Under Victorian law the ownership is restricted.
Scholar Victoria is a member of Historical Fencing Australia (HFA) and as such our participants are exempted from certain prohibitions on sword ownership.
This means participants can own swords for training purposes, travel with them to events, and use them in class and at training events and tournaments. As a fencer at Scholar Victoria there are a number of conditions you must adhere to in order to retain your exemption status:
1) You must not fit the criteria of a Prohibited Person under Victorian Law with respect to sword ownership.
2) You must provide Scholar Victoria with your legal name, and the address at which you will be storing your swords.
3) Swords and other weapons must be stored and used in accordance with the relevant legislation set out in the Control of Weapons Act and related laws.
4) If at any time you change your address or become a Prohibited Person you must notify Scholar Victoria immediately.
Specific Legislative Information
Prior to 2020 Historical Fencing was categorised as a martial art and so was covered under:
Victorian Sword Ownership – Martial Arts Exemption
As of 2020 the Department of Justice and Police Victoria have classified Historical fencing under the general exemption for fencing:
Both definitions use the concept of a prohibited person:
Prohibited Person – Definition
This page does not constitute official legal advice. For any modifications or updates to this legislation we advise searching here, or seeking legal advice.