The Torrens system - definitely not German

Abstract

This article gives an overview of the reasons why the Torrens system cannot be considered a German import, having regard not so much to the detail of times and dates (which I have examined in detail elsewhere) but to aspects of early South Australian society which tend to disprove a crucial element in the case for considering it a German import: namely, that early South Australians would not have accepted the Torrens system had they known the ‘truth’ that it was of German origin. This accusation is a risible under-estimation of the broadmindedness of early South Australians, and the simple reason they were not told that it was of German origin is that it was not. A response is also provided to the accusation that Torrens was just a self-serving hypocrite when he claimed to be undertaking conveyancing reform in the interests of the public at large.