Robert Torrens
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Richard Torrens, GCMG
(31 May 1814 – 31 August 1884) was the third Premier of South Australia and a pioneer and author of simplified system of transferring land.
, Ireland
, in 1814. His father, Colonel Robert Torrens
, F.R.S., the distinguished economist, was one of the founders of South Australia
. Sir Robert Torrens was educated at Trinity College, Dublin
, where he graduated M.A. He went to Australia in 1839 and in the same year married Barbara, widow of Augustus George Anson. In February 1841 he was collector of customs at Adelaide
, and it is probable that he had received this position directly as he arrived. In the enlarged legislative council elected in July 1851, Torrens was one of the four official nominees nominated by the governor. When "responsible government" commenced in October 1856, Torrens became treasurer in the ministry of Finniss
. He was elected as one of the members of the House of Assembly for the city of Adelaide in the new parliament, and on 1 September 1857 became premier, but his government lasted less than a month.
. The system transferred property by registration of title, instead of by deeds, and it has since been widely adopted throughout the world. Attempts have been made to minimise the credit due to Torrens for his great achievement, and it has been stated that Anthony Forster, then editor of the Adelaide 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 the misfortunes of a relation and friend, and that he had been working on the problem for many years. Whoever first suggested the present method, which may have owed something to a report presented to the British House of Commons
on 15 May 1857, it was Torrens and a German lawyer Dr. Ulrich Hubbe (with a knowledge of the real property laws of the Hanse Towns), who put it into practical shape, and fought it through parliament in spite of violent opposition from the legal profession. He later visited Victoria
and assisted in bringing in the new system in that colony.
for Cambridge
from 1868 to 1874. He was created K.C.M.G. in 1872 and G.C.M.G. in 1884. He died on 31 August 1884. In addition to the volume already mentioned, he published Speeches by R. R. Torrens (1858), A Handy Book on the Real Property Act of South Australia (1862), Transportation Considered as a Punishment and as a Mode of Founding Colonies (1863), and An Essay on the Transfer of Land by Registration (1882).
which runs through Adelaide
, Torrens Bridge railway station, Torrens Linear Park
, Torrens Parade Ground
and Mount Torrens, South Australia
, are believed to have been named after his father
.
Places named after Sir Robert include the Canberra
suburb of Torrens, Australian Capital Territory
gazetted in 1966, the Electoral district of Torrens
, Lake Torrens National Park
, the Adelaide
suburbs of Torrensville
and Torrens Park
(and Torrens Park railway station) and Torrens Island
.
Attribution
|-
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(31 May 1814 – 31 August 1884) was the third Premier of South Australia and a pioneer and author of simplified system of transferring land.
Early life
Torrens was born at CorkCork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, in 1814. His father, Colonel Robert Torrens
Robert Torrens (economist)
Colonel Robert Torrens was a Royal Marines officer, political economist, MP, owner of the influential Globe newspaper and prolific writer.Born in Ireland, son of Protestant Robert Torrens of Hervey Hill....
, F.R.S., the distinguished economist, was one of the founders of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. Sir Robert Torrens was educated at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, where he graduated M.A. He went to Australia in 1839 and in the same year married Barbara, widow of Augustus George Anson. In February 1841 he was collector of customs at Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, and it is probable that he had received this position directly as he arrived. In the enlarged legislative council elected in July 1851, Torrens was one of the four official nominees nominated by the governor. When "responsible government" commenced in October 1856, Torrens became treasurer in the ministry of Finniss
Boyle Finniss
Boyle Travers Finniss was the first Premier of the Colony of South Australia, serving from 24 October 1856 to 20 August 1857.-Early life:...
. He was elected as one of the members of the House of Assembly for the city of Adelaide in the new parliament, and on 1 September 1857 became premier, but his government lasted less than a month.
Real Property Act 1858
In December 1857 he championed the Real Property Act of 1858 (for the transfer of real property) through the assembly, and the system became known as the Torrens titleTorrens title
Torrens title is a system of land title where a register of land holdings maintained by the state guarantees an indefeasible title to those included in the register...
. The system transferred property by registration of title, instead of by deeds, and it has since been widely adopted throughout the world. Attempts have been made to minimise the credit due to Torrens for his great achievement, and it has been stated that Anthony Forster, then editor of the Adelaide 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 the misfortunes of a relation and friend, and that he had been working on the problem for many years. Whoever first suggested the present method, which may have owed something to a report presented to the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
on 15 May 1857, it was Torrens and a German lawyer Dr. Ulrich Hubbe (with a knowledge of the real property laws of the Hanse Towns), who put it into practical shape, and fought it through parliament in spite of violent opposition from the legal profession. He later visited Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and assisted in bringing in the new system in that colony.
England
In 1863 he left Australia and settled in England. He became the member of the House of Commons as a liberalLiberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
for Cambridge
Cambridge (UK Parliament constituency)
Cambridge is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post voting system....
from 1868 to 1874. He was created K.C.M.G. in 1872 and G.C.M.G. in 1884. He died on 31 August 1884. In addition to the volume already mentioned, he published Speeches by R. R. Torrens (1858), A Handy Book on the Real Property Act of South Australia (1862), Transportation Considered as a Punishment and as a Mode of Founding Colonies (1863), and An Essay on the Transfer of Land by Registration (1882).
Family
The River TorrensRiver Torrens
The River Torrens is the most significant river of the Adelaide Plains and was one of the reasons for the siting of the city of Adelaide, capital of South Australia. It flows from its source in the Adelaide Hills near Mount Pleasant, across the Adelaide Plains, past the city centre and empties...
which runs through Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, Torrens Bridge railway station, Torrens Linear Park
Torrens Linear Park
The Torrens Linear Park was completed in 1997 as the first of its kind developed in Australia where it is the largest hills-to-coast park. It began as a flood mitigation scheme along the River Torrens running from the Adelaide Hills, through the city of Adelaide, to the sea...
, Torrens Parade Ground
Torrens Parade Ground
Torrens Parade Ground is situated by the River Torrens in Adelaide, South Australia.It is the location of South Australia's Vietnam War Memorial.-External links:*...
and Mount Torrens, South Australia
Mount Torrens, South Australia
Mount Torrens is a town in the eastern Adelaide Hills region of South Australia, 46 kilometres east-north-east of the state capital, Adelaide and 8 km east of Lobethal along the Onkaparinga River. It is located in the Adelaide Hills Council local government area...
, are believed to have been named after his father
Robert Torrens (economist)
Colonel Robert Torrens was a Royal Marines officer, political economist, MP, owner of the influential Globe newspaper and prolific writer.Born in Ireland, son of Protestant Robert Torrens of Hervey Hill....
.
Places named after Sir Robert include the Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
suburb of Torrens, Australian Capital Territory
Torrens, Australian Capital Territory
Torrens is a suburb in the Woden Valley district of Canberra, Australia. It is located along the district's southern edge. The suburb is named after Sir Robert Torrens, a former Premier of South Australia. The suburb was gazetted on 12 May 1966. Streets in Torrens are named after South Australian...
gazetted in 1966, the Electoral district of Torrens
Electoral district of Torrens
Torrens is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. Located along the River Torrens, and named after Robert Richard Torrens, a 19th century Premier of South Australia, and also the founder of the "Torrens title" land registration system. Torrens is...
, Lake Torrens National Park
Lake Torrens National Park
Lake Torrens National Park is a national park in South Australia, 345 km north of Adelaide.-Geology:Lake Torrens is a 5,700 square kilometre endorheic saline rift lake in South Australia,and is located near the bottom of Australia. It forms part of the same rift valley that includes Spencer...
, the Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
suburbs of Torrensville
Torrensville, South Australia
Torrensville is a middle-class suburb, two kilometres west of the centre of Adelaide, South Australia. It was named after Irish-born colonial premier Robert Torrens....
and Torrens Park
Torrens Park, South Australia
Torrens Park is a mainly residential inner-southern suburb of Adelaide, incorporating some of the foothills and adjacent to the original "Mitcham Village"....
(and Torrens Park railway station) and Torrens Island
Torrens Island
Torrens Island is located in the Port River Estuary between the Lefevre Peninsula and Barker Inlet, about 15 km northwest of the Adelaide city centre in South Australia...
.
Sources
- Douglas J. Whalan, Torrens, Sir Robert Richard (1814 - 1884), Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 6, Melbourne University Press, 1976, pp 292–293.
Attribution
External links
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