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Historical Resource of NSW Laws

Fri May 26 2017

The First Legislative Council, the precursor to the current NSW Parliament, is the oldest legislative body in Australia. Power was vested in the Governor of NSW as representative of the Crown in the new colony. The First Legislative Council (the Colonial Council) was established by the governor in 1824 as an advisory body of five appointed members, in relation to making the laws and other matters.

The records of this body have been digitised and are available on the NSW Parliament website, with over 60,000 documents dating from 1824 to 1855 including records of the establishment of responsible government.

Some interesting documents include:

  • a Bill to abolish female transportation from 1841 "An Act to abolish the transportation of female convicts, and to provide more effectual punishment of female offenders within the colony of NSW, as authorises the confinement of any female in a dark cell"
  • The declaration of the Crimean War
  • a Bill from 1825 "to prevent the harbouring of runaway convicts and to prevent their tippling"
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