Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 1966 (SA)

The Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 1966 (the Act) is an 'Act to establish an Aboriginal Lands Trust, to define the powers and functions thereof, for purposes incidental thereto and for other purposes' (long title).

The Act established the South Australian Aboriginal Lands Trust and sets out the provisions dealing with its composition, staffing, powers and financial arrangements.

The Act was the first attempt by an Australian Government to grant Aborigines title to land. The Trust was created to ensure that:

• Title to existing Aboriginal reserves remained with Aborigines;
• Mineral royalty payments were received, with which more land could be purchased; and
• Funds were received to develop lands vested in the Trust.

Following the transfer of Aboriginal reserves and other areas of land to the Trust in an estate of fee simple, the Trust leased the land back to the Aboriginal communities at nominal rates for 99-year, repeatedly renewable periods. Yalata (4516 square kilometres) and Nantawarrina (580 square kilometres) are the largest areas in the 5383 square kilometres of Trust land. Under the Act, the Trust is able, with Ministerial agreement, to sell, lease or mortgage the land vested in it. The sale of land requires the consent of both Houses of Parliament.

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