# Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey

The Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey was a ministerial portfolio in Victoria, Australia.

## History

In 1857 the Board of Land and Works was established because it was considered that the administration of public lands and public works would be more effectually and economically managed if it were consolidated and placed under one head. By Letters Patent of 28 April 1857, the positions of Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey (previously Surveyor-General) and Commissioner of Public Works were abolished and the powers previously exercised by the Commissioners were vested in the Board of Land and Works . The departments of the Civil Service previously under the Commissioners' control effectively became sub-departments of the Board. While there was clearly an intent to achieve consolidation, the extent to which the sub-departments were administratively integrated following the establishment of the Board in 1857 is uncertain and from late 1858 and the reappointment of a Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey and a Commissioner of Public Works, the sub-departments were clearly administratively separate.
Although a Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey had been reappointed to the Ministry in 1858, statutory authority for lands matters continued to be vested in the Board until its abolition in 1964.

### Surveying

By 1855, the Geological Survey had been associated with the administration of public lands and in 1857, following the establishment of the Board of Land and Works, this arrangement continued. By 1858 however responsibility for the geological survey had been transferred to the Chief Secretary's Department where it remained until 1861, despite the recommendation of the Civil Service Commission of 1859-60 that it be transferred to the department of the Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey. In 1861 responsibility for the geological survey was assumed by the Commissioner of Mines and the newly established Department of Mines.

### Immigration

Assisted immigration was frequently associated with land settlement in Victoria and by 1906 the Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey had become responsible for immigration in connection with land settlement and the augmenting of the labour force. By 1912 an Immigration and Labour Bureau had been established within the Department of Crown Lands and Survey.

### Cemeteries

By 1864 and until August 1873, the Commissioner of Public Works and the Public Works Department were responsible for the administration of cemeteries including the appointment of trustees and approval of regulations and fees. From 1873 until 1888 the Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey and the Department of Crown Lands and Survey were responsible and in 1888 the Chief Secretary and the Chief Secretary's Department assumed responsibility. The Public Works Department however continued to be responsible for the allocation of fencing grants.

### Abolition

In 1983 the Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands was established. The establishment of this Department reflected the Government's intention to consolidate the administration of all public lands matters in the one Department; to co-ordinate the use of land resources; to rationalise the many different local land management systems and authorities and to better co-ordinate the management of public lands with conservation requirements.
The new department assumed responsibility for all matters relating to survey and mapping, crown lands administration and the Royal Botanic Gardens and National Herbarium from the Department of Crown Lands and Survey.

## Commissioners

| MP | Party affiliation | Term start | Term end | Time in office |
| George Horne MP | | 11 March 1857 | 29 April 1857 | 49 days |
| Charles Gavan Duffy MP | | 21 December 1858 | 22 March 1859 | 91 days |
| George Evans MP | | 22 March 1859 | 27 October 1859 | 219 days |
| James Service MP | | 27 October 1859 | 3 September 1860 | 312 days |
| Vincent Pyke MP | | 3 September 1860 | 24 September 1860 | 21 days |
| Augustus Greeves MP | | 24 September 1860 | 26 November 1860 | 63 days |
| John Henry Brooke MP | | 26 November 1860 | 14 November 1861 | 353 days |
| Charles Gavan Duffy MP | | 14 November 1861 | 27 June 1863 | 1 year, 225 days |
| Richard Heales MP | | 27 June 1863 | 19 June 1864 | 358 days |
| James Macpherson Grant MP | | 5 September 1864 | 6 May 1868 | 3 years, 244 days |
| Duncan Gillies MP | | 6 May 1868 | 11 July 1868 | 66 days |
| James Macpherson Grant MP | | 11 July 1868 | 20 September 1869 | 1 year, 71 days |
| James McKean MP | | 20 September 1869 | 9 April 1870 | 201 days |
| John Alexander MacPherson MP | | 9 April 1870 | 19 June 1871 | 1 year, 71 days |
| James Macpherson Grant MLC | | 19 June 1871 | 10 June 1872 | 357 days |
| James Casey MP | | 10 June 1872 | 7 August 1875 | 3 years, 58 days |
| Duncan Gillies MP | | 20 October 1875 | 21 May 1877 | 1 year, 213 days |
| John Gavan Duffy MP | | 5 March 1880 | 3 August 1880 | 151 days |
| Richard Richardson MP | | 3 August 1880 | 9 July 1881 | 340 days |
| David Gaunson MP | | 9 July 1881 | 2 August 1881 | 24 days |
| Walter Madden MP | | 19 August 1881 | 8 March 1883 | 1 year, 201 days |
| Albert Tucker MP | | 8 March 1883 | 18 February 1886 | 2 years, 347 days |
| John Dow MP | | 18 February 1886 | 5 November 1890 | 4 years, 260 days |
| Allan McLean MP | | 5 November 1890 | 23 January 1893 | 2 years, 79 days |
| John McIntyre MP | | 23 January 1893 | 27 September 1894 | 1 year, 247 days |
| Robert Best MP | | 27 September 1894 | 5 December 1899 | 5 years, 69 days |
| James McColl MP | | 5 December 1899 | 19 November 1900 | 349 days |
| Daniel Joseph Duggan MP | | 19 November 1900 | 10 June 1902 | 1 year, 203 days |
| Malcolm McKenzie MP | Reform | 10 June 1902 | 28 January 1903 | 232 days |
| John William Taverner MP | Reform | 6 February 1903 | 19 February 1904 | 1 year, 13 days |
| John Murray MP | Reform | 19 February 1904 | 15 August 1906 | 2 years, 177 days |
| John Mackey MP | Reform | 15 August 1906 | 31 October 1908 | 2 years, 77 days |
| Thomas Hunt MP | Reform | 31 October 1908 | 8 January 1909 | 69 days |
| Hugh McKenzie MP | Liberal | 8 January 1909 | 9 December 1913 | 4 years, 335 days |
| William Plain MP | Labor | 9 December 1913 | 22 December 1913 | 13 days |
| Harry Lawson MP | Liberal | 22 December 1913 | 9 November 1915 | 1 year, 322 days |
| William Hutchinson MP | Liberal | 9 November 1915 | 29 November 1917 | 2 years, 20 days |
| Frank Clarke MLC | Nationalist | 29 November 1917 | 21 October 1919 | 1 year, 326 days |
| Harry Lawson MP | Nationalist | 21 October 1919 | 4 November 1920 | 1 year, 14 days |
| David Oman MP | Nationalist | 4 November 1920 | 7 September 1923 | 2 years, 307 days |
| John Allan MP | Nationalist | 7 September 1923 | 19 March 1924 | 194 days |
| David Oman MP | Nationalist | 19 March 1924 | 18 July 1924 | 121 days |
| Henry Bailey MP | Labor | 18 July 1924 | 18 November 1924 | 123 days |
| Alfred Downward MP | Country | 18 November 1924 | 20 May 1927 | 2 years, 183 days |
| Henry Bailey MP | Labor | 20 May 1927 | 22 November 1928 | 1 year, 186 days |
| Henry Angus MP | Nationalist | 22 November 1928 | 12 December 1929 | 1 year, 20 days |
| Henry Bailey MP | Labor | 12 December 1929 | 19 May 1932 | 2 years, 159 days |
| Albert Dunstan MP | United Australia | 19 May 1932 | 20 March 1935 | 2 years, 305 days |
| Thomas Maltby MP | United Australia | 20 March 1935 | 2 April 1935 | 13 days |
| Albert Lind MP | United Country | 2 April 1935 | 1 January 1942 | 6 years, 274 days |
| George Tuckett MLC | United Country | 8 January 1942 | 14 September 1943 | 1 year, 249 days |
| Daniel McNamara MLC | Labor | 14 September 1943 | 18 September 1943 | 4 days |
| Albert Lind MP | United Country | 18 September 1943 | 2 October 1945 | 2 years, 14 days |
| Bill Galvin MP | Labor | 21 November 1945 | 20 November 1947 | 1 year, 364 days |
| John McDonald MP | Liberal | 20 November 1947 | 3 December 1948 | 1 year, 13 days |
| Thomas Hollway MP | Liberal | 3 December 1948 | 8 December 1948 | 5 days |
| Rutherford Guthrie MP | Liberal | 8 December 1948 | 19 June 1950 | 1 year, 193 days |
| William Leggatt MP | Liberal | 19 June 1950 | 27 June 1950 | 8 days |
| Albert Lind MP | Country | 27 June 1950 | 28 October 1952 | 2 years, 123 days |
| John Hipworth MP | Liberal | 28 October 1952 | 31 October 1952 | 3 days |
| Albert Lind MP | Country | 31 October 1952 | 17 December 1952 | 47 days |
| Robert Holt MP | Labor | 17 December 1952 | 15 December 1953 | 363 days |
| Joseph Smith MP | Labor | 22 December 1953 | 7 June 1955 | 1 year, 167 days |
| Henry Bolte MP | Liberal | 7 June 1955 | 8 June 1955 | 1 day |
| Keith Turnbull MP | Liberal | 8 June 1955 | 27 June 1964 | 9 years, 19 days |

## Reference list

* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Department of Crown Lands and Survey". Public Record Office Victoria. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Oshannassy Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Oshannassy Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Nicholson Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Heales Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Oshannassy Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Mcculloch Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Sladen Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Mcculloch Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Macpherson Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Mcculloch Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Duffy Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Francis Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Kerferd Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Mcculloch Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Service Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Berry Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Ologhlen Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Service Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Gillies Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Munro Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Shiels Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Patterson Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Turner Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Mclean Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Turner Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Peacock Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* 1 2 Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Irvine Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* 1 2 Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Bent Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Murray Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Watt Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Elmslie Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Watt Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* 1 2 Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Peacock Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Bowser Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* 1 2 3 Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Lawson Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Peacock Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Prendergast Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Allan Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Hogan Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Mcpherson Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Hogan Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Argyle Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Dunstan Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Cain Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Dunstan Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Cain Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Hollway Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Mcdonald Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Hollway Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Mcdonald Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Cain Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
* ↑ Carr, Adam. "Victorian Ministries - Bolte Ministry". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Psephos. Retrieved 17 November 2024.

## Sources

This article incorporates text from a free content work. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (license statement/permission). Text taken from Department of Crown Lands and Survey​, Public Record Office Victoria.