Western Australian Consolidated Acts

TRANSFER OF LAND ACT 1893 - NOTES

Notes

¹ This reprint is a compilation as at 21 August 2009 of the Transfer of Land Act 1893 and includes the amendments made by the other written laws referred to in the following table^1a. The table also contains information about any reprint.

Compilation table

Short title		Number and year	Assent	Commencement
The Transfer of Land Act 1893 13		1893 (56 Vict. No. 14)	13 Jan 1893	13 Jan 1893
Transfer of Land Act 1893 Amendment Act 1896 14		1896 (60 Vict. No. 22) (as amended by No. 17 of 1950 s. 75)	27 Oct 1896	27 Oct 1896
Criminal Code Act 1902 s. 3		1902 (1 & 2 Edw. VII No. 14)	19 Feb 1902	1 May 1902 (see s. 2 and 3)
Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1902 14		1902 (2 Edw. VII No. 10) (as amended by No. 17 of 1950 s. 75)	18 Nov 1902	18 Nov 1902
Stamp Act Amendment Act 1905 s. 20		20 of 1905 (5 Edw. VII No. 20)	23 Dec 1905	1 Jan 1906 (see s. 2)
Licensed Surveyors Act 1909 s. 28 and 29		25 of 1909 (9 Edw. VII No. 21)	29 Oct 1909	1 Jan 1910 (see s. 1)
Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1909 15		54 of 1909 (9 Edw. VII No. 50) (as amended by No. 28 of 1944 s. 3; No. 17 of 1950 s. 75)	21 Dec 1909	2 May 1910 (see s. 1 and Gazette 4 Mar 1910 p. 649)
Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1911 14		26 of 1911 (1 Geo. V No. 37) (as amended by No. 17 of 1950 s. 75)	16 Feb 1911	16 Feb 1911
Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1917		32 of 1917 (8 Geo. V No. 13)	11 Dec 1917	11 Dec 1917
Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1920		30 of 1920 (11 Geo. V No. 30)	31 Dec 1920	31 Dec 1920
Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1925		5 of 1925 (16 Geo. V No. 5)	24 Sep 1925	24 Sep 1925
Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1929 14		14 of 1929 (20 Geo. V No. 12) (as amended by No. 17 of 1950 s. 75)	30 Oct 1929	30 Oct 1929
Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1929 (No. 2) 14		42 of 1929 (20 Geo. V No. 41) (as amended by No. 17 of 1950 s. 75)	31 Dec 1929	31 Dec 1929
Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1939		23 of 1939 (3 Geo. VI No. 23)	22 Nov 1939	22 Nov 1939
Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1944 14		28 of 1944 (8 and 9 Geo. VI No. 28) (as amended by No. 17 of 1950 s. 75)	23 Dec 1944	23 Dec 1944
Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1946 16		6 of 1946 (10 Geo. VI No. 6)	13 Nov 1946	13 Nov 1946
Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1946 (No. 2)		21 of 1946 (10 and 11 Geo. VI No. 21)	14 Jan 1947	14 Jan 1947
Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1950 17		17 of 1950 (14 Geo. VI No. 17)	29 Nov 1950	16 Mar 1951 (see s. 2 and Gazette 16 Mar 1951 p. 567)
Reprint of The Transfer of Land Act 1893 approved 7 Mar 1951 in Vol. 5 of Reprinted Acts (includes amendments listed above except those in the Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1950)
Limitation Act 1935 s. 48A(1)	35 of 1935 (26 Geo. V No. 35) (as amended by No. 73 of 1954 s. 8)		14 Jan 1955	Relevant amendments (see s. 48A and Second Sch. 18) took effect on 1 Mar 1955 (see No. 73 of 1954 s. 2 and Gazette 18 Feb 1955 p. 343)
Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1959	9 of 1959 (8 Eliz. II No. 9)		25 Sep 1959	25 Sep 1959
Reprint of The Transfer of Land Act 1893 approved 5 Jul 1962 in Vol. 16 of Reprinted Acts (includes amendments listed above)
Decimal Currency Act 1965	113 of 1965		21 Dec 1965	Act other than s. 4-9: 21 Dec 1965 (see s. 2(1)); s. 4-9: 14 Feb 1966 (see s. 2(2))
Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1969	28 of 1969		16 May 1969	16 May 1969
Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act (No. 3) 1969	88 of 1969		17 Nov 1969	17 Nov 1969
Untitled regulations published in Gazette 24 Feb 1970 p. 516-45				24 Feb 1970
Untitled regulations published in Gazette 8 Feb 1972 p. 244				8 Feb 1972
Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1972	14 of 1972		25 May 1972	25 May 1972
Metric Conversion Act 1972	94 of 1972		4 Dec 1972	Relevant amendments (see First Sch. 19) took effect on 1 Jan 1973 (see s. 4(2) and Gazette 29 Dec 1972 p. 4811)
Reprint of The Transfer of Land Act 1893 approved 7 Jul 1975 (includes amendments listed above)
Acts Amendment (Land Valuers) Act 1978 Pt. I and II	56 of 1978		6 Sep 1978	1 Jul 1979 (see s. 2 and Gazette 22 Jun 1979 p. 1677)
Companies (Consequential Amendments) Act 1982 s. 28	10 of 1982		14 May 1982	1 Jul 1982 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 25 Jun 1982 p. 2079)
Acts Amendment (Land Administration) Act 1987 Pt. VII	126 of 1987		31 Dec 1987	16 Sep 1988 (see s. 2 and Gazette 16 Sep 1988 p. 3637)
Reserves and Land Revestment Act 1991 s. 22	57 of 1991		17 Dec 1991	17 Dec 1991 (see s. 2)
Financial Administration Legislation Amendment Act 1993 s. 11 and 12	6 of 1993		27 Aug 1993	1 Jul 1993 (see s. 2(1))
Acts Amendment (Public Sector Management) Act 1994 s. 18	32 of 1994		29 Jun 1994	1 Oct 1994 (see s. 2 and Gazette 30 Sep 1994 p. 4948)
Local Government (Consequential Amendments) Act 1996 s. 4	14 of 1996		28 Jun 1996	1 Jul 1996 (see s. 2)
Transfer of Land Amendment Act 1996 4, 8, 20	81 of 1996		14 Nov 1996	Act other than s. 6(1) (to the extent that it refers to s. 10(4) and (5c) of the principal Act), 28, 30, 37, 42, 73-77, 81, 98, 134, 140 and 141: 14 Nov 1996 (see s. 2(1)); balance: 3 Feb 1997 (see s. 2(2) and (3) and Gazette 31 Jan 1997 p. 613)
Reprint of the Transfer of Land Act 1893 as at 13 May 1997 (includes amendments listed above)
Acts Amendment (Land Administration) Act 1997 Pt. 60 5, 6, 10	31 of 1997		3 Oct 1997	30 Mar 1998 (see s. 2 and Gazette 27 Mar 1998 p. 1765)
Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act (No. 2) 1998 s. 69	10 of 1998		30 Apr 1998	30 Apr 1998 (see s. 2(1))
Transfer of Land Amendment Act 1999	3 of 1999		25 Mar 1999	s. 1 and 2: 25 Mar 1999; Act other than s. 1 and 2: 1 Jun 1999 (see s. 2 and Gazette 11 May 1999 p. 1905)
Acts Amendment and Repeal (Financial Sector Reform) Act 1999 s. 106	26 of 1999		29 Jun 1999	1 Jul 1999 (see s. 2 and Gazette 30 Jun 1999 p. 2905)
Reprint of the Transfer of Land Act 1893 as at 23 Jul 1999 (includes amendments listed above)
Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 2000 s. 42	24 of 2000		4 Jul 2000	4 Jul 2000 (see s. 2)
Forest Products Act 2000 s. 72	34 of 2000		10 Oct 2000	16 Nov 2000 (see s. 2 and Gazette 15 Nov 2000 p. 6275)
Land Administration Amendment Act 2000 s. 51	59 of 2000		7 Dec 2000	10 Apr 2001 (see s. 2(2) and Gazette 10 Apr 2001 p. 2073)
Reprint of the Transfer of Land Act 1893 as at 9 Feb 2001 (includes amendments listed above except those in the Land Administration Amendment Act 2000)
Corporations (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001 s. 220	10 of 2001		28 Jun 2001	15 Jul 2001 (see s. 2 and Gazette 29 Jun 2001 p. 3257 and Cwlth. Gazette 13 Jul 2001 No. S285)
Taxation Administration (Consequential Provisions) Act 2002 s. 25	45 of 2002		20 Mar 2003	1 Jul 2003 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 27 Jun 2003 p. 2383)
Transfer of Land Amendment Act 2003 s. 4-84 21	6 of 2003		25 Mar 2003	Act other than s. 43, 46, 56, 57, 74, 80-82: 3 May 2003 (see s. 2 and Gazette 2 May 2003 p. 1491); s. 74, 80-82: 6 Sep 2004 (see s. 2 and Gazette 2 Sep 2004 p. 3821)
Acts Amendment (Equality of Status) Act 2003 s. 129	28 of 2003		22 May 2003	1 Jul 2003 (see s. 2 and Gazette 30 Jun 2003 p. 2579)
Acts Amendment (Carbon Rights and Tree Plantation Agreements) Act 2003 Pt. 5	56 of 2003		29 Oct 2003	24 Mar 2004 (see s. 2 and Gazette 23 Mar 2004 p. 975)
Contaminated Sites Act 2003 s. 100	60 of 2003		7 Nov 2003	1 Dec 2006 (see s. 2 and Gazette 8 Aug 2006 p. 2899)
Acts Amendment and Repeal (Courts and Legal Practice) Act 2003 s. 120	65 of 2003		4 Dec 2003	1 Jan 2004 (see s. 2 and Gazette 30 Dec 2003 p. 5722)
Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 2003 s. 120	74 of 2003		15 Dec 2003	15 Dec 2003 (see s. 2)
Courts Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2004 Pt. 20 Div. 2	59 of 2004		23 Nov 2004	1 May 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 31 Dec 2004 p. 7128)
Criminal Procedure and Appeals (Consequential and Other Provisions) Act 2004 s. 78	84 of 2004		16 Dec 2004	2 May 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 31 Dec 2004 p. 7129 (correction in Gazette 7 Jan 2005 p. 53))
Reprint 7: The Transfer of Land Act 1893 as at 6 May 2005 (includes amendments listed above except those in the Contaminated Sites Act 2003)
Oaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations (Consequential Provisions) Act 2005 s. 63	24 of 2005		2 Dec 2005	1 Jan 2006 (see s. 2 and Gazette 23 Dec 2005 p. 6244)
Planning and Development (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2005 s. 15	38 of 2005		12 Dec 2005	9 Apr 2006 (see s. 2 and Gazette 21 Mar 2006 p. 1078)
Land Information Authority Act 2006 s. 103-118	60 of 2006		16 Nov 2006	1 Jan 2007 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 8 Dec 2006 p. 5369)
Financial Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2006 s. 4 22	77 of 2006		21 Dec 2006	1 Feb 2007 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 19 Jan 2007 p. 137)
Reprint 8: The Transfer of Land Act 1893 as at 15 Jun 2007 (includes amendments listed above)
Petroleum Amendment Act 2007 s. 106	35 of 2007		21 Dec 2007	19 Jan 2008 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 18 Jan 2008 p. 147)
Acts Amendment (Justice) Act 2008 Pt. 24	5 of 2008		31 Mar 2008	30 Sep 2008 (see s. 2(d) and Gazette 11 Jul 2008 p. 3253)
Duties Legislation Amendment Act 2008 Sch. 1 cl. 38	12 of 2008		14 Apr 2008	1 Jul 2008 (see s. 2(d))
Legal Profession Act 2008 s. 711	21 of 2008		27 May 2008	1 Mar 2009 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 27 Feb 2009 p. 511)
Statutes (Repeals and Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2009 s. 10	8 of 2009		21 May 2009	22 May 2009 (see s. 2(b))
Reprint 9: The Transfer of Land Act 1893 as at 21 Aug 2009 (includes amendments listed above)

^1a On the date as at which this reprint was prepared, provisions referred to in the following table had not come into operation and were therefore not included in compiling the reprint. For the text of the provisions see the endnotes referred to in the table.

Provisions that have not come into operation

Short title	Number and year	Assent	Commencement

Transfer of Land Amendment Act 2003 s. 43, 46, 56 and 57 21

6 of 2003 (as amended by No. 60 of 2006 s. 164)

25 Mar 2003

To be proclaimed (see s. 2)

² Repealed by the Land Act 1933 which was repealed by the Land Administration Act 1997.

³ The Land Valuers Licensing Act 1978 came into operation on 1 July 1979.

⁴ The Transfer of Land Amendment Act 1996 s. 6(2) reads as follows:

(2) Section 10 of the principal Act as it was in effect immediately before the commencement of subsection (1) continues to have effect in relation to any document or its duplicate and to any memorandum or entry that was sealed, signed, or initialled before that commencement.

⁵ The Acts Amendment (Land Administration) Act 1997 s. 93(2) reads as follows:

(2) If the alienation of Crown land has resulted in the delivery of the grant in fee simple to the Registrar under section 18 of the principal Act, but the Registrar has not created and registered a certificate of title for the land under that section before the commencement of this section, that creation and registration may be completed as if that section had not been repealed.

⁶ The Acts Amendment (Land Administration) Act 1997 s. 94(2) reads as follows:

(2) Section 19 of the principal Act continues to apply to each grant in fee to 2 or more persons in joint tenancy for any public purpose, which grant was in existence immediately before the repeal of that section, as if that section had not been repealed.

⁷ Repealed by the Trustees Act 1962.

⁸ The Transfer of Land Amendment Act 1996 s. 37(3) reads as follows:

(3) Section 65 of and the Ninth Schedule to the principal Act as in force immediately before the commencement of subsection (1) continue to apply to all transfers, leases and certificates of title in effect before that commencement on which an easement was marked in accordance with those provisions.

⁹ On the date as at which this reprint was prepared, the Western Australian Land Information Authority was principally assisting in the administration of the Transfer of Land Act 1893.

¹⁰ The Acts Amendment (Land Administration) Act 1997 s. 104(2) reads as follows:

(2) A lease of Crown land (not being a Crown lease) granted before the commencement of this section, which lease would have been valid had it been granted as a lease under the Land Administration Act 1997, is validated by force of this subsection and is to be treated as if it were a lease registered under section 81Q of the principal Act as amended by this Act.

¹¹ Repealed by the Property Law Act 1969 Second Schedule.

¹² Repealed by the Planning and Development (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2005 Schedule 1.

¹³ Now known as the Transfer of Land Act 1893; short title changed (see note under s. 1).

¹⁴ This Act was amended by the Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1950 s. 75. See also note 17.

¹⁵ This Act was amended by the Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1944 s. 3 and the Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1950 s. 75. See also note 17.

¹⁶ The Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1950 s. 75 sets out an amendment to this Act. However, s. 32 of that Act sets out an amendment to the Transfer of Land Act 1893 that achieves the same result.

¹⁷ The Transfer of Land Act Amendment Act 1950 provides as follows:

75. Revision of certain of the provisions of the amending Acts

(1) By way of revision, for the purpose of reprinting, the provisions of the amending Acts are amended to the extent specified in the Schedule to this Act.

(2) The provisions of the last preceding subsection shall not be construed so as to affect the provisions of the Amendments Incorporation Act 1938.

¹⁸ Section 48A and the Second Schedule were inserted into the Limitation Act 1935 by the Limitation Act Amendment Act 1954 s. 8.

¹⁹ The Schedule to the Metric Conversion Act 1972 was redesignated as the First Schedule by the Metric Conversion Act Amendment Act 1973 s. 3.

²⁰ The Transfer of Land Amendment Act 1996 s. 152 reads as follows:

152. Savings and transitional in relation to the assurance fund

(1) In this section —

commencement means the day on which section 1 of this Act comes into operation.

(2) The account called the “assurance fund” immediately before commencement is to be closed on commencement and the money that is in the account at the time when the account is being closed is to be credited to the Consolidated Fund.

(3) Subsection (2) does not affect or prejudice the application of the Interpretation Act 1984 but a right, obligation or liability of, or in respect of, the assurance fund subsisting immediately before commencement becomes, on commencement, a right, obligation or liability of, or in respect of, the State in accordance with Part XI or XII of the principal Act, as the case requires.

²¹ On the date as at which this reprint was prepared, the Transfer of Land Amendment Act 2003 s. 43, 46, 56 (as amended by No. 60 of 2003 s. 164) and 57 had not come into operation. They read as follows:

43. Section 136A amended

Section 136A is amended by deleting “section 166 or 166A” and inserting instead —

“ section 166(1), 166A(1) or 166C(2)(a) ”.

46. Section 138 amended

Section 138 is amended as follows:

(a) by inserting after “any transfer” —

“

(including a disposition statement accompanying an application under section 166C)

”;

(b) by deleting “think” and inserting instead —

“ thinks ”.

56. Section 166C inserted

After section 166B the following section is inserted —

“

166C. Alternative application (using disposition statements) for new certificates of title on subdivision of land between existing owners

(1) Notwithstanding section 166 but subject to subsections (5) and (6) where land under the operation of this Act —

(a) comprises 2 or more parcels not having the same proprietor for all the parcels; or

(b) is held by 2 or more proprietors as joint tenants or as tenants in common,

and the proprietors of the freehold in the land (the proprietors) wish to subdivide the land between themselves only, they may apply to the Registrar under this section, instead of applying under section 166, for the creation and registration of new certificates of title for the land.

(2) An application under this section shall be in an approved form and —

(a) shall be made in relation to a plan or diagram of the proposed subdivision that —

(i) is lodged or deposited with the Authority;

(ii) is prepared in accordance with any relevant regulations made under this Act or the Licensed Surveyors Act 1909;

(iii) contains, or is accompanied by a document that contains, such information, certificates and consents as are prescribed in the regulations; and

(iv) is signed by or on behalf of the inspector of plans and surveys referred to in section 163 as being in order for dealings with or without conditions;

(b) shall be accompanied by a disposition statement —

(i) that is in an approved form; and

(ii) in which is set out the amount of any consideration passing between any of the proprietors of the freehold in the land in consideration for the subdivision;

(c) shall be accompanied by a document that contains such information, certificates and consents as are prescribed in the regulations;

(d) shall be accompanied by such documents as the Registrar determines are necessary to satisfy any conditions before the plan or diagram referred to in subsection (2)(a) is in order for dealing; and

(e) shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

(3) A disposition statement accompanying an application under this section is a request to the Registrar to endorse the new certificates of title for the land that is the subject of the application and, if applicable, to take such other action in relation to the Register or any graphic as is required, to give effect to the extent provided for in regulations to any of the following —

(a) the disposal of the land or interests in the land to, or the vesting of the land or interests in the land in, the State of Western Australia, a public authority or a local government;

(b) the allocation of lots on the plan or diagram referred to in subsection (2)(a) between the proprietors;

(c) the allocation of other registered interests and caveats affecting the land to lots (or part lots as shown on a graphic) on the plan or diagram referred to in subsection (2)(a);

(d) the attachment or discharge of other registered interests and caveats affecting the land to or from lots (or part lots as shown on a graphic) on the plan or diagram referred to in subsection (2)(a).

(4) Section 166(3) and (6) apply to an application under this section as if the references to the plan or diagram were references to the plan or diagram referred to in subsection (2)(a) and the Registrar may endorse the new certificates of title for the land that is the subject of the application and take such other action in relation to the Register or any graphic as is required to give effect to the application and requests in the disposition statement.

(5) The Registrar is not to grant an application under this section if —

(a) the land that is the subject of the application is held by 2 or more proprietors as joint tenants; and

(b) an effect of granting the application would be to sever the joint tenancy.

(6) The Registrar is not to grant an application under this section unless —

(a) all the proprietors have signed the disposition statement; and

(b) each person who has a registered interest in the land and each caveator in relation to the land consents to the person’s interest or caveat being allocated in accordance with the disposition statement on the subdivision.

(7) On registration of the certificates of title for the land that is the subject of an application under this section —

(a) every lot that is enlarged or diminished under the plan or diagram referred to in subsection (2)(a) is, by operation of law, subject to each encumbrance, caveat, notification or memorial allocated to it in the disposition statement to the extent provided in the disposition statement; and

(b) every such encumbrance, caveat, notification and memorial is deemed to be amended accordingly.

”.

57. Section 167 amended

Section 167 is amended by deleting “or 166A” and inserting instead —

“ , 166A or 166C ”.

²² The amendment in the Financial Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2006 s. 4 to s. 190 is not included because s. 190 had been replaced by the Land Information Authority Act 2006 s. 115.

Defined Terms

[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]

Defined Term Provision(s)
address 240(2)
affected land 104A
agreement 104M
agreement land 104M
annuitant 4(1)
annuity 4(1)
approved form 4(1), 81K
Australian consular officer 145(4)
Australian lawyer 4(1)
authorised land officer 4(1)
Authority 4(1)
burdened land 104A
carbon covenant 4(1)
carbon covenant form 4(1)
carbon right 4(1)
carbon right form 4(1)
certificate of Crown land title 4(1)
charge 4(1)
commencement 181(1a)
Commissioner 81K
Crown land 4(1)
Crown land lease 4(1)
Crown lease 4(1)
dealing 4(1)
digital title 4(1)
disposition 242(4)
encumbrance 81RA(1)
encumbrances 4(1)
endorsed 4(1)
Examiner of Titles 4(1)
geothermal energy 3(3)
geothermal energy resources 3(3)
grant 4(1)
grantor 4(1)
graphic 4(1)
instrument 4(1)
interest 4(1)
judge 4(1)
land 4(1)
lodged 133(1)
lot 129C(1d)
management body 4(1)
management order 81K
memorandum 54(1)
metropolitan region 4(1)
mining, petroleum or geothermal energy rights 3(3)
Minister for Lands 4(1)
ministerial order 4(1)
mortgage money 126(1)(b)
paper title 4(1)
person 4(1)
plan 136A
plantation interest 4(1)
prescribed amount 192(2)(a)
profit à prendre 4(1)
property (seizure and sale) order 133(1)
proprietor 4(1)
public authority 4(1)
qualified certificate of Crown land title 4(1)
qualified valuer 4(1)
Register 4(1)
register 133(1)
registered disposition 242(4)
relevant carbon right 104A
relevant graphic 4(1)
repealed Act 81K
reserve 4(1)
sale period 133(1)
saleable interest 133(1)
section 138A caveat 136K(1)
settlement 4(1)
sheriff 4(1)
sheriff’s dealing 133(1)
short form 4(3)
single dwelling covenant 129C(1d)
stamped 81U(3)
statutory declaration 188(i)
strata/survey-strata plan 4(1)
symbol 4(1)
the document 54(4)
the inspector of plans and surveys 163(2)
the relevant authority 129BB(1)(b), 136J(1)(b)
transitional period 81K
transmission 4(1)
tree plantation agreement 4(1)