Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia Property Act 1953
No. 5691 of 1953
Version incorporating amendments as at
29 May 2013
table of provisions
Section Page
1 Short title 2
2 Definitions 2
3 Incorporation 4
5 Property held on trust 7
6 Trusts on which real property held 10
7 No right of possession after ceasing to be a minister 16
8 Limitation of liability 16
9 Protection of mortgagees, purchasers etc. 16
10 Notices etc. 17
11 Body corporate may apply for probate or act as executor or trustee 17
12 Power to pool money held in trust for investment 18
13 Advances of money held in trust 19
14 Use of property under schemes of co‑operation 19
15 Construction of references to Free Presbyterian Church Property Act 1953 21
ENDNOTES 23
General Information 23
Table of Amendments 24
Explanatory Details 25
Version No.003
Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia Property Act 1953
No. 5691 of 1953
Version incorporating amendments as at
29 May 2013
An Act to vary the Trusts of Property in Victoria held in connection with the Free Presbyterian Church of Victoria in order to facilitate the Union of that Church with the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia and to vest such Property in Corporate Trustees, and for other purposes.
Preamble
WHEREAS the religious denomination in New South Wales known as the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia holds the same principles and adheres to the same standards of doctrine, worship, discipline and church government as did the religious denomination in Scotland known as the Free Church of Scotland in the year One thousand eight hundred and forty three following the event in Scottish history known as the Disruption:
AND WHEREAS the supreme governing body subject to its constitution of the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia is known as the Synod of Eastern Australia:
AND WHEREAS the said Synod has agreed to receive the religious denomination in Victoria known as the Free Presbyterian Church of Victoria into the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australian and for effecting this purpose to receive the ministers, elders, deacons and congregations of the Free Presbyterian Church of Victoria as ministers, elders, deacons and congregations of the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia on condition that the trusts upon which property is held in connection with the Free Presbyterian Church of Victoria be varied so that such property thereafter be held in connection with the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia and be vested in a body corporate:
Section 1 - Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia Property Act 1953 - Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia Property Act 1953 | Zoe
AND WHEREAS the Free Presbyterian Church of Victoria has agreed to be received as aforesaid into the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia:
AND WHEREAS the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia and the Free Presbyterian Church of Victoria have since the year One thousand nine hundred and thirteen co-operated by means of a voluntary association known as the Assembly of the Free Presbyterian Church of Australia:
AND WHEREAS certain property is held in connection with the said voluntary association and it is expedient that on the Free Presbyterian Church of Victoria being received into the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia the said property be held in connection with the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia:
BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of Victoria in this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same as follows (that is to say):
S. 1 amended by No. 67/2012 s. 4.
1 Short title
s. 1
This Act may be cited as the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia Property Act 1953.
2 Definitions
In this Act unless inconsistent with the context or subject-matter—
the appointed day means the twenty-fifth day of November One thousand nine hundred and fifty-three;
the body corporate means The Trustees for Victoria of the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia as incorporated by this Act;
the Church means the religious denomination known as the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia;
congregation means a number of persons organised in connection with the Church under the supervision of a session and recognised according to the constitution and laws of the Church for the time being as a congregation, irrespective of whether public worship in connection therewith is conducted in one or more places and whether for some of the purposes thereof such persons are organised having regard to the place at which they are accustomed or might be expected to attend public worship;
s. 2
the presbytery of the bounds means with respect to any congregation the presbytery of the Church for the time being entrusted by the Synod with the superintendence of that congregation;
property includes all real and personal property whether legal or equitable, choses in action, money and securities for money;
the rules means rules from time to time made by the Synod;
the Synod (except in section five and subsection (2) of section six) means the Synod of Eastern Australian and, if any General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia shall hereafter be formed, such General Assembly;
Trustees (except in subsections (3) (4) and (7) of section five) means the persons who are for the time being the members of the body corporate.
3 Incorporation
s. 3
(1) There shall be a body corporate by the name of "The Trustees for Victoria of the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia" consisting of the Trustees appointed by or under this Act; and the body corporate shall have perpetual succession and a common seal and under that name may sue and be sued prosecute and defend and take and suffer all other proceedings in all courts civil and criminal.
(2) The body corporate may subject to this Act from time to time—
(a) take purchase receive hold and enjoy real and personal property of any description whatsoever and also sell grant exchange convey demise reserve or grant easements over or otherwise dispose of or deal with either absolutely or by way of mortgage charge lien or other encumbrance any of the property real or personal which may at any time belong to or be vested in the body corporate;
(b) sell any real or personal property for the time being vested in it or any interest therein by public auction or private contract at such price and upon such terms as to payment of purchase money and on such conditions and subject to such restrictive covenants and generally in such manner as is thought fit and convey transfer or assign the same to the purchaser or purchasers thereof or as he or they directs or direct and the property so conveyed transferred or assigned shall thereupon be absolutely freed and discharged from the trusts affecting the same;
(c) construct erect maintain repair alter add to destroy or replace any buildings fixtures chattels plant or equipment or permit the same to be done with respect to any such buildings fixtures chattels plant or equipment;
(d) borrow or secure the payment of any sum or sums of money and for that purpose mortgage or charge any real or personal property for the time being vested in it;
(e) insure any buildings or other property or persons against all such risks liabilities and eventualities as may seem advisable;
(f) draw make accept indorse execute discount and issue promissory notes bills of exchange and other negotiable transferable or mercantile instruments;
(g) lend money to such persons and on such terms as may be thought fit and guarantee the performance of any contract;
(h) do all such other matters and things as are incidental to a body corporate.
s. 3
(3) The number of Trustees shall not be more than five.
(4) The Trustees shall have the custody of the common seal of the body corporate and the form of such seal and all other matters relating thereto shall from time to time be determined by the Synod.
(5) The common seal of the body corporate shall not be affixed to any document except as provided by the rules or as specifically directed or authorised by the Synod, and the affixing of the seal shall be attested by at least two of the Trustees and such attestation shall be sufficient evidence of authority to affix the seal.
(6) The production of a document which purports to be executed in accordance with the requirements of the last preceding subsection shall in all cases be prima facie evidence, and in favour of the Crown, the Registrar-General, the Registrar of Titles and every person who deals for value with the body corporate be conclusive evidence, that such document was executed in accordance with the requirements of the said subsection.
(7) The Trustees or any two thereof, unless a greater number be prescribed in the rules, and in such case such greater number, may exercise any power conferred by this Act on the Trustees or the body corporate.
(8) At a meeting of the Trustees two shall form a quorum unless a greater number be prescribed by the rules and in such case such greater number.
s. 3
(9) Particulars of the exercise of any power conferred by this Act on the Trustees or the body corporate and in particular of the affixing of the common seal shall at the time thereof be entered by the Trustees in a book or books to be kept for that purpose and the form of such particulars may be prescribed by the rules.
S. 3(10) substituted by No. 67/2012 s. 5(1).
(10) A Trustee holds office until his office becomes vacant under subsection (11).
(11) If any Trustee dies or resigns by writing under his hand addressed and delivered or sent by post to the Clerk for the time being of the Synod or ceases to be a member of the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia or becomes bankrupt or compounds with his creditors or is convicted of any indictable offence or any offence for which he is sentenced to be imprisoned or has his office of Trustee declared vacant by a resolution duly passed by the Synod his office shall become vacant and the continuing or surviving Trustees may act notwithstanding vacancies from any cause and any act of the Trustees shall not be rendered invalid by reason of the incapacity of any of the members.
S. 3(12) repealed by No. 67/2012 s. 5(2).
(13) Subject to this section the power of appointing Trustees shall be vested in the Synod.
(14) The Synod may from time to time appoint one or more persons (irrespective of whether those persons are Trustees) to be treasurer or treasurers of the body corporate or to hold such other office or offices in connection therewith as the Synod may designate and may define the duties of any such treasurer or other officer and may revoke any such appointment.
S. 4 repealed by No. 67/2012 s. 6.
S. 5 (Heading) inserted by No. 67/2012 s. 7(1).
s. 5
5 Property held on trust
S. 5(1) repealed by No. 67/2012 s. 7(2).
(2) On the appointed day all interests in property other than the real property set forth in the Schedule to this Act being interests held immediately before the appointed day by or in trust for some or all the purposes of—
s. 5
(a) the Free Presbyterian Church of Victoria or the Synod or Presbytery thereof; or
(b) the Free Presbyterian Church of Australia or the Assembly thereof; or
(c) any session, deacons' court, congregation, committee, organisation or fund in connection with the Free Presbyterian Church of Victoria or the Free Presbyterian Church of Australia—
shall by virtue of this Act take effect as if held by or in trust for the like purposes of the body corporate.
Note to s. 5(2) inserted by No. 67/2012 s. 7(3).
Note
The Schedule to this Act was repealed by the Free Presbyterian Church Property Amendment Act 2012.
(3) Where property is held on trust immediately before the appointed day and the terms of the trust instrument authorise the trustees immediately or in the future or require the trustees at some time or in circumstances which will occur after the appointed day to apply any part of the capital or income of the trust property for any of the bodies specified in the last preceding subsection or for some or all of the purposes thereof or for the purpose of any fund which by the said subsection is vested in the body corporate the trust instrument shall be construed as authorising or, as the case may be, requiring the trustees to apply the trust property to the like extent and at the like times for the purpose of making payments whether of capital or income or to be applied as capital or income to the body corporate.
s. 5
(4) Where by any gift devise bequest or declaration of trust, whether contained in any will or other instrument or made otherwise, coming into operation after the appointed day (irrespective of whether if contained in any will or other instrument such will or other instrument was made or executed before or after the appointed day) any interest in property is given or expressed to be given to or in trust for some or all the purposes of—
(a) the Free Presbyterian Church of Victoria or the Synod or Presbytery thereof; or
(b) the Free Presbyterian Church of Australia or the Assembly thereof; or
(c) the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia or the Synod or any presbytery thereof; or
(d) any session, deacons' court, congregation, committee, organisation or fund in connection with the Free Presbyterian Church of Victoria, the Free Presbyterian Church of Australia or the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia—
that interest in property shall by virtue of this Act take effect as if given to or in trust for the like purposes of the body corporate, and where by the terms of any trust instrument coming into operation after the appointed day trustees are authorised to apply any part of the capital or income of trust property held in trust by them for any of the bodies specified in this subsection or for some or all of the purposes thereof or for the purpose of any fund which by this section is vested in or held in trust for the body corporate such trust instrument shall be construed as authorising the said trustees to apply the trust property to the like extent and at the like times for the purpose of making payments whether of capital or income or to be applied as capital or income to the body corporate.
s. 6
(5) Upon any property of or held in trust for some or all of the purposes of any of the bodies specified in the last preceding subsection or for the purpose of any fund vested in or held in trust for the body corporate pursuant to this section coming into Victoria after the appointed day that property shall vest in or be held in trust for the like purposes of the body corporate.
S. 5(6) amended by No. 18/1989 s. 13(Sch. 2 item 29(a)).
(6) Where any property which becomes vested in the body corporate under or by virtue of this Act consists of property registered under the Transfer of Land Act 1958 the Registrar of Titles on application to him in that behalf and proof to his satisfaction of the facts relating thereto and on payment of the proper fees shall give effect in the Register to such vesting by registering the body corporate as the proprietor of such property.
S. 5(7) repealed by No. 67/2012 s. 7(4).
6 Trusts on which real property held
S. 6(1) repealed by No. 67/2012 s. 8(1).
(2) Any interest in property other than the real property set forth in the Schedule to this Act which at any time vests in the body corporate under the last preceding section or otherwise, if immediately before the appointed day or at any time thereafter held by, or given, devised, bequeathed, bought, purchased, otherwise acquired or held in trust for some or all the purposes of—
Note to s. 6(2) inserted by No. 67/2012 s. 8(2).
Note
The Schedule to this Act was repealed by the Free Presbyterian Church Property Amendment Act 2012.
(a) (i) the Free Presbyterian Church of Victoria, or the Synod thereof; or
(ii) the Free Presbyterian Church of Australia, or the Assembly thereof; or
(iii) the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia, or the Synod, or any presbytery thereof; or
(iv) any committee, organisation or fund in connection with one or other of the said Synods or the said Assembly—
shall be held by the body corporate in trust for the same or the corresponding purposes of or in connection with the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia;
(b) a congregation howsoever described, or the session or deacons' court thereof, or any committee, organisation or fund in connection with that congregation—
shall be held by the body corporate in trust for the same purposes of or in connection with that congregation as a congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia;
s. 6
(c) the Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Victoria—
shall be held by the body corporate in trust for the same purposes in connection with such presbytery as the Synod of Eastern Australia shall first after the appointed day entrust with superintendence over the congregations in Victoria of the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia, and, in so far as any capital funds are comprised in such property, on the said presbytery entrusted with the superintendence of the said congregations being from time to time amalgamated with any other presbytery or divided into more than one presbytery, those capital funds shall be held in trust for the amalgamated presbytery, or, in such proportions as the Synod shall consider a fair distribution, for such divided presbyteries, as the case may be.
(3) Without limiting the generality of the last preceding subsection, any property to which that subsection applies, so long as it is put to no use inconsistent with the trusts on which that property is held by the body corporate, may, according to the nature of that property, be used—
(a) as or to acquire a site for a church, manse, Sabbath school, day school, church hall, or a caretaker's, church officer's or beadle's residence, or to construct, erect, maintain, repair, alter, add to, destroy, or replace any such buildings; or
(b) in payment of all stipends, salaries, wages and other outgoings whatsoever for some or all of the purposes of the Church, a presbytery, or a congregation, as the case may be; or
s. 6
(c) for the endowment of the Church, a presbytery, or a congregation, as the case may be, by leasing any lands or buildings thereon or licensing for reward their use, by acquiring any lands or constructing, erecting, maintaining, repairing, altering, adding to, destroying or replacing any building for such purpose and by otherwise investing any moneys with or without security.
(4) The powers conferred on the body corporate by section three of this Act shall be exercised in aid of the trusts declared in this section, and, with respect to any property to which this section applies, the body corporate shall comply with all lawful directions given by any court of the Church which under the constitution and laws of the Church for the time being shall have immediate control over such property, but subject nevertheless to the provisions of this Act the terms of any special trust and the superintendence which in any particular case may under the said constitution and laws of the Church be exercised by any other court of the Church.
(5) Nothing in this section shall authorise any direction to the body corporate to sell or mortgage or agree to sell or mortgage any real property held in trust for a congregation of the Church without the prior consent of the congregation, the presbytery of the bounds and the Synod, in each case expressed by resolution adopted in accordance with the constitution and laws of the Church for the time being.
(6) The Synod may from time to time make regulations for the management, leasing, mortgaging, sale, investment and disposition of any of the property held by the body corporate, and may repeal all or any of the said regulations, but nothing in this subsection shall authorise the investment of moneys held on any special trust in any investment other than such as are authorised for the investment of trust funds under the relevant trust instrument or any Act now or hereafter in force:
s. 6
Provided that all capital funds which are vested in the body corporate upon trusts whereby only the income is available to be applied or expended for the purposes of the trust shall as regards this subsection be deemed to be special trusts.
(7) The Synod, any Presbytery having superintendence over any congregation of the Church in Victoria, any congregation as aforesaid, or the session or deacons' court, or any committee or organisation thereof may subject to the constitution and laws of the church for the time being manage its own affairs and open and operate such bank accounts (including accounts in savings banks) as are deemed expedient without reference to the body corporate.
(8) If at any time in the opinion of a congregation or the deacons' court thereof expressed by resolution adopted in accordance with the constitution and laws of the Church for the time being the whole or any part of the income of any property held in trust for the purposes of that congregation constitutes a surplus over and above what is required for the said purposes, the congregation or the deacons' court thereof may with the consent of the presbytery of the bounds appropriate so much of that surplus income either in the form of a lump sum or periodical payments as the congregation or the deacons' court may determine to be held in trust for the purposes of the Synod and, insofar as any appropriation provides for periodical payments, may by resolution terminate such appropriation.
s. 6
(9) The Synod, with respect to real property held in trust for the purposes of the Church generally or of the Synod, and any presbytery, with respect to real property held in trust for the purposes of that presbytery, may by resolution declare that such property be held in trust for a congregation of the church designated in that resolution, and thereupon or from such date as is specified in the said resolution the said property shall be held by the body corporate for the purposes of that congregation.
(10) On any congregation to which this section applies being from time to time amalgamated with any other congregation or divided into more than one congregation, all interests in property held in trust for purposes of or in connection with that congregation shall be held in trust for the same purposes of or in connection with such amalgamated congregation or, in such proportions as the presbytery of the bounds shall consider a fair distribution, for such divided congregations as the case may be.
(11) If with respect to a congregation of the Church the presbytery of the bounds—
(a) is satisfied that public worship has ceased to be conducted in connection with that congregation and is of opinion that it is expedient that such congregation be dissolved; and
(b) has taken such steps as are reasonable in the circumstances to bring to the notice of the members and adherents of that congregation that the presbytery is of opinion as aforesaid and to give the said members and adherents opportunity to object to the dissolution of that congregation; and
(c) after due consideration of such objections as may be submitted resolves that the congregation be dissolved—
s. 6
upon the Synod being satisfied that the presbytery of the bounds has complied with the requirements of this subsection and resolving to confirm the decision of that presbytery, all interests in property at the time of the said resolution of the Synod held in trust for the purposes of that congregation shall thereafter be held in trust for the purposes of the Synod, but any interest in property held on any special trust for the purposes of that congregation and any interest in property held for the purposes of the session or deacons' court, or any organisation or fund of the congregation shall thereafter be held for corresponding purposes in connection with such other congregation of the Church as the Synod may designate irrespective of whether such other congregation is or is not situate in Victoria.
7 No right of possession after ceasing to be a minister
s. 7
No right of possession of any property held by the body corporate for some or all of the purposes of a congregation of the Church which is acquired by any person while minister of that congregation shall confer any right of possession or ownership on that person in respect of that property after he has ceased to be minister of that congregation.
8 Limitation of liability
(1) No Trustee shall except in the case of bad faith be liable or accountable for any acts matters or things done or omitted to be done by such Trustee in or about or in connection with the carrying out of the rights powers or authorities conferred by this Act.
(2) Every Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed out of the funds vested in the body corporate in respect of all costs charges and expenses of and incidental to the trusts herein declared.
9 Protection of mortgagees, purchasers etc.
(1) The receipt in writing of the Trustees or the body corporate or of any person or persons authorised by them or it in writing to receive the same for the mortgage moneys raised on any property mortgaged by the body corporate or for the purchase money of any property sold under this Act or for any other moneys payable to the Trustees or the body corporate shall exonerate the mortgagee the purchaser and any other person paying such moneys as aforesaid from seeing to the application of the same and from all liability as to the misapplication or non-application thereof and from inquiring into the propriety or necessity of any mortgage sale lease or other dealing whatsoever.
(2) This section shall be read in aid of and not in derogation from any other protection afforded to any such mortgagee purchaser or person by any other Act now or hereafter in force.
S. 10 substituted by No. 67/2012 s. 9.
s. 10
10 Notices etc.
All communications and notices to the body corporate may be addressed to it at the premises known as the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia, 358 Mountain Highway, Wantirna 3152 or at any premises specified by the Synod from time to time for that purpose by a notice signed by the Clerk of the Synod and published in the Government Gazette.
S. 11 inserted by No. 67/2012 s. 10.
11 Body corporate may apply for probate or act as executor or trustee
(1) The body corporate may—
(a) apply for and obtain, or join in applying for and obtaining, probate of the will or letters of administration of the estate of a deceased person if the Church has a beneficial interest, whether vested or contingent, in the estate of that person; or
(b) accept appointment and act as trustee or co-trustee of any trust if the trust property is not vested in the body corporate under this Act and—
(i) the trust was created wholly or partly for the benefit of the Church; or
(ii) the purpose or one of the purposes for which the trust was created relates to the Church.
(2) The body corporate may do all things necessary to exercise its powers and functions as executor, administrator or trustee under this section.
(3) Any person, if authorised by the body corporate for the purpose, may on behalf of the body corporate swear an affidavit, make a declaration or statement, execute a document, give security or do any other thing that is required to be done by a person applying for or granted probate or letters of administration or administering a trust.
(4) The body corporate may—
(a) renounce executorship;
(b) decline to act as administrator of an estate;
(c) retire or decline to act as trustee of property, other than property vested in the body corporate under this Act.
(5) Any commission earned by the body corporate as an executor, administrator or trustee under this section belongs to the body corporate and must be used and applied by the body corporate for any object specified or approved by the Synod.
S. 12 inserted by No. 67/2012 s. 10.
s. 12
12 Power to pool money held in trust for investment
(1) Subject to the provisions of the relevant trust instrument, the body corporate may from time to time invest as one fund any money it holds in trust for different purposes, or any part of that money.
(2) The body corporate must distribute any income arising from the investment of the fund referred to in subsection (1) rateably among the several purposes for which the money invested is held in trust.
(3) The body corporate must ensure that any loss arising from the investment of the fund referred to in subsection (1) is borne rateably among the several purposes for which the money invested is held in trust.
S. 13 inserted by No. 67/2012 s. 10.
s. 13
13 Advances of money held in trust
(1) The body corporate may make advances from the fund referred to in section 12(1) for any activity, service, institution or interest of the Church.
(2) Money advanced under subsection (1) is taken to be an investment of that money and must bear interest at a rate fixed by the body corporate.
(3) If the body corporate makes an advance under subsection (1), the sum advanced and the interest charged on the sum are taken to be a charge on the assets held by the body corporate for the activity, service, institution or interest of the Church in respect of which the advance was made.
S. 14 inserted by No. 67/2012 s. 10.
14 Use of property under schemes of co‑operation
(1) With the permission of the Synod, the body corporate may enter into a scheme of co-operation.
(2) Subject to any express trust or a condition specified under subsection (5), the body corporate may permit property that is vested in the body corporate to be used, managed or administered in accordance with a scheme of co-operation.
(3) Subject to any express trust or a condition specified under subsection (5), the body corporate may give or take a security or charge over property in respect of which contributions are made or received under a scheme of co-operation.
(4) For the purposes of subsections (2) and (3), property is not to be taken as subject to an express trust that prevents the property being used, managed or administered in accordance with a scheme of co-operation or being subject to a security or charge merely because the property was directed to be held for worship within or for the purposes of the Church.
s. 14
(5) The Synod may specify conditions for a scheme of co-operation, including but not limited to conditions with respect to—
(a) making contributions for the acquisition, construction, alteration, maintenance or repair of property vested in or held on behalf of the body corporate or a co-operating church or its congregation;
(b) giving or taking securities or charges over property in respect of which contributions are made or received under the scheme.
(6) If, under a scheme of co-operation, any proceeds result from the sale or mortgage of or any other dealing with property vested in the body corporate, the body corporate must apply the proceeds in a manner determined by the Synod.
(7) In this section—
co-operating church means the church of another denomination with which the Church has entered into or is involved in a scheme of co-operation;
scheme of co-operation means a scheme entered into by the Church that—
(a) is entered into with or involves a church of another denomination or involves an activity of a church of another denomination; and
(b) involves the use or administration of property vested in the body corporate that is specified in the scheme.
S. 15 inserted by No. 67/2012 s. 10.
s. 15
15 Construction of references to Free Presbyterian Church Property Act 1953
On and from the commencement of the Free Presbyterian Church Property Amendment Act 2012, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference in any Act, subordinate instrument, agreement or other document to the Free Presbyterian Church Property Act 1953 is to be construed as a reference to the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia Property Act 1953.
Sch. amended by No. 18/1989 s. 13(Sch. 2 item 29(b)), repealed by No. 67/2012 s. 11.
Sch.
ENDNOTES
Endnotes
General Information
The Free Presbyterian Church Property Act 1953 was assented to on 6 October 1953 and came into operation on 6 October 1953.
The title of this Act was changed from the Free Presbyterian Church Property Act 1953 to the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia Property Act 1953 by section 4 of the Free Presbyterian Church Property Amendment Act 2012, No. 67/2012.
Table of Amendments
Endnotes
This Version incorporates amendments made to the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia Property Act 1953 by Acts and subordinate instruments.