1860                Act to provide for the establishment of grammar schools.

1861                Religious, Educational and Charitable Incorporation Act allowed incorporated bodies to own land and buildings and to take out loans to erect, maintain and repair buildings. Schools of arts could be established under this Act.

1874                Royal Commission on Education

1875                Act to Amend the Law Relating to Education. Department of Public Instruction created to establish primary schools and employ itinerant teachers.

1875                Crown Lands Alienation Act provided for land to be allocated for schools of arts, libraries, mechanics’ institutes and institutes for the purpose of non-scholastic instruction.

1878                Legislation providing for the duties of municipalities. This included the establishment of libraries.

1882                Brisbane Technical College opened by the North Brisbane School of Arts.

1892                Government withdrew fixed grants for technical colleges and introduced endowment of £1 for £1 dependant on fees and donations.

1894                Act to Provide for the Establishment of Schools of Mines in Queensland.

1902                Board of Technical Education established

1905                Technical Education Branch (within the Department of Primary Instruction) replaced the Board.

1908                Technical Instruction Act allowed government greater supervision of schools of arts, and established the Central Technical College.

1909                The Department published a syllabus of courses of instruction in technical colleges.

1910/12           First six high schools established in regional towns where there was no grammar school.

1918                Technical Instruction Amendment Act allowed the Department to acquire the property and assets of technical colleges.

1927                School of Arts Association formed. It assisted with the purchase and distribution of books.

1943                Libraries Act No. 39 provided for a state librarian, and the establishment of the Queensland Library Board. Municipalities were empowered to take over schools of arts after following a prescribed process.

1960                Schools of Arts (Winding up and Transfer) Act. This set out the procedures for the winding up of three schools of Arts:- Oakey, Clifton, Lowood. It then explained the role of the Library Board which had the right to sell school of arts buildings and hold the proceeds for the local municipality until it could provide an acceptable plan for the establishment of its library.

1981                Schools of Arts (Winding up and Transfer) Act Amendment Act. This Act legalised the winding up and transfer of schools of arts to municipalities who had not obtained an Order in Council under the provisions of the 1960 Act, and/or were using the property or proceeds of its sale for ‘any other purpose, being a function of local government’.