Lost property laws in Australia: state texts and privacy
This page on lost property laws in Australia quotes the Victorian and South Australian rules for property found on public transport, the Australian Capital Territory rules for goods found on Territory premises and at pools, and the federal privacy principle on destroying personal information, each from its official text. It is information, not legal advice.
Each state and territory writes its own rules. We only describe a law we have read in its official source. New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory are not covered yet; operators in some of them appear below with their own published rules.
Updated
Laws that set a period: Australia
Information, not legal advice. Each row quotes the law as published on the date shown; read the whole section, which has conditions this table does not repeat.
| Law | Where | Period | Applies to | Afterwards | The text and its source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983, section 251A | Victoria, Australia | 60 days from the day the lost property was found | Lost property found in or on the public transport property of a passenger transport company | The company may sell or dispose of it, and may deduct the costs of the sale, freight and storage from the proceeds | Victorian Legislation (Chief Parliamentary Counsel)public transport property of a passenger transport company must deliver the lost property to that passenger transport company.(b) all other goods or lost property after the expiry of 60 days from the date the lost property was found or the goods were not claimed.the passenger transport company may deduct from the proceeds of the sale the expenses of the sale and any amounts for freight, storage and other charges.Authorised version 230 of the Act, in force from 16 March 2026, published as a PDF.Opened |
| Passenger Transport Regulations 2024, regulation 140 | South Australia, Australia | 2 months in the custody of the operator or an approved collection agent | Property found on a public passenger vehicle | The operator or agent may return it to the driver, sell it by public auction or otherwise as the Minister approves, or keep it with the Minister's approval | South Australian LegislationA passenger who finds property on a public passenger vehicle must deliver it to the driver.An operator to whom property is delivered under subregulation (3) must retain possession of the property for 2 days (unless the property is returned to its owner in the meantime), and may then, at the operator's discretion, deliver it to an approved collection agent.If an operator or approved collection agent still has custody of lost property after 2 months, they mayin any other case—as soon as is reasonably practicable (and in any event within 48 hours), deliver the property to the operator of the service, or to an approved collection agent.The authorised version of 1 October 2026, published as a PDF.Opened |
| Uncollected Goods Act 1996, sections 28 and 29 | Australian Capital Territory, Australia | 3 months from the day the goods were placed with a public employee | Goods found on premises, or in an aircraft, vessel, vehicle, container or receptacle, under the control of the Territory | The Territory may sell them, unless that would be impracticable or undesirable in the public interest; perishable goods may be disposed of at any time | ACT Legislation Register (ACT Parliamentary Counsel)the person who found the goods must place them in the possession— (a) of a public employee who appears to be in charge of the place where the goods were found; or (b) of a police officer.(b) in the case of any other goods—dispose of them by sale at any time after a period of 3 months commencing on the day on which they were placed in the possession of that employee.Republication 18, effective 26 November 2025, published as a PDF.Opened |
| Uncollected Goods Act 1996, sections 9 to 12 | Australian Capital Territory, Australia | 3 months after the pool operator took possession of the goods | Goods lost or abandoned at a pool facility | The goods are taken to be uncollected goods and may be disposed of under Part 3 of the Act | ACT Legislation Register (ACT Parliamentary Counsel)An operator of a pool facility or employee of the operator must, on taking possession of goods, other than perishable goods, under section 9, enter in a register, to be known as the lost property registerThis section applies if goods have not been given to a person entitled to possession of the goods within 3 months after the day the operator of the pool facility or an employee of the operator took possession of the goodsRepublication 18, effective 26 November 2025, published as a PDF.Opened |
Personal data in lost property records: the text
Australian Privacy Principle 11, as explained by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, APP 11.2
Applies to: APP entities under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)
An APP entity must take reasonable steps in the circumstances to destroy or de-identify the personal information it holds once the personal information is no longer needed for any purpose for which the personal information may be used or disclosed under the APPs.
This requirement does not apply where the personal information is contained in a Commonwealth record or where the entity is required by or under an Australian law or a court/tribunal order to retain the personal information (APP 11.2).
Source: Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, opened .
Operators' own published rules: Australia
| Operator | Where | As published | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canberra Airport | Australian Capital Territory, Australia | 4 weeks | Canberra Airport |
| Gold Coast Airport | Queensland, Australia | 30 days | Gold Coast Airport |
| Yarra Trams | Victoria, Australia | 60 days | Yarra Trams |
| Metro Trains Melbourne | Victoria, Australia | 60 days | Metro Trains Melbourne |
| Transport for NSW (Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink) | New South Wales, Australia | Disposed of after 28 days: 7 days at the station, then valuables 21 more days at Central | Transport for NSW |
| Transperth | Western Australia, Australia | 30 days | Transperth |
| UNSW Sydney | New South Wales, Australia | One month at the security office | UNSW Sydney |
| University of Queensland (St Lucia) | Queensland, Australia | At least 2 months | University of Queensland (St Lucia) |
| Kardinia Park (GMHBA Stadium) | Victoria, Australia | 60 days, including items left in the cloakroom | Kardinia Park Stadium Trust |
| Taronga Zoo Sydney | New South Wales, Australia | Up to 30 days | Taronga Conservation Society Australia |
| South.Point (Canberra) | Australian Capital Territory, Australia | 30 days | South.Point (Canberra) |
See every published holding period and how we collected them
Reviewed . Next review due .
Victoria: public transport may dispose of lost property after 60 days
Section 251A of the Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983 says a person who finds lost property in or on the public transport property of a passenger transport company delivers it to that company. The company may sell or dispose of goods likely to deteriorate straight away, and other lost property after 60 days from the date it was found. If it sells, it may deduct the costs of the sale, freight and storage from the proceeds.
South Australia: two months with the operator or a collection agent
Regulation 140 of the Passenger Transport Regulations 2024 says a passenger who finds property on a public passenger vehicle hands it to the driver, who delivers it to the operator or an approved collection agent within 48 hours. The operator keeps it for 2 days unless the owner collects it, and may then pass it to an approved collection agent.
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If the operator or agent still holds the property after 2 months, it may return it to the driver, sell it by public auction or as the Minister approves, or keep it with the Minister’s approval.
Australian Capital Territory: three months for Territory premises and pools
Under the Uncollected Goods Act 1996, a person who finds goods on premises, or in a vehicle or other place, under the Territory’s control places them with the public employee in charge of the place or with a police officer. The Territory may sell goods other than perishable ones three months after they were placed with that employee.
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At a pool facility, the operator takes possession of found goods and enters them in a lost property register. Goods not given back within three months become uncollected goods that may be disposed of under Part 3 of the Act.
Privacy: destroy or de-identify what you no longer need
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner explains that under APP 11.2 an APP entity takes reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify personal information once it is no longer needed for any permitted purpose, unless it is in a Commonwealth record or a law or a court or tribunal order requires it to be kept.
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Read with a lost property log in mind, that points to recording only what you need to return items and deleting each record once it is no longer needed. Whether your organisation is an APP entity under the Privacy Act 1988 is a question for your own adviser.
This page is information, not legal advice. It quotes only the sections named, as published on the date we opened them; laws change and carry conditions and exceptions this page does not repeat. Ask a lawyer about your own site.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Victorian public transport keep lost property?+
Section 251A of Victoria’s Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983 lets a passenger transport company sell or dispose of lost property 60 days after it was found, and goods likely to deteriorate straight away. Read the section itself before relying on this.
Is there one Australian law for lost property?+
We have not read a national law that sets a holding period. The texts quoted here are the rules of Victoria, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, plus the federal privacy principle on destroying personal information.
How long can an Australian business keep a lost property claimant’s details?+
APP 11.2 sets no number of days. It asks an APP entity to destroy or de-identify personal information once it is no longer needed for a permitted purpose, unless a law or order requires it to be kept. Set your own period and delete records after it.
Keep claimant details off the public list
vFound Lost & Found keeps ownership evidence and contact details in staff-only records, separate from what guests see on your site’s page.
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