Definition of "Town"

[Tomche]

Hey Guys, first time poster here and was interested in section 130 of the Firearms act.
http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/view ... /s130.html
Offence to carry or use a firearm in certain places

(1) A person must not carry a loaded firearm or use a firearm in a town or populous place or on any thoroughfare or place open to or used by the public for passage with vehicles.


In Victoria the Police have kindly defined the word "Town" as.
http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.as ... t_ID=34424

a densely populated area within a parish; or
any area declared a city; or
any suburb within a city; or
any land zoned by a Municipal or Shire Council as anything other than land zoned Rural, Environmental Rural, Rural Living, Public Conservation and Resource or Farm Land;
Other zone listings which fall within the definition of town are, Residential, Low Density Residential, Mixed Use, Township, Industrial, Business, Public Land, Public Use, Public Park And Recreation, Special Purpose, Comprehensive Development, Urban, Urban Floodway, Capital City or Docklands.

However i can not find reference to the word "Town" in an actual ACT of Law anywhere so was wondering if anybody knows where they get their definition from?

[bladeracer]

Hey Guys, first time poster here and was interested in section 130 of the Firearms act.
http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/view ... /s130.html
Offence to carry or use a firearm in certain places

(1) A person must not carry a loaded firearm or use a firearm in a town or populous place or on any thoroughfare or place open to or used by the public for passage with vehicles.


In Victoria the Police have kindly defined the word "Town" as.
http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.as ... t_ID=34424

a densely populated area within a parish; or
any area declared a city; or
any suburb within a city; or
any land zoned by a Municipal or Shire Council as anything other than land zoned Rural, Environmental Rural, Rural Living, Public Conservation and Resource or Farm Land;
Other zone listings which fall within the definition of town are, Residential, Low Density Residential, Mixed Use, Township, Industrial, Business, Public Land, Public Use, Public Park And Recreation, Special Purpose, Comprehensive Development, Urban, Urban Floodway, Capital City or Docklands.

However i can not find reference to the word "Town" in an actual ACT of Law anywhere so was wondering if anybody knows where they get their definition from?

My understanding of law is that if they haven't defined it then it's defined by the dictionary.

[bladeracer]

(1) A person must not carry a loaded firearm or use a firearm in a town or populous place or on any thoroughfare or place open to or used by the public for passage with vehicles.

Be aware that a "thoroughfare" or road can include quite a wide area on both sides of the physical road.

[Oldbloke]

"My understanding of law is that if they haven't defined it then it's defined by the dictionary."

I think you're pretty right there

[Tomche]

Cheers guys.

[pomemax]

Years ago was defined as street light in built up area

[Matt_22]

As others have mentioned, the Oxford English dictionary is used for reference if its not defined in the act and or not in the Interpretations Act.

You may find reference to the meaning of town via another act, maybe an act used for town planning or similar. You would hope that the meaning of town would be very similar state to state.