The Lunacy Act (No 2 of 10 and 11 Vic, 1847) was passed and commenced on 20 February 1847. Its full title was: 'Ordinance Enacted by the Governor of South Australia, with the Advice and Consent of the Legislative Council thereof. Further to provide for the Care and Maintenance of Persons of Unsound Mind'. This legislation provided for the regulation of Public Colonial Lunatic Asylums, and for the accommodation of 'insane persons', including 'pauper or destitute lunatics', in these institutions. It stated that the Maintenance Act 1843 extended to persons in Asylums, so that relatives of the 'insane person' were liable for their maintenance. It was repealed by the Lunatics Act 1864 on 9 December 1864.
1847 - 1864 Lunacy Act 1847
1864 - 1914 The Lunatics Act 1864
1913 - 1936 The Mental Defectives Act 1913
1936 - 1995 Mental Defectives Act 1935
1995 - 2010 Mental Health Act 1993
2010 - Mental Health Act 2009
Sources used to compile this entry:
Law Research Service, Melbourne Law School, Law Library, The University of Melbourne. 'Find and Connect Project - South Australia Legislation', 13 December 2013, held in the project files at the University of Melbourne eScholarship Research Centre.
Prepared by: Christine Moje
Created: 16 January 2015, Last modified: 16 January 2023