Seat of Government Act 1908 Act No. 24 of 1908 as amended This compilation was prepared on 8 November 2000 taking into account amendments up to Act No. 216 of 1973 The text of any of those amendments not in force on that date is appended in the Notes section Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting, Attorney‑General's Department, Canberra Contents 1 Short title [see Note 1]........................... 3 Determination of Seat of Government.................. 4 Area of Federal Territory.......................... 5 Power of entry for purpose of survey................... Notes An Act to Determine the Seat of Government of the Commonwealth 1 Short title [see Note 1] This Act may be cited as the Seat of Government Act 1908. 3 Determination of Seat of Government It is hereby determined that the Seat of Government of the Commonwealth shall be in the district of Yass‑Canberra in the State of New South Wales. 4 Area of Federal Territory The territory to be granted to or acquired by the Commonwealth for the Seat of Government shall contain an area not less than nine hundred square miles, and have access to the sea. 5 Power of entry for purpose of survey (1) Any person thereto authorized in writing by the Minister may, for the purposes of any survey of land with a view to ascertaining the territory proper to be granted to or acquired by the Commonwealth for the Seat of Government, enter upon and remain on any lands whether Crown lands of the State of New South Wales or not, and do thereon all things for the purposes of the survey, and shall do no more damage than is necessary. (2) The Commonwealth shall, out of moneys appropriated for the purpose, make compensation for any damage done to the property of any person in the exercise of powers conferred by this section. Notes to the Seat of Government Act 1908 Note 1 The Seat of Government Act 1908 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 24, 1908 amended as indicated in the Tables below. Table of Acts Act Number Date Date of commencement Application, saving or transitional provisions and year of Assent Seat of Government Act 1908 24, 1908 14 Dec 1908 14 Dec 1908 Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay (Lands Acquisition) Act 1955 70, 1955 4 Nov 1955 16 Feb 1956 (see Gazette 1956, p. 472) — Statute Law Revision Act 1973 216, 1973 19 Dec 1973 31 Dec 1973 Ss. 9(1) and 10 Table of Amendments ad. = added or inserted am. = amended rep. = repealed rs. = repealed and substituted Provision affected How affected S. 2................................ rep. No. 216, 1973 S. 6................................ rep. No. 70, 1955