Selection acts were a series of acts in Australia that sought to lessen the monopoly of the squatters, who held large areas of land. The acts also sought to allow new settlers, who wanted small farms, to obtain some land. In New South Wales, the Robertson Act of 1861—the Crown Lands Alienation Act—provided for free selection before survey. It permitted a person to buy 40 to 320 acres (16 to 128 hectares) at 1 British pound an acre at a deposit of 25 percent. The remainder was to be paid over three years. The selector was expected to reside on the land and make improvements. Similar acts in Victoria included the Nicholson Act (1860), the Duffy Act (1862), and the Grant Act (1865). The main features of these acts were selection after survey, compulsory residence, and necessary improvements. In Queensland, the Macalister Act (1868) was designed to break the monopoly of the squatters. By surrendering one half of their land, squatters could obtain a lease for the remainder for another 10 years.
In South Australia, the Strangways Act (1867) and the Waste Lands Act (1872) opened the way for free selection by credit purchasers. In Western Australia, an Act of 1872 restricted selection to 40 acres (16 hectares).
Some of the big squatters employed dummies—people who agreed to select land and then make it over to squatters. Other squatters used the names of children of minor age to gain selection. Some took out mineral leases over nonmineral country for nominal fees. The abuses of the acts were probably greatest in New South Wales. By 1883, more than half the selections in that state belonged to capitalists or squatters. In 1884, a new act greatly reduced these abuses of the system.
