Commonwealth act

Governor-General's Residences Act 1906

RepealedCTH

This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Act Number

2 of 1906

Collection

act

Plain English Summary

1/10 complexity

This law gave the Governor-General the power to arrange temporary accommodation in Melbourne and Sydney while Australia's permanent capital, Canberra, was being built.

What it does:

Allows the Governor-General to negotiate with the Victorian Government to use Government House, Melbourne as a residence for up to five years
Allows the Governor-General to negotiate with the New South Wales Government to use Government House, Sydney as a residence for up to five years

Why it was needed: When Australia became a federation in 1901, there was no dedicated capital city or official residence for the Governor-General (who represents the monarch). This law was a temporary fix, letting the Commonwealth use existing state government houses until the Federal Capital Territory (now Canberra) was established and ready.

This was a short-term, practical arrangement for the early years of the Commonwealth.

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Governor-General's Residences Act 1906

GOVERNOR GENERAL’S RESIDENCES.

No. 2 of 1906.

An Act Relating to the Residences of the Governor-General.

[Assented to 8th August, 1906.]

Preamble.

FOR the purpose of providing Residences for the Governor-General, pending the establishment of the Federal Capital: Be it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

This Act may be cited as the Governor-General’s Residences Act 1906.

Arrangement for use of Government House, Melbourne.

The Governor-General may enter into an arrangement with the Governor of the State of Victoria for the use and occupation by the Commonwealth, for a period not exceeding five years, of Government House, Melbourne, as a residence for the Governor-General,

Arrangement for use of Government House, Sydney.

The Governor-General may enter into an arrangement with the Governor of the State of New South Wales for the use and occupation by the Commonwealth, for a period not exceeding five years, of Government House, Sydney, as a residence for the Governor-General.

Source text

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

1 Governor-General's Residences Act 1906