441:, previously mayor of Melbourne, put forward a motion that voting by secret ballot should be embodied in the electoral provisions, a proposal vehemently opposed by Haines and his ministry. Nicholson's motion was carried on 18 December 1855, prompting Haines and his ministry to resign. Nicholson was asked to form a government, for which he had no enthusiasm, and the Haines ministry resumed office on December 29. Haines then agreed that the question of a secret ballot "should be an open, and not a ministerial, question". The practical system of secret voting was devised by
478:
to seventeen, Haines and his colleagues once again resigned. O'Shanassy formed a new ministry that took office on March 10. The new administration continued the task of amending the electoral bill, including the determination of electoral boundaries. The proposed number of members was eventually decided at seventy-eight, but the concept of equal electorates was dropped from the bill. In
October 1858, after accepting amendments by the Legislative Council, the electoral bill became law, to come into force in May 1859.
938:
470:, was entrusted to form a new ministry. McCulloch made attempts to form a coalition to unite the competing factions, but O'Shanassy refused his overtures. Haines was more amenable and resumed office as chief secretary and premier, with McCulloch as minister for trade and customs. The principal reforms of the Legislative Assembly during 1857 were the abolition of the property qualification for members (passed in February, but not finalised until August) and the committal to
417:
committed to self-government in local affairs for the colony of
Victoria, under a constitution to be framed by the colonists themselves. Haines was a member of the committee that drafted the new constitution in 1853. The constitution was passed in the Legislative Council in 1854 and eventually endorsed by the British parliament after some amendments. News reached the colony in October 1855 that the Constitution Act had received the royal assent. The governor,
26:
93:
86:
462:. On several occasions the government lost votes in the house, but any response by Haines did not go beyond threatening to resign. On 3 March 1857, however, O'Shanassy and his supporters carried a resolution censuring the government for the alleged misappropriation of immigration funds which led to the resignation of the Haines ministry.
249:, writing in 1904, described the election in the following terms: "The voting was largely controlled by personal feeling and private influences, for there was no stirring party cry in the ascendant, and the quieting effect of the voting by secret ballot made strongly for orderliness in the proceedings".
477:
In
February 1858 the government proposed a bill to increase the number of members of the Assembly and to establish equal electorates based on the principle of one vote one value. After a resolution condemning one of the schedules of the bill was passed on 23 February 1858 by a majority of twenty-six
465:
O'Shanassy became premier on 11 March 1857 but he faced difficulties in commanding a stable majority, especially after three members of his cabinet were defeated in ministerial by-elections. After seven weeks of nominal power the ministry resigned in April 1857 after a no-confidence resolution was
424:
The responsibility for local affairs was effectively handed over to the colonists when the new constitution came into force. Governor Hotham appointed
Legislative Council members in charge of government departments as ministers in the transition government prior to the establishment of a bicameral
453:
Twenty of the newly elected members of the
Legislative Assembly, including William Haines, had previously served in the Legislative Council. Haines was a successful candidate for the South Grant electorate and led the first ministry, though from the outset there was uncertainty as to whether his
481:
The first parliament of the colony of
Victoria had its last sitting on 24 February 1859. Duffy resigned from O'Shanassy's ministry in March 1859 over differences in land policy. During the interregnum the alterations of the electoral machinery were carried out, including the compilation of new
416:
was appointed to the position of colonial secretary, the senior local official representing the government in the
Legislative Council. At that time the colonial secretary acted under instructions from the lieutenant-governor who, in turn, followed orders from London. The British government had
425:
parliament. Haines, as the leading official, took on the post of chief secretary and soon afterwards the colonial newspapers began referring to him as the premier. Although there were no firm party loyalties at this stage it was essentially a conservative ministry, described by
513:
for 21 November 1856. Unsuccessful candidates (and four of the elected members) were listed without classification. The number of votes cast for unsuccessful candidates accounts for the large number of votes classified as 'unspecified' in the
Results
429:
newspaper as "an oligarchical clique". In order to carry out an election for a new
Legislative Assembly, the existing Legislative Council needed to pass electoral laws, a process that commenced in December 1855.
491:
253:
formed the first ministry after the election, a continuation of his previous role in the
Legislative Council, even though his government was potentially in the minority in the lower house.
445:
and incorporated in the electoral laws. The Electoral Act, which included provisions facilitating the election of a Legislative Assembly, was eventually passed in March 1856.
1659:
1654:
904:
1678:
1638:
1633:
926:
454:
government could consistently command a majority in parliament. During the first few months of sittings the Haines ministry faced an opposition dominated by
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1505:
1500:
1495:
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1460:
1455:
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1445:
890:
John Waugh (2006), 'Haines, O'Shanassy, Nicholson and Heales: The Old Guard, 1855-1863', Chapter 2 (in) Paul Strangio & Brian Costar (eds.) (2006),
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438:
1699:
413:
250:
202:
184:
103:
1008:
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1625:
317:
294:
919:
231:
were up for election, though eight seats were uncontested. The eligibility to vote at the 1856 Victorian election was subject to a
133:
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1355:
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1300:
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1043:
1038:
1033:
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1023:
1018:
1013:
998:
993:
988:
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978:
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963:
45:
883:
509:
Most of the elected members were described as 'Government', 'Opposition' or 'Crossbench' according to a list published in the
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1538:
1533:
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228:
59:
1270:
1258:
1253:
1248:
1243:
1238:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1218:
1213:
1208:
1203:
1198:
1193:
1188:
1183:
1178:
1173:
1168:
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1153:
1148:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1123:
1118:
1113:
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1103:
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1093:
1088:
1083:
1078:
1073:
1068:
1063:
1058:
1053:
1048:
942:
538:
405:
138:
1520:
912:
471:
263:
242:
There were 20 single-member, 14 two-member and one each of three-member, four-member and five-member electorates.
206:
188:
123:
118:
950:
340:
232:
224:
442:
570:
466:
carried in parliament. After O'Shanassy resigned the leader of the parliamentary liberal faction,
459:
196:
177:
878:
788:
website, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 27 December 2023.
606:
website, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 30 December 2023.
246:
817:
website, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 2 February 2024.
746:
website, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 1 February 2024.
729:
website, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 27 January 2024.
455:
108:
739:
599:
937:
810:
409:
25:
781:
722:
467:
897:
John Waugh (Nov. 2006), 'The Brummagem Coup: The Start of Self-Government in Victoria',
408:
was established. Two-thirds of its members were elected and one-third was appointed by
858:
679:
655:
638:
418:
404:
After the colony of Victoria was separated from New South Wales in July 1851 the first
663:
551:
433:
The ministry led by Haines faced an early setback during debate on the principle of a
1693:
705:
434:
236:
421:, declared a public holiday for 23 November 1855, the date of its proclamation.
92:
85:
223:
was held from 23 September to 24 October 1856 to elect the first
908:
539:"The First Parliament Elected 23 September to 24 October 1856"
412:, the colony's first lieutenant-governor. In December 1854
492:
Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, 1856–1859
482:
rolls for the election that commenced in August 1859.
1647:
1624:
1519:
1269:
949:
56:
172:
884:A History of the Colony of Victoria (Volume II)
901:, Vol. 77 No. 2, November 2006, pages 143–161.
920:
8:
706:The Secret Ballot: An Australian Institution
18:
594:
592:
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913:
905:
776:
774:
772:
770:
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564:
533:
531:
529:
17:
541:. Psephos: Adam Carr's Electoral Archive.
227:. All 60 seats in 37 electorates in the
894:, Leichhardt, NSW: The Federation Press.
845:
843:
841:
796:
794:
260:
835:Henry Gyles Turner (1904), pages 78-79.
764:Henry Gyles Turner (1904), pages 74-75.
662:(Melbourne), 13 December 1855, page 4;
525:
695:John Waugh (Nov. 2006), pages 145-146.
686:(Melbourne), 20 December 1855, page 4.
645:(Melbourne), 23 November 1855, page 4.
616:
614:
612:
943:Elections and referendums in Victoria
7:
712:(Melbourne), 3 October 1925, page 6.
571:The Electoral Act of 1856 (Victoria)
556:Geelong Advertiser and Intelligencer
865:(Melbourne), 18 March 1859, page 4.
849:Henry Gyles Turner (1904), page 80.
826:Henry Gyles Turner (1904), page 77.
800:Henry Gyles Turner (1904), page 76.
755:Henry Gyles Turner (1904), page 65.
586:Henry Gyles Turner (1904), page 63.
68:
815:Australian Dictionary of Biography
786:Australian Dictionary of Biography
744:Australian Dictionary of Biography
727:Australian Dictionary of Biography
604:Australian Dictionary of Biography
577:website; accessed 1 February 2024.
14:
1674:Legislative Assembly by-elections
887:, London: Longmans, Green and Co.
629:John Waugh (Nov. 2006), page 145.
235:. The voting was carried out by
1679:Legislative Council by-elections
936:
892:The Victorian Premiers 1856-2006
740:Henry Samuel Chapman (1803–1881)
600:William Clark Haines (1810–1866)
221:1856 Victorian colonial election
91:
84:
24:
19:1856 Victorian colonial election
811:Sir James McCulloch (1819–1893)
782:Sir John O'Shanassy (1818–1883)
620:John Waugh (2006), pages 13-15.
41:23 September to 24 October 1856
60:Victorian Legislative Assembly
1:
1700:Elections in Victoria (state)
723:William Nicholson (1816–1865)
573:, Victorian Historical Acts,
899:Victorian Historical Journal
670:, 18 December 1855, page 2.
474:(passed in November 1857).
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809:Geoffrey Bartlett (1974),
472:universal manhood suffrage
400:Background to the election
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656:The "Policy" of the Cabal
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170:
65:
33:
23:
558:, 15 April 1856, page 2.
859:Mr. Duffy's Resignation
262:Legislative Assembly (
233:property qualification
225:Parliament of Victoria
1705:September 1856 events
780:S. M. Ingham (1974),
704:F. W. Hosken (1925),
598:Betty Malone (1972),
1271:Legislative Council-
738:R. S. Neale (1969),
552:The Coming Elections
229:Legislative Assembly
58:All 60 seats in the
721:Peter Cook (1974),
460:Charles Gavan Duffy
406:Legislative Council
267:
130:Leader's seat
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879:Henry Gyles Turner
668:Bendigo Advertiser
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247:Henry Gyles Turner
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439:William Nicholson
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410:Charles La Trobe
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1521:Local elections
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468:James McCulloch
456:John O'Shanassy
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180:before election
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145:Seats won
109:John O'Shanassy
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414:William Haines
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245:The historian
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435:secret ballot
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411:
407:
399:
393:
390:
388:
386:
383:
381: Totals
379:
376:
373:
371:
368:
365:
359:
358:
355:
352:
350:
347:
344:
342:
336:
335:
332:
329:
327:
324:
321:
319:
313:
312:
309:
306:
304:
301:
298:
296:
290:
289:
285:
282:
279:
276:
273:
269:
265:
256:
254:
252:
248:
243:
240:
238:
237:secret ballot
234:
230:
226:
222:
209:
208:
204:
199:
198:
193:
191:
190:
189:Conservative)
186:
181:
179:
175:
174:
169:
161:
158:
155:
154:
150:
147:
144:
143:
140:
137:
135:
132:
129:
128:
125:
122:
120:
117:
114:
113:
110:
107:
105:
102:
99:
98:
94:
90:
87:
83:
80:
79:
76:Second party
75:
72:
69:
64:
61:
55:
48: →
47:
44:
42:
39:
37:
36:
32:
27:
22:
16:
1614:
1259:
958:
898:
891:
882:
862:
854:
831:
822:
814:
805:
785:
760:
751:
743:
734:
726:
717:
709:
700:
691:
683:
675:
667:
659:
650:
642:
634:
625:
603:
582:
574:
555:
547:
510:
505:
480:
476:
464:
452:
432:
426:
423:
403:
363:Unspecified
244:
241:
220:
218:
207:Conservative
201:
194:
183:
176:
124:Conservative
119:Conservative
73:First party
40:
15:
1648:Referendums
156:Percentage
134:South Grant
1694:Categories
1672:See also:
1626:Aboriginal
1009:1880 (Jul)
1004:1880 (Feb)
654:Examples:
520:References
341:Crossbench
318:Opposition
295:Government
710:The Argus
680:The Test!
664:Melbourne
449:Aftermath
881:(1904),
486:See also
195:Elected
873:Sources
863:The Age
684:The Age
660:The Age
643:The Age
575:Austlii
511:Hansard
427:The Age
384:51,061
366:20,193
360:
337:
322:17,940
314:
291:
286:Change
257:Results
197:Premier
178:Premier
139:Kilmore
100:Leader
81:
70:
514:table.
369:39.55
348:13.33
345:6,808
325:35.13
302:11.99
299:6,120
283:Seats
280:Swing
274:Votes
162:35.13
159:11.99
115:Party
498:Notes
1660:1899
1655:1898
1639:2023
1634:2019
1615:2024
1609:2020
1604:2016
1599:2012
1594:2008
1589:2005
1584:2004
1579:2003
1574:2002
1569:2001
1564:2000
1559:1999
1554:1997
1549:1996
1544:1947
1539:1933
1534:1931
1529:1919
1511:1958
1506:1955
1501:1952
1496:1949
1491:1946
1486:1943
1481:1940
1476:1937
1471:1934
1466:1931
1461:1928
1456:1925
1451:1922
1446:1919
1441:1916
1436:1913
1431:1910
1426:1907
1421:1904
1416:1902
1411:1901
1406:1900
1401:1898
1396:1896
1391:1895
1386:1894
1381:1892
1376:1890
1371:1889
1366:1888
1361:1886
1356:1884
1351:1882
1346:1880
1341:1878
1336:1876
1331:1874
1326:1872
1321:1870
1316:1868
1311:1866
1306:1864
1301:1862
1296:1860
1291:1858
1286:1856
1281:1851
1260:2026
1254:2022
1249:2018
1244:2014
1239:2010
1234:2006
1229:2002
1224:1999
1219:1996
1214:1992
1209:1988
1204:1985
1199:1982
1194:1979
1189:1976
1184:1973
1179:1970
1174:1967
1169:1964
1164:1961
1159:1958
1154:1955
1149:1952
1144:1950
1139:1947
1134:1945
1129:1943
1124:1940
1119:1937
1114:1935
1109:1932
1104:1929
1099:1927
1094:1924
1089:1921
1084:1920
1079:1917
1074:1914
1069:1911
1064:1908
1059:1907
1054:1904
1049:1902
1044:1900
1039:1897
1034:1894
1029:1892
1024:1889
1019:1886
1014:1883
999:1877
994:1874
989:1871
984:1868
979:1866
974:1864
969:1861
964:1859
959:1856
458:and
264:FPTP
219:The
46:1859
437:.
391:60
353:20
330:25
307:11
151:25
148:11
1696::
861:,
840:^
813:,
793:^
784:,
769:^
742:,
725:,
708:,
682:,
666:,
658:,
641:,
611:^
602:,
591:^
563:^
554:,
528:^
503:A.
374:4
277:%
266:)
239:.
928:e
921:t
914:v
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