The Melbourne Anglican Trust Corporation (the MATC) is the corporate body of Trustees under the Anglican Trusts Corporations Act 1884 (Vic) to hold property to give effect to any express trusts and otherwise for the benefit of the Church within the diocese.

It is governed by the above Victorian legislation and the Melbourne Anglican Trust Corporation Act 2018, an Act of the Synod of the Diocese.

The MATC is registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC).  The Trustees are subject to the requirements of the ACNC Act and Regulations.

Composition, Term and Commitment 

The Trustees are comprised of:

  • The Archbishop
  • The Chancellor
  • six eligible persons elected by the Synod.

Trustees elected to office hold office for a term of six years from the date of their election.

Meetings of the Trustees are convened by the Archbishop. There must be at least three meetings each year.

Functions and powers – General Duties

Subject to the provisions of the 1884 Act Anglican Trusts Corporations Act 1884 (Vic), and other relevant Acts, Rules and Regulations of Synod, the Trustees in respect of all property for time to time vested in them must—

  • as trustees of any property held subject to express trusts or special trusts, deal with all such property so as to give effect to the trusts to which they shall be specially subject; and
  • deal with all property so far as the same is not subject to any express trusts or special trusts in such manner as the Archbishop in Council may from time to time direct concerning the same: MATC Act, s8.

Anglican Development Fund

The MATC is also trustee of the Anglican Development Fund which was established in 1967 to provide financial assistance to parishes and certain institutions or organisations within the diocese. It was then called the Diocesan Rolling Fund. 

The Common Funds

The MATC also holds the common funds maintained by the diocese pursuant to the provisions of s12A of the Anglican Trusts Corporations Act 1884 (Vic).  These statutory provisions bind the MATC and the Trustees in their management and other disposition of the funds.