VPRS 19351 Minute Book, Local Board of Health

This series consists of the minutes of Beechworth United Shire Council sitting as the Local Board of Health. The Public Health Act 1854 (18 VIC No.13) established the council of a municipality as the Local Board of Health for that municipality with a Central Board of Health, appointed by the Governor-in-Council as governing body. The powers and responsibilities of local boards of health were refined by subsequent Public Health Legislation. Local boards of health were discontinued by the Public Health Act 1889 (53 VIC No.1044) and their powers and responsibilities passed to municipal councils. The Central Board of Health was abolished and replaced by the Board of Public Health. The various Health acts, under which the Local Board of Health was constituted, bestowed a number of powers and responsibilities relating to a number of areas including: - prevention of adulteration of food, drink etc, - common lodging houses, dwelling houses, - infectious diseases, hospitals, vaccination, - nuisances-offensive trades, - sewers, drains, lanes etc, Local boards of health were empowered to make by-laws and to implement them as well implementing those made by the Central Board of Health. The minutes of the Local Board of Health of Beechworth United Shire contain information on decisions and discussions relating to the above matters. In 1890 the local Councils assumed the responsibilities of the Local Board of Health and appointed the Health Committee to oversee their implementation and to report,and make recommendations to Council.