A short tour through some of the Victorian legislation and statutory instruments made in response to the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918-20.

Under s 175 of the Health Act 1915, the Board of Public Health could declare certain types of infectious disease: http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/hist_act/ha191569. The Board made that declaration on 6 November 1918: http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/other/vic_gazette/1918/155/1918_3280.pdf

Under s 173, the Board (or the Minister) was authorised to make "such regulations as it thinks fit for the prevention" of infectious disease. The Board made regulations on 20 November 1918, mandating reporting, isolation and contact tracing: http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/other/vic_gazette/1918/167.pdf

On 16 December 1918, the Parliament passed Acts authorising councils to borrow money to meet expenditure incurred in connection with "the recent epidemic of influenza": http://classic.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/legis/vic/hist_act/lgea1919411/lgea1919411.html, and authorising the Treasurer to spend £23,442 of the surplus: http://classic.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/legis/vic/hist_act/sra1919223/sra1919223.html

On 6 January 1919, a new Health Act was passed, abolishing the Board of Public Health and establishing a Commission of Public Health run by a Chief Health Officer: http://classic.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/legis/vic/hist_act/ha191969/ha191969.html However, the Act did not commence until 24 March 1920: http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/other/vic_gazette/1920/66.pdf

On 28 January 1919, the Minister made regulations closing places of entertainment indefinitely: http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/other/vic_gazette/1919/16.pdf

On 30 January 1919, the Minister made regulations forbidding assembly of groups of more than 20 people, with exceptions for divine worship (if wearing a mask), employment, or the consumption of food: http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/other/vic_gazette/1919/18.pdf

On 7 February 1919, the Minister lowered the number of people to 10, and required 25 feet per person. The Minister also added racing and billiards to the banned entertainment, and limited out-door games or exercise: http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/other/vic_gazette/1919/27.pdf

On 12 February 1919, the Minister closed bars, but granted an exception for deliveries: http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/other/vic_gazette/1919/29.pdf.

Consolidated regulations including the regulations made to date were made on 19 February 1919: http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/other/vic_gazette/1919/35.pdf These made clear that all restrictions were only effective within 15 miles of a registered infection.

On 3 March 1919, restrictions on the number of persons playing billiards was relaxed, and the ban on bars was suspended if bars limited the number of patrons to 1 per 25 square feet: http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/other/vic_gazette/1919/42/1919_711.pdf

An exception allowing picture theatres to open for short periods, subject to restrictions about ventilation and frequency of shows, was added on 2 April 1919: http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/other/vic_gazette/1919/59/1919_945.pdf

The Influenza Regulations previously made by the Board of Public Health were amended by the Acting Minister on 8 May 1919, adding additional restrictions (including a requirement to stay in isolation until the Officer of Health consented): http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/other/vic_gazette/1919/74.pdf

The Commission of Public Health was not appointed until 16 March 1920, and it held its first meeting on 24 March 1920, when the Health Act 1919 was proclaimed to commence: http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/other/vic_gazette/1920/66.pdf

As best as I can tell, the Influenza Regulations remained in place until October 1920, when they were replaced by the Notifiable Infectious Disease Regulations: http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/other/vic_gazette/1920/187.pdf.

What did I learn from this expedition, Tweeps? Who knows. But a Sunday afternoon obiding the injunction to "Stay At Home" well spent.