South Australian Marine Board Tunic Button 1860 - 1901

Gilt brass. Queen Victoria Crown.

20mm.

In 1860 the Harbour Department (1843 - 1860), Trinity House of Port Adelaide (1852 - 1860) and Port Adelaide Harbor Trust (1854 - 1860) were abolished and their functions passed on to a new Marine Board. The Marine Board was responsible for shipping safety, buoys, lighthouses and explosives amongst other functions. In 1881 legislation was passed providing the board with three extra wardens (up from four) and its own engineer. Prior to this point the Marine Board (1852 - 1860) and its predecessors had been reliant on the Government Architect and Engineer and the Commissioner of Public Works. During the life of the Marine Board several functions were transferred to the Commonwealth Government. These included the Mercantile Marine Office in 1922 and Lighthouses in 1915. In 1913 the South Australian Harbours Board was established and operated alongside the Marine Board (1860 - 1925) until it eventually took over all of the Marine Boards (1860 - 1925) responsibilities in 1925.

Code: 2083