Brolga Bill's Bike Trail (BBBT)
'Twas Brolga Bill, from Rutherglen, that caught the cycling craze,
He turned away the good old wings that served him many days...

This geoart shows Brolga Bill's bike.
It is designed so you can be like Brolga Bill, and complete the trail by bike.
(and hopefully not come to the sticky end like his mate Mulga Bill)
All the puzzles are about bike riding, and can be solved with an easy online search.
The puzzle
The development of rail trails in South Eastern Australia can be traced to the gold rushes of the second half of the 19th century. Dozens of rail lines sprang up, aided by the overly enthusiastic "Octopus Act", but soon became unprofitable as the gold ran out, leading to a decreased demand for timber in turn. Decades later, these easements found a new use as tourist drawcards, once converted to rail trails. Progress is frequently hampered by trestle bridges in unsafe condition, easements that have been sold off to farmers, and lack of funds.
Question: What was the "Octopus Act"? (three words, one year, no spaces)

You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.