Guide 3 to NSW State Archives relating to Responsible Government - OCR - Flipbook - Page 81
A Guide to New South Wales State Archives relating to Responsible Government
Victoria; management of the Police Force; settlement of the Land Question; and the
constitution of the Legislative Council on an elective basis. '
Only four months later, in his prorogation speech the Governor notes that
Prominent among the Acts passed during this Session, are those which relate to the
Alienation and Occupation of Crown Lands - the Gold Fields - the Police Force - the
Administration in Insolvency - and the Licensed Publicans. ... By these enactments,
questions of deep concern to the social and material advancement of the community some of which have for years past agitated the public mind - have been determined.8
This first five year period also saw the erection of the Sydney Observatory in 1856,
improvements in the coastal lighting in the vicinity of Sydney Heads, and the erection of
a lighthouse on outer South Head in 1857, and on 29 October 1858 the opening of the
telegraph line between Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, with extensions to Bathurst and
Maitland being completed two years later.
The second half of the nineteenth century had began with a great rush of immigrants to
the newly-discovered Gold Fields. Apart from the obvious benefit of accelerating the
granting of responsible government, New South Wales also ultimately benefited from the
wealth produced and the rapid increase in population. But the gold rushes of the 1850s
also created a demand for improvements in transport and communications which were
met by the introduction of the railway and the electric telegraph. In addition, the gold
rushes, together with the earlier immigration of the 1830s and 1840s, created a
substantial working class, many of whom was not afraid to vocalise their wants and
grievances to the Parliament.
The great economic boost provided by the gold rushes marked a turning point in
Australian history for the wealth they brought, and more importantly, for the social
changes they heralded. The gold rushes had meant growth and expansion of banking in
the Colony. But more importantly, perhaps, the gold rushes ended the domination by the
squatters of the political structure of the Colony. However, owing to the composition of
the Legislative Council and because of unequal electoral districts and plural voting for the
Legislative Assembly, they were able to retain a more influential position than was
warranted by their numbers alone; in this they were helped also by the importance of
wool.9
The second half of the nineteenth century was one of growth and rapid change. The
Legislature had to respond to the many and varied needs of the Colony. In the 1860s
the Government was responsible for the Free Selection Acts which `unlocked' the land;
mining industries were encouraged; by the 1870s and 1880s new sources of wealth were
exploited; the Government opened up the country, building irrigation schemes and
encouraging experimentation in science and technology; the Government introduced an
expansive public works program; and by 1891 there were around 3,500 kilometres of
railway track laid.
The New South Wales Government passed legislation 'having for their object legal and
social improvements'; they legislated on such matters as railways, public water supplies,
postal services and customs duties, and in 1880 compulsory secular education. However,
the Government also reflected societal concerns in other legislation, eg the laws
restricting immigration. "By the 1880's the native born were closing their ranks behind
7
Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly (NSW), 3 September 1861, Session of 186162 Vol.1 pp.3-4
8
Ibid, 20 January 1862, Session of 1861-62 Vol.1 p.537
9
Australian Encyclopaedia, (The Grolier Society of Australia, Sydney, 4th edition 1983), Vol.7
p.132
80
State Records Authority of New South Wales
