improvements thereon to the member of the forces or dependent named by such association, or by the Minister, when making the request, on such terms and conditions as the Public Trustee considers desirable.\n> \n> > (2) Such member or dependent shall thereupon execute a mortgage of such portion to the Public Trustee, or to any person named by the Public Trustee, to secure the payment by instalments of the value of the materials used for buildings and improvements thereon as aforesaid; such value to be fixed by the Public Trustee.\n> \n> > (3) The Public Trustee or other person to whom such mortgage has been given shall apply so much of the money thereby secured as is equivalent to the value of the materials aforesaid to repay the moneys borrowed by the Public Trustee under section four.\n> \n> > (4) Neither the Registrar-General nor any other person registering or certifying or investigating title shall be concerned to inquire, in relation to any land expressed to be transferred by the Public Trustee pursuant to this section:\n> > \n> > > (a) whether any request was made under subsection (1), or\n> > \n> > > (b) whether the person to whom the land was transferred was the person named under that subsection.\n> \n> **s 7:** Am 1974 No 27, sec 2 (a).","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"7A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Surrender by Public Trustee of certain lands","content":"#### 7A Surrender by Public Trustee of certain lands\n\n7A Surrender by Public Trustee of certain lands\n\n> > (1) The Public Trustee may surrender to the Crown any lands included in any Crown grant which has been made to the Public Trustee under this Act.\n> \n> > (2) Land so surrendered as aforesaid shall be deemed to be land temporarily reserved from sale and lease under the [Crown Land Management Act 2016](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2016-058), and may on revocation of the reserve be dealt with in accordance with that Act.\n> \n> > (3) Nothing in this section shall apply to any lands held by the Public Trustee which are the subject of any charge or incumbrance.\n> \n> **s 7A:** Ins 1922 No 40, sec 2. Am 2017 No 17, Sch 4.103.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"7B","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 7B\n\n7B–8 (Repealed)","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Investigation of accounts by Auditor-General","content":"#### 9 Investigation of accounts by Auditor-General\n\n9 Investigation of accounts by Auditor-General\n\n> The Auditor-General, whenever he or she thinks it desirable so to do, may investigate the accounts of any Voluntary Workers’ Association, and shall report the result of the investigation to the Minister for Lands, who shall take such action as the Minister may deem desirable to safeguard the interests of such Voluntary Workers’ Association or the persons whom it is the object of the Voluntary Workers’ Association to benefit.","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"10","sectionType":"section","heading":"Regulations","content":"#### 10 Regulations\n\n10 Regulations\n\n> > (1) The Governor may make regulations for carrying out the provisions of this Act and in particular:\n> > \n> > > prescribing the conditions on which moneys may be paid by the Public Trustee to Voluntary Workers’ Associations,\n> > \n> > > prescribing the particulars to be furnished to the Public Trustee by such associations as to the expenditure of the moneys so paid to them,\n> > \n> > > prescribing the terms and conditions of mortgages by members of the forces and dependents,\n> > \n> > > fixing the rate of interest to be charged in such mortgages,\n> > \n> > > prescribing the particulars to be furnished to the Public Trustee as to the materials provided for or used in respect of any portion.\n> \n> > (2) (Repealed)\n> \n> **s 10:** Am 1987 No 48, Sch 32.","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"11","sectionType":"section","heading":"Minister may grant and convey land","content":"#### 11 Minister may grant and convey land\n\n11 Minister may grant and convey land\n\n> Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the [Education and Public Instruction Act 1987](/view/pdf/asmade/act-1987-62), the Minister of Public Instruction may without consideration grant and convey the lands described in the Schedule hereto to trustees for homes for disabled members of the forces and dependents, subject to such conditions and with such powers with regard to the land as the Governor may confer on them:\n> \n> Schedule\n> \n> Brighton-le-Sands\n> \n> All that piece or parcel of land situated at Brighton-le-Sands, in the parish of St. George, and county of Cumberland, containing 1 acre 3 roods and 39½ perches or thereabouts, being lots 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, and 32 of section 2 on a plan deposited in the Lands Titles Office, Sydney, numbered 306, and part of portion 46, delineated in the public map of the said parish, deposited in the office of the Surveyor-General, originally granted to William Henry Harding by Crown grant, dated the ninth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, also being the land comprised in certificate of title, registered volume 330, folio 59.\n> \n> Arncliffe\n> \n> All that piece or parcel of land situated at Arncliffe, in the municipality of Rockdale, parish of St George and county of Cumberland, containing 1 acre 1 rood 2½ perches or thereabouts, being part of Wincanton estate, and being also part of 100 acres (portion 242 of parish) delineated in the public map of the said parish in the Department of Lands originally granted to Reuben Hannam by Crown grant, dated the thirty-first day of August, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three, also being the land comprised in certificate of title, registered volume 2661, folio 41.\n> \n> Oatley\n> \n> All that piece of land situated in the parish of St George, county of Cumberland, being lots 9, 10, 11, and 12, section 13, of Oatley’s grant first subdivision: Commencing at the intersection of the west side of Woronora Parade with the south side of Acacia-street, and bounded thence on the north by Acacia-street, bearing west 5 chains to Mi Mi street; thence on the west by that street bearing south 2 chains; thence on the south by lots 13 and 8, bearing east 5 chains to Woronora Parade; and thence on the east by that Parade, bearing north 2 chains to the point of commencement, containing by admeasurement 1 acre, be the same more or less.\n> \n> **s 11:** Am 1987 No 63, Sch 2.","sortOrder":12},{"sectionNumber":"12","sectionType":"section","heading":"Repeal of Act does not affect operation of certain provisions","content":"#### 12 Repeal of Act does not affect operation of certain provisions\n\n12 Repeal of Act does not affect operation of certain provisions\n\n> > (1) Despite the repeal of the [Voluntary Workers (Soldiers’ Holdings) Amendment Act 1974](/view/pdf/asmade/act-1974-27), sections 4–8 of that Act continue to have effect and are taken to have been transferred to this Act.\n> \n> > (2) Sections 4–8 of the [Voluntary Workers (Soldiers’ Holdings) Amendment Act 1974](/view/pdf/asmade/act-1974-27) are transferred provisions to which section 30A of the [Interpretation Act 1987](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1987-015) applies.\n> \n> **s 12:** Ins 2007 No 82, Sch 4.26.","sortOrder":13}],"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"},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available information, the Act appears to have remained narrow and specific to its original WWI-era purpose — managing soldiers' land holdings with volunteer worker assistance. The minimal amendments over its history (only three point-in-time versions since 1995) suggest no significant expansion or contraction of scope. Its original intent appears preserved, though effectively dormant."},"complexity_factors":["The legislation text provided contains almost no substantive provisions — only metadata, navigation, and status information is visible, making substantive analysis impossible","The Act is over 100 years old and may reference outdated legal concepts and land tenure frameworks no longer in common use","Cross-referencing with the Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) adds a minor layer of procedural complexity","The narrow and historically specific subject matter (WWI-era soldiers' land holdings) limits the complexity of its real-world application"],"plain_english_summary":"The Voluntary Workers (Soldiers' Holdings) Act 1917 is a WWI‑era NSW law enabling volunteer workers to manage or maintain soldiers’ land holdings while the owners served overseas, protecting soldiers’ property interests. It primarily affected servicemen and the volunteers who worked their farms or properties.\n\nToday it survives on the statute books with minimal updates, overseen by the Minister for Lands and Property, and is largely of historical rather than practical significance."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation has evolved significantly from its original 1917 purpose. While initially focused on immediate post-WWI soldier settlement using voluntary labour, amendments over a century have: (1) updated land management references (2017 amendment referencing Crown Land Management Act 2016), (2) transferred and preserved provisions from a repealed 1974 Amendment Act via complex interpretative provisions (section 12, 2007), and (3) modernised language (1987 amendments). The specific land grants in section 11 for three Sydney locations suggest the original scope was geographically narrow and targeted, but the machinery provisions have been maintained long after the original volunteer-building scheme would have concluded, suggesting the Act now serves primarily as a land tenure management vehicle rather than an active housing program."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple defined terms (5 main definitions) with nested definitions, particularly the expansive definition of 'Dependent' which includes illegitimate children and grandparents","Cross-references to other Acts including Crown Land Management Act 2016, Education and Public Instruction Act 1987, and Interpretation Act 1987","Conditional logic in section 7 regarding conveyance of land depending on whether association is functioning or disbanded","Specific land descriptions in Schedule using historical measurement units (roods, perches, chains) and complex boundary descriptions","Amendment history visible in text (sections inserted 1922, repealed 1974, amended 1987, 2007, 2017) indicating layered modifications over a century","Section 12 contains complex transitional provisions preserving repealed amendment Act provisions through Interpretation Act machinery"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis 1917 law was created to help World War I soldiers and their families get homes through community volunteer efforts. It sets up a system where volunteer groups (called \"Voluntary Workers' Associations\") could build houses for:\n- Soldiers who were permanently disabled in the war\n- Families of soldiers who died in the war (including wives, children, parents, and even illegitimate children and their grandparents)\n\n**How it works:**\n\n- The **Public Trustee** (a government official who manages property for others) can receive Crown land (government-owned land) and borrow money to buy building materials\n- **Volunteer groups** do the actual construction work for free (\"voluntary labour\")\n- Once built, the home gets transferred to the soldier or family member, who pays back just the cost of materials over time through a mortgage\n- The law also specifically gives three parcels of land at Brighton-le-Sands, Arncliffe, and Oatley (all in Sydney) to be used for these soldier homes\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis was an early Australian attempt at \"soldier settlement\" — helping veterans reintegrate into civilian life after WWI. Instead of the government building everything, it harnessed community spirit to reduce costs. The disabled soldier or bereaved family only paid for materials, not labour, making homes more affordable.\n\n**Key features:**\n- Very broad definition of \"family\" — includes step-relations, half-siblings, and illegitimate children\n- Protects people registering land titles from having to check if all the rules were followed\n- Allows the Public Trustee to surrender unused land back to the government\n- The Auditor-General can check the volunteer groups' books to prevent fraud"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Act's core scope—enabling the Public Trustee and Voluntary Workers’ Associations to provide homes for members of the forces and dependents through land acquisition, financing and conveyance—remains in force (s 4, s 7). Later insertions add a Crown‑surrender/reserve mechanism (s 7A) and preserve earlier amendment provisions as transferred law (s 12), but do not narrow the original enabling purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Delegation of detailed rule‑making to the Governor (regulations) creating administrative discretion over conditions, reporting and mortgage terms (s 10).","Broad property powers granted to the Public Trustee to acquire, subdivide, alienate and mortgage land at the request of associations (s 4), and to borrow on that security (s 5).","Conveyance mechanics transferring completed portions to named soldiers/dependents with a mortgage to recoup material value; valuation and payment flows are fixed by the Public Trustee (s 7(1)–(3)).","Registrar and title officers are insulated from inquiry into the statutory request or naming of transferees, narrowing third‑party review (s 7(4)).","Reporting and compliance obligations on associations to account for expenditure and proposed works (s 6; s 10 regulation heads).","Audit power vested in the Auditor‑General to investigate associations and report to the Minister (s 9), adding oversight but also administrative follow‑up obligations.","Interaction with Crown land regime via surrender and reserve treatment, bringing the Crown Land Management Act into play for surrendered parcels (s 7A).","Special‑purpose land grants and conveyance of specific parcels to trustees (schedule and s 11) creating fixed disposals outside usual education land rules.","Transitional and saving provisions preserving earlier amendment sections as transferred law, affecting interpretation and continuity (s 12)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act authorises the Public Trustee, at the request of Voluntary Workers’ Associations, to acquire, hold, subdivide, mortgage and finance land used to build homes for members of the forces and their dependents. Completed portions can be conveyed to the named serviceman or dependent subject to a mortgage securing the value of materials used. The Governor may make regulations; the Auditor‑General may inspect association accounts; the Minister may convey specified lands and a surrender mechanism for Crown land is provided."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/voluntary-workers-soldiers-holdings-act-1917","history":"/api/acts/voluntary-workers-soldiers-holdings-act-1917/history","analysis":"/api/acts/voluntary-workers-soldiers-holdings-act-1917/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/voluntary-workers-soldiers-holdings-act-1917/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/voluntary-workers-soldiers-holdings-act-1917/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/voluntary-workers-soldiers-holdings-act-1917/documents"}}