The University Loan Act (1921) empowered the British Columbia Provincial Government to survey and sell 3,000 acres of land in the Point Grey area as revenue for the University of British Columbia. This represented the beginning of the University Endowment Lands, which became an unorganized territory directly under the administration of the provincial government. In light of the unique administrative system, the residents of the district (locally known as University Hill) exerted little control over its governance. Consequently, the ratepayers formed the University Hill Ratepayers' Association to represent the area. While in the early days, the organization operated informally, it was later incorporated under the B.C. Societies Act.