John, While I haven't down much research on early local government, most entities in Tasmania seem to have developed from Road Trusts. The term "Town Board" doesn't seem to have been used until the 1880s and disappeared in the 1920s. The two excerpts from the Mercury give an indication of the legislative basis, the constitution of the trusts, and the power of public persuasion - From The Mercury, Tuesday 25 August 1863, page 3 - "SUMMERLEAS ROAD DISTRICT. A meeting of rate-payers of the above-named district, and others interested, was held last evening at the Northumberland Inn, upper Macquarie-street, to take into consideration the propriety of urging upon the govern- ment the necessity of granting a sum of money for the completion of the Huon road, ..." From The Mercury, Tuesday 19 June 1866, page 1 - "QUEENBOROUGH ROAD TRUST. IN accordance with the 19th Section of "The Cross and Bye Hoads Act, 1860," I hereby notify that, at a Meeting at the Landholders of the District, held at Mr. Vince's Porter Hill Hotel, on Wenesday, 6th June, 1866, tbe following Landholders were elected Trustées of the Road District of Queenborough, in con- formity with the provisions of the amended Cross and Bye Roads Act, 1865 - ...." One of my ancestors was a member of both trusts as he was a rate-payer in both districts. I haven't noted any reference to Road Trusts before 1860. The rates were levied on land-owners as today, but were only spent on road maintenance. The government seems to have provided capital funds for new construction. On Wed, 28 May 2014 12:24:50 +1000, "John Hammond" <jhammond@iprimus.com.au> wrote: > Hello Listers > I am hoping that somebody may be able to provide a reference to Town > Boards > in Tasmania. > I am interested when they were first created as a level of local > government, > their purpose, and the related legislation that sets them up and defines > the > way they worked. > Thanks in advance -- Regards Mike Hurburgh --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com