NRS-21583 | Executive Council Minutes [State Rail Authority]

This series contains summary records of land specific to the rail corridor for planned acquisition, sale, disposal or vesting. These summaries of land requirements for the rail corridor were submitted to the Executive Council in the form of a Minute, comprising recommendations for the Governor's authorisation. Once approved the Minute became the official record of the decision taken. Notification of approved recommendations would then be made by publication in the Government Gazette. The Government Railways Act, 1858 (22 Victoria Act No.19) authorised the Railways Commissioner and persons authorised by the Commissioner to acquire lands required for railway development purposes and 'to enter into and upon the lands and grounds of any person whomsoever and to survey and take levels of the same and to ascertain and stake or set out take and appropriate for the purposes herein mentioned such parts thereof as may be necessary and proper for the laying out making and using any Railway and all other works matters and conveniences connected therewith'. This Act also enabled the Commissioner to sell or dispose of lands deemed not required for the railway corridor. This Act required copies of plans, sections and reference books for every railway line approved by Parliament for construction to go to the Governor who, with the advice of the Executive Council, would allow the orders for railway lines to be carried out. This series is arranged chronologically and then alphabetically by location.