Unique IDAG-0181DescriptionThe City of Sydney Improvement Board was an agency created by the NSW government under the City of Sydney Improvement Act 1879.
The role of the Board was to:
(1) Hear appeals against decisions of the City Building Surveyor, who under the same Act had authority to enforce building regulations (for example to ensure structures were safe, habitable, and did not impinge on streets).
(2) Determine references by the City Building Surveyor that a structure was unsafe or for some other reason required to be demolished.
The Board had no authority to act on its own, independently of an appeal or reference. The Act specified the Board was to consist of at least five members appointed by the Governor, including at least one architect, one 'practical builder' and one medical practitioner.
Sands Business Directory (1890) shows the Board operated from offices at 13 Castlereagh St and then comprised five members. A Registrar and Board Officer is noted and fees of 21s per appeal or reference (or 40s 'if occupied for more than one hour on the same'). The Chairman was Benjamin Backhouse (architect) and the Registrar F C Rooke.
By the early 1890s the Board was unable to function effectively. The government did not replace a member who resigned, so the quorum specified by the Act could not meet. In 1894 the government estimates omitted the Board, and the last recorded meeting took place in February 1896.
The cessation of activity by the Board meant that there was no avenue of appeal (except the Courts) against decisions by the City Building Surveyor, and the Council acquired effective control of the responsibility for overseeing demolition of inadequate buildings.CreationCity of Sydney Improvement Act 1879, s6.AbolitionNo provision in NSW parliamentary estimates 1895. Last recorded meeting 17 February 1896.
Start date3rd August 1879End date qualifierbyEnd date17th February 1896Relationship legacy dataPRECEDED BY: Building Surveyor AG-0076 (03/08/1879)
RELATED TO: Building and development regulation FN-0010 (03/08/1879 to 01/01/1896) Source System ID181
