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Railway Construction and Property Board

The early development of railways in Victoria, Australia, was undertaken by private enterprise. Companies such as the Melbourne and Hobson’s Bay Railway Company and the Melbourne, Mount Alexander, and Murray River Railway Company were incorporated in 1853. In 1858 the first Railways Department was established to administer the infant network.

The State Government purchased the rights and property of the private companies that had been incorporated in the previous four years.

The development, operation and maintenance of the rail system was successively under the control of Department of Railways I, 1857-1871; Department of Railways and Roads, 1871-1877; the Department of Railways II, 1877-1884; the Victorian Railways Commissioners 1883 – 1973 and then Victorian Railways Board 1973 – 1983.

In 1983 the government of the day amalgamated metropolitan rail and tram services under the Metropolitan Transit Authority Railway Construction and Property Board Act 1979 (No. 9345) was the successor in law of the Railway Construction Board. The Board consisted of a chairman and two other members appointed by the Governor in Council. The Board appointed a general manager, a Chief Engineer, a secretary and such engineers, surveyors, clerks and other officers and employees as the Board thought necessary.