Our story
For over 100 years, NSW Trustee and Guardian has been a support to so many across New South Wales.
Our story began in 1847, when Samuel Frederick Milford became the first Curator of Intestate Estates when the position was established in the colony of New South Wales.
1847
Samuel Frederick Milford became the first Curator of Intestate Estates when the position was established in the colony of New South Wales in 1847. The Curator was responsible for administering the estates of people who died without any living relatives in the colony, and administering estates where probate had not been applied for within six months of death.
1879
In 1879, Arthur Todd Holroyd became the first Master in Lunacy under the Lunacy Act 1878. The Act stated that the Master shall ‘take care of, collect and administer...the property and estates of all insane patients’, who were, at that time, defined as a person of unsound mind and incapable of managing themselves or their affairs.
1913
In 1913, the Curator of Intestate Estates was replaced by the Public Trustee of NSW under the Public Trustee Act 1913. Thomas William Garrett was appointed the first Public Trustee of NSW in 1914, having previously served as Registrar of Probates and Curator of Intestate Estates.
1915
In 1915, in response to World War I, the Public Trustee offered a free Will-making service to soldiers.
1958
In 1958, the Lunacy Act was repealed by the Mental Health Act 1958, and in 1972, the Master in Lunacy’s Office became the Protective Office. The role of Protective Commissioner was established in 1972 when the Master in Lunacy’s Office became the Protective Office.
1987
The position of Public Guardian was created under the Disability and Guardianship Act 1987. The act stated that the Protective Commissioner would also be the Public Guardian, and so in 1989, then Protective Commissioner and Registrar of the Protective Division Brian Edward Porter became the first Public Guardian.
2009
In 2009, legislation was passed by NSW Parliament to merge Public Trustee NSW with the Office of the Protective Commissioner and Public Guardian forming the current NSW Trustee and Guardian.