46-643: The Torrens Building , named after Sir Robert Richard Torrens , is a State Heritage -listed building on the corner of Victoria Square and Wakefield Street in Adelaide , South Australia . It was originally known as the New Government Offices , and after that a succession of names reflecting its tenants, including as New Public Offices , the Lands Titles Office , and Engineering & Water Supply Department . It has been home to
92-553: A landing waiter . Together they raised customs duties to finance the new colony, and promoted Irish investment and emigration. In 1839, he married Barbara Anson, daughter of Alexander Park, widow of Augustus George Anson and a niece of explorer Mungo Park . In that same year he was awarded an MA "by grace". In 1840, the couple left for South Australia, arriving on the Brightman in December 1840. In February 1841, Torrens
138-518: A bill introduced as a private member's bill was carried despite strong opposition, passing through both Houses on 27 January 1858. The Real Property Act 1858 , with the long title "An Act to simplify the Laws relating to the transfer and encumbrance of freehold and other interests in Land", was assented to on 27 January 1858. The Act, eagerly anticipated by many, came into effect on 2 July 1858 and
184-748: A course of action that might have an adverse effect on a listed subject. The Council itself could not make decisions on a proposed course of action; such decisions were made by the Federal Minister or the relevant authority contemplating the course of action. Evaluation of nominated places was based on the following criteria: Its importance in the course, or pattern, of Australia's natural or cultural history Its possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Australia's natural or cultural history Its potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Australia's natural or cultural history Its importance in demonstrating
230-549: A form of legitimacy , Robert Richard's birth year being reset to 1814. Torrens was educated at Trinity College, Dublin , where he graduated BA 1835. His father had been appointed chairman of the London-based South Australian Colonization Commission , created in 1834 to oversee the new colony of South Australia , and the son moved to London in 1836 to work with his father and learn about customs collection by working as
276-619: A long time it went by a number of names, such as New Public Offices, the Lands Titles Office, and Engineering Supply Department, after its main occupants. In 1979 it was renamed as the Torrens Building, after Sir Robert Richard Torrens and the system of lands title registration introduced by him to South Australia and the world, the Torrens title system. In 1993, after 112 years of continuous governmental occupation,
322-402: A month. For years before his election, he had vigorously promoted the need for land titles reform, with the current system of transfer of land by deed ineffective, slow, expensive and insecure. It relied on verbose and complicated documents that had to be retained at least a century in order to validate new transactions and lawyers were needed to effect the transactions. The second reading of
368-546: A new campus on Wakefield Street , and as of 2019 no longer lists Torrens Building as another campus. In 2015, the Torrens Building was offered for sale as part of the State Administration Centre precinct by the Government of South Australia , previously having been excluded from the sale plans, but as of 2019 had not been sold and has apparently been withdrawn from the market. On 21 March 1978, it
414-515: A number of government departments for much of its existence, and it currently holds offices for the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment (OCPSE) as part of the Government of South Australia . The construction of the building created some controversy in 1880 when it was reported that the Government of South Australia was going to import freestone for its construction from Sydney , rather than use stone from local quarries. The building
460-723: A particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons Its special association with the life or works of a person, or group of persons, of importance in Australia's natural or cultural history The Register of the National Estate was frozen in February 2007. In 2003 the Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975 , which had established the RNE, was repealed. In its place
506-472: Is chiefly remembered as the originator of the Torrens title , a new system of land registration that subsequently spread to the other Australian colonies and is used in Australia and in many other countries throughout the world today. He secured its implementation in South Australia in 1858, and subsequently advocated for its adoption in other jurisdictions. Returning to England in 1865, he served in
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#1732772653536552-534: Is the significant legal reform which became known as Torrens title, which can be said to be a world-first, born in Australia. Places named after Torrens include: (Note: Places named after his father, Robert Torrens, are the River Torrens , the suburb of Torrensville , Lake Torrens and Torrens Island . ) There is a portrait of Torrens in the Art Gallery of South Australia , and a drawing of him in
598-737: The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ( EPBC Act ) and the Australian Heritage Council Act 2003 provided for a new system of heritage protection for nationally significant places. In 2006 the EPBC Act and the Australian Heritage Council Act 2003 were amended to freeze the RNE, and to allow five years to phase out statutory references to the RNE. As a result of these changes: In February 2012,
644-877: The Real Property Act 1858 , which provides for the Torrens Title system of land registration and transfer, developed in South Australia and adopted around the world. The plaque was unveiled on 1 July 1958 by then Lieutenant Governor of South Australia, Sir Mellis Napier . The Torrens Building houses an honour board displaying the names of Government of South Australia employees killed in World War I . 34°55′42″S 138°36′03″E / 34.928368°S 138.600881°E / -34.928368; 138.600881 Robert Richard Torrens Sir Robert Richard Torrens , GCMG (31 May 1812 – 31 August 1884), also known as Robert Richard Chute Torrens ,
690-801: The British House of Commons from 1868 to 1874. He was son of the political economist Robert Torrens , who was chairman of the London-based South Australian Colonisation Commission involved in setting up and encouraging emigration to the new colony. Torrens was born in Cork , Ireland, on 31 May 1812. He was the only surviving son of Robert Torrens FRS and his first wife Charity Herbert née Chute. His father had this marriage nullified and in 1819 married again, to Esther Serle, an English heiress, and had his three children rebaptised to give them
736-558: The University College London from 2009 to 2017. The building at 220 Victoria Square/Tarndanyangga was built in 1881 as public service offices, and initially known as the New Government Offices. It created some controversy in 1880 when it was reported that the Government of South Australia was going to import freestone for construction from Sydney, rather than use stone from local quarries. For
782-538: The ratification of a new constitution by the British parliament via the Constitution Act 1856 , Torrens became Treasurer of South Australia in the ministry of Finniss from 24 October 1856 to 21 August 1857, during which time he published drafts of his land reform bill. He also volunteered in the colonial artillery for 11 years, retiring as Lieutenant-Colonel in 1865. Torrens initially opposed
828-553: The 1970s. It was incorporated into the Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975 and was used to describe a collection of buildings and sites that were worthy of preservation for a variety of reasons. It covered natural environments as well as European history and Aboriginal culture . Anyone could suggest that a certain site should be listed on the Register of the National Estate. A nomination form
874-460: The Act sometimes referred to as the "Torrens Title Act 1858". Torrens visited Victoria in 1860 and assisted in bringing in the new system in that colony. He also helped the other colonies to introduce their own variations of the system: Queensland adopted the 1859 version, while New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria based their legislation on the 1861 reforms. New Zealand, Malaysia and some states in
920-600: The Australian campus of Carnegie Mellon University , running programs of the Heinz College . The British Cranfield University ran a campus in the building from 2007 to 2010, and University College London 's School of Energy and Resources was based there from 2009 until December 2017. The new Torrens University , the first new university in Australia for 20 years, opened in the Torrens Building in 2013 and started teaching in 2014. However, on 3 August 2015 it opened
966-726: The National Estate The Register of the National Estate was a heritage register that listed natural and cultural heritage places in Australia that was closed in 2007. Phasing out began in 2003, when the Australian National Heritage List and the Commonwealth Heritage List were created and by 2007 the Register had been replaced by these and various state and territory heritage registers. Places listed on
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#17327726535361012-692: The Register remain in a non-statutory archive and are still able to be viewed via the National Heritage Database . The register was initially compiled between 1976 and 2003 by the Australian Heritage Commission , after which the register was maintained by the Australian Heritage Council . 13,000 places were listed. The expression "national estate" was first used by the British architect Clough Williams-Ellis , and reached Australia in
1058-547: The Register required that a Commonwealth Minister or authority should not take any course of action that would adversely affect the listed subjects unless there was no alternative; in the latter case, the Minister was obliged to take steps to minimise any effect on the listed subject. The listing did not impose any legal obligations on private owners, companies, State governments or local governments. The Australian Heritage Council had to be consulted if any government wanted to take
1104-470: The Register was replaced by the Australian National Heritage List for places of outstanding heritage value for Australia and the Commonwealth Heritage List for heritage places that are owned or controlled by the Commonwealth of Australia, together with a collection of state and territory heritage registers that most were in existence for many years. The RNE is maintained on a non-statutory basis as
1150-579: The Registration of Titles to Land Act". The Queensland, New South Wales, Victorian and Tasmanian Parliaments all gave him votes of thanks, but when in 1880 the attorney-general Sir William Bundey moved in the South Australian House of Assembly to grant Torrens a pension of £500, it was bitterly shouted down and the proposal had to be withdrawn, such was the animosity Torrens had aroused in some quarters. His last place of residence
1196-719: The South Australian State Archives. There is a bust of him by the sculptor John Dowie , commissioned by the Land Brokers Society Incorporated "to commemorate the introduction of the world's first Torrens System of land titles in South Australia in 1858 and the creation of Land Brokers in 1860". Torrens authored these publications: And (dates not found): There are other publications, documents and letters with Torrens as author, listed in WorldCat . Register of
1242-405: The Torrens Building was closed for restoration. Since its reopening in 1997, it has become host to a number of Australian campuses of prestigious foreign universities. From 1991 or 1993, after over 110 years of continuous governmental occupation, the building was closed and major refurbishment undertaken. After its reopening by then Premier of South Australia , John Olsen , on 19 September 1997,
1288-530: The US followed; the system has since been widely adopted throughout the world. In 1862, Torrens published A handy book on the Real Property Act of South Australia:... , which is now available in full online. In South Australia, the Act was substantially revised in 1886, and Real Property Act 1886 (with various amendments) remains the basis of property law in South Australia. Some have challenged
1334-553: The building was used to accommodate a number of community groups and organisations including Amnesty International (S.A. & N.T. Branch), the Amputee Association of South Australia, and the United Nations Association of Australia (S.A. Division) and Volunteering SA, for some years. From 2005, with the intention of creating the "University City Adelaide precinct", Torrens Building has housed
1380-473: The cost of land sales and transfers. The legislation was refined in the following few years, which included an amendment allowing the licensing of registered land brokers instead of lawyers in land transactions, thus further reducing the cost. So successful was the outcome that it was adopted in the rest of Australia and in many countries throughout the world. The system became known as the Torrens title, and
1426-600: The implementation of land title legislation, with a particular focus on Ireland. He became the member of the House of Commons as a Liberal for Cambridge from 1868 to 1874, but did not have the opportunity to effect the land reform which was so dear to him. He was created Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) on 1 August 1872 and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) on 24 May 1884, for his services "in connection with
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1472-401: The method of recording and registering land under freehold title . Instead, government certificates were issued and a central register established. The system transferred property by registration of title, instead of by deeds . This system provided an indisputable record, thus almost eliminating litigation involving land disputes, got rid of difficulties created by lost certificates, and reduced
1518-645: The misfortunes of a relation and friend, and that he had been working on the problem for many years. He also said that the idea was based on principles used in transferring shipping property, of which he would have gained experience in his early career as a customs official, both in London and Adelaide (1836–1852). His experience as Registrar-General (1852–1858), as a landowner himself, and the influence of politicians such as Forster and W. H. Burford and lawyers such as Richard Bullock Andrews , Henry Gawler and W. C. Belt, would have influenced him close to home. Torrens
1564-523: The notion that responsibility for the introduction of the successful system lies with Torrens, and it has been asserted that Anthony Forster , then editor of the South Australian Register , made the original suggestion. In the preface to his book, The South Australian System of Conveyancing by Registration of Title , published at Adelaide in 1859, Torrens stated that his interest in the question had been aroused 22 years before through
1610-416: The principal characteristics of: (i) a class of Australia's natural or cultural places; or (ii) a class of Australia's natural or cultural environments Its importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics valued by a community or cultural group Its importance in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period Its strong or special associations with
1656-566: The support of Carl Muecke and the influential German community, he fought it through Parliament despite vigorous opposition from the legal profession. There seems to be little doubt in the sources that the successful application of the new system in South Australia was largely the result of Torrens' preparation and attention to detail. In 1863, Torrens retired and, after a great series of celebration banquets, left Australia and settled back in England. There he gave lectures on and lobbied for
1702-482: The system of voting by secret ballot , which was first adopted by South Australia in 1856–1857; however, after seeing the results, he stated the system was, "the best and most rapid and facile mode of carrying on elections". Torrens was elected as one of the members of the House of Assembly for the City of Adelaide in the new parliament in 1857, and on 1 September 1857 became Premier, although his government lasted only
1748-532: Was Collector of Customs at Adelaide , probably arranged by his father. He continued working as a customs official until 1852, obtaining a good working knowledge of the buying and selling of ships and shares in ships. He gained a reputation for unorthodoxy in his official dealings; he squabbled with shipowners and was censured for various irregularities and for not supporting some of Governor George Grey 's policies, but these did not prevent him from assuming other official roles, nor did his unorthodoxy stop when he
1794-461: Was a house he built known as Hannaford House, in Ashburton, Devon , where he served as a county magistrate and as lieutenant-colonel of a volunteer artillery unit. He died of pneumonia at Falmouth on 31 August 1884, aged 70, and was buried at Leusdon Churchyard. His wife, who died in 1899, was interred with him. There is no record of children of his marriage. Torrens' major legacy
1840-666: Was added to the Register of the National Estate (now a non-statutory archive, viewable on the National Heritage Database ), described as "the best remaining example in Adelaide of Italian Renaissance or Neo Classical style with a Palladian composition". On 28 May 1981, it was listed on the South Australian Heritage Register . A plaque on the Western wall exterior commemorates the centenary of
1886-541: Was also familiar with a report presented to the British House of Commons on 15 May 1857, supplied by the Clare lawyer Ulrich Hübbe LLD, who had detailed knowledge of the real property laws of the Hanseatic League cities and whose doctorate in laws from Hamburg University dealt with this topic. His input added to the practical application of the method in law, and Torrens worked on this aspect further. With
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1932-521: Was an Irish-born parliamentarian, writer, and land reformer. After a move to London in 1836, he became prominent in the early years of the Colony of South Australia , emigrating after being appointed to a civil service position there in 1840. He was Colonial Treasurer and Registrar-General from 1852 to 1857 and then the third Premier of South Australia for a single month in September 1857. Torrens
1978-558: Was heritage-listed in 1978 (Register of the National Estate) and 1981 (SA Heritage Register), and underwent a major renovation from 1993 until its reopening on 19 September 1997. It has housed the Australian campus of the Carnegie Mellon University from 2006 to 2022 and Torrens University opened its first campus there in 2014. Cranfield University (UK) had a campus in the building from 2007 to 2010 and
2024-538: Was in higher office. In the enlarged Legislative Council elected in July 1851, Torrens was one of the four official nominees nominated by the Governor, with the added title of Executive Councillor in 1855–57. He became Colonial Treasurer (a post he held until 1862 ) and Registrar-General of Deeds, one of the best paid offices in Australia, in 1852. When South Australia became self-governing colony in 1856 with
2070-422: Was on the whole well-received, apart from some lawyers who would have noted that the ease and clarity of the process would mean less in earnings for them in the future. Torrens resigned his seat in parliament and was appointed Registrar-General in order to assist with the Act's application, and in this role he did much to bring about a successful practical transition to the new system. The Act radically altered
2116-574: Was provided and was then submitted to an expert group for evaluation. If a place was accepted for listing, the nomination was declared in the Commonwealth Gazette and newspapers. The Heritage Council eventually made a decision after the public has had time to comment and raise possible objections. The listing, if it took place, was based on an assessment of the values of the nominated place, whether "aesthetic, historic, scientific, or social significance, or other special value". A listing on
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