Legislation
Australia's historic shipwrecks and their associated relics are protected
by the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act of 1976. This Act protects
all shipwrecks older than 75 years that rest in federal waters, extending
from the low tide mark to the end of the continental shelf. The Act also
covers all artifacts on land directly associated with an historic-shipwrecking
event in federal waters. More information on the Historic Shipwrecks
Act of 1976 can be found on the website of the Department of the Environment,
Water, Heritage and the Arts: http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/shipwrecks/index.html
The State of Western Australia has its own legislation, the Maritime
Archaeology Act of 1973, which protects maritime archaeological sites
on state land and in state waters, such as bays, harbours and rivers. Other
than shipwrecks, it includes single relics, such as an anchor, and land
sites associated with exploration, early settlements, whaling and pearling
camps and shipwreck survivor camps.
The links to the Acts are provided for your information only, and a hard
copy from the Government Printers should be obtained for use in legal matters:
1. The Western Australian - Maritime Archaeology Act 1973
2. The Australian Commonwealth - Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976