VPRS 5510 Register of Appeals from the Supreme Court to the Privy Council and High Court of Australia

This series contains a register of appeals from the Supreme Court of Victoria to the Privy Council and to the High Court of Australia. Summary information includes details of the cause, names of plaintiff and defendant, dates relating to the leave to appeal, details regarding security given, the date of the transmission and acknowledgment of the appeal, the result of the appeal and any further remarks. Also noted is whether the appeal went to the Privy Council or High Court. Appeals from state Supreme Courts originally were made to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council by leave of the court or as of right in certain matters. In Victoria, this was legislated along with the establishment of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1852 (Act 15 Vic.,No.10). After the establishment of the High Court of Australia in 1903 by the Commonwealth Judiciary Act, the High Court became the general appeal court from state Supreme Courts in state and federal matters. Although appeals to the Privy Council were not disallowed until the passing of the Australia Act 1986, legislative changes over the 20th century increasingly limited the Privy Council as an appeal option.