The 1861 Victorian colonial election was held from 2−19 August 1861 to elect the 3rd Parliament of Victoria. All 78 seats in 49 electorates in the Legislative Assembly were up for election, though four seats were uncontested.[1]
There were 24 single-member, 21 two-member and 4 three-member electorates.[1]
The liberal ministry led by Richard Heales was returned "with materially increased support", supported by the Protectionist League and the goldfields electorates.[2][3]
The first session of the third Victorian parliament commenced on 30 August 1861.[2] Though outnumbered, the opposition had more political experience than ministry led by Richard Heales. Soon after the election support for the government began to wane after several ministerial defections and on 14 November 1861 the Heales ministry was defeated on their budget proposals.[4][3]
The government resigned and Governor Barkly intervened to encourage an alliance between former political opponents, John O'Shanassy and William Haines.[5] O'Shanassy then formed his third government, which included Haines as treasurer and Charles Gavan Duffy as lands minister.[4]
Barkly expressed concerns about the new government's "small and unreliable majority", but the alliance managed to hold office until June 1863 and passed significant legislation affecting Crown lands, the electoral system, the public service and local government.[5][4] The government's Crown Lands Act had the intention of opening up agricultural land to selectors, but loosely drafted clauses enabled manipulation of the system by speculators and large landholders.[5] The Civil Service Act classified public service salaries and set out principles for promotion. The Electoral Act Amendment Act abolished public nominations and imposed a deposit of £50 for candidates in elections for the Legislative Assembly.[6] Included in the changes to the electoral laws was a provision that put ratepayers automatically onto the voters' roll, a change that unintentionally gave the vote to women ratepayers.[a]
In June 1863 O'Shanassy's ministry was defeated in parliament by twelve votes after Duffy proposed that the rental on pastoral runs be calculated upon stock numbers.[5] The ministry resigned on June 19 and was replaced by a ministry formed by an alliance of the supporters of James McCulloch and Richard Heales. McCulloch became premier and Heales took charge of Crown lands.[7][8]
In 1863 and early 1864 Heales, as lands minister, introduced bills amending the 1862 Land Act. His provisions included the reservation of agricultural land for selection and strict conditions of payment. Both bills were rejected in the Legislative Council and allowed to lapse. Heales was granted leave from parliament in April 1864 due to ill-health and died two months later.[3]
McCulloch made land policy the central issue for the October-November 1864 elections and included the proposed reform of the Legislative Council as a secondary issue.[8]
^O'Shanassy had inadvertently become the first premier to give votes to women. In 1865 he supported the legislative amendment that once again excluded women from the vote.[5]
Referencesedit
^ abc"The Third Parliament Elected 2 to 19 August 1861". Psephos: Adam Carr's Electoral Archive.
^ abcMargot Beever (1972), Richard Heales (1821–1864), Australian Dictionary of Biography website, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 8 January 2024.
^S. M. Ingham (1974), Sir John O'Shanassy (1818–1883), Australian Dictionary of Biography website, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 18 December 2023.
^ abGeoffrey Bartlett (1974), Sir James McCulloch (1819–1893), Australian Dictionary of Biography website, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 10 December 2023.
Sources
Henry Gyles Turner (1904), A History of the Colony of Victoria (Volume II), London: Longmans, Green and Co.
John Waugh (2006), 'Haines, O'Shanassy, Nicholson and Heales: The Old Guard, 1855-1863', Chapter 2 (in) Paul Strangio & Brian Costar (eds.) (2006), The Victorian Premiers 1856-2006, Leichhardt, NSW: The Federation Press.
March 11, 2024
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The 1861 Victorian colonial election was held from 2 19 August 1861 to elect the 3rd Parliament of Victoria All 78 seats in 49 electorates in the Legislative Assembly were up for election though four seats were uncontested 1 1861 Victorian colonial election 1859 2 19 August 1861 1864 All 78 seats in the Victorian Legislative Assembly First party Second party Leader Richard Heales John O ShanassyParty Moderate Liberal Protectionist Conservative Free Trade Leader s seat East Bourke Boroughs KilmoreSeats won 40 35Percentage 52 34 25 53Premier before electionRichard HealesLiberal Elected Premier Richard HealesLiberalThere were 24 single member 21 two member and 4 three member electorates 1 The liberal ministry led by Richard Heales was returned with materially increased support supported by the Protectionist League and the goldfields electorates 2 3 Contents 1 Results 2 Aftermath 3 See also 4 Notes 5 ReferencesResults editLegislative Assembly FPTP 1 Party Grouping Votes Swing Seats Change Ministerial 59 730 52 34 40 Opposition 29 129 25 53 35 Independent amp unspecified 25 259 22 13 3 Totals 114 118 78Aftermath editThe first session of the third Victorian parliament commenced on 30 August 1861 2 Though outnumbered the opposition had more political experience than ministry led by Richard Heales Soon after the election support for the government began to wane after several ministerial defections and on 14 November 1861 the Heales ministry was defeated on their budget proposals 4 3 The government resigned and Governor Barkly intervened to encourage an alliance between former political opponents John O Shanassy and William Haines 5 O Shanassy then formed his third government which included Haines as treasurer and Charles Gavan Duffy as lands minister 4 Barkly expressed concerns about the new government s small and unreliable majority but the alliance managed to hold office until June 1863 and passed significant legislation affecting Crown lands the electoral system the public service and local government 5 4 The government s Crown Lands Act had the intention of opening up agricultural land to selectors but loosely drafted clauses enabled manipulation of the system by speculators and large landholders 5 The Civil Service Act classified public service salaries and set out principles for promotion The Electoral Act Amendment Act abolished public nominations and imposed a deposit of 50 for candidates in elections for the Legislative Assembly 6 Included in the changes to the electoral laws was a provision that put ratepayers automatically onto the voters roll a change that unintentionally gave the vote to women ratepayers a In June 1863 O Shanassy s ministry was defeated in parliament by twelve votes after Duffy proposed that the rental on pastoral runs be calculated upon stock numbers 5 The ministry resigned on June 19 and was replaced by a ministry formed by an alliance of the supporters of James McCulloch and Richard Heales McCulloch became premier and Heales took charge of Crown lands 7 8 In 1863 and early 1864 Heales as lands minister introduced bills amending the 1862 Land Act His provisions included the reservation of agricultural land for selection and strict conditions of payment Both bills were rejected in the Legislative Council and allowed to lapse Heales was granted leave from parliament in April 1864 due to ill health and died two months later 3 McCulloch made land policy the central issue for the October November 1864 elections and included the proposed reform of the Legislative Council as a secondary issue 8 See also editMembers of the Victorian Legislative Assembly 1861 1864Notes edit O Shanassy had inadvertently become the first premier to give votes to women In 1865 he supported the legislative amendment that once again excluded women from the vote 5 References edit a b c The Third Parliament Elected 2 to 19 August 1861 Psephos Adam Carr s Electoral Archive a b Henry Gyles Turner 1904 page 87 a b c Margot Beever 1972 Richard Heales 1821 1864 Australian Dictionary of Biography website National Centre of Biography Australian National University accessed 8 January 2024 a b c Henry Gyles Turner 1904 page 88 a b c d e John Waugh 2006 page 20 S M Ingham 1974 Sir John O Shanassy 1818 1883 Australian Dictionary of Biography website National Centre of Biography Australian National University accessed 18 December 2023 Henry Gyles Turner 1904 pages 90 91 a b Geoffrey Bartlett 1974 Sir James McCulloch 1819 1893 Australian Dictionary of Biography website National Centre of Biography Australian National University accessed 10 December 2023 SourcesHenry Gyles Turner 1904 A History of the Colony of Victoria Volume II London Longmans Green and Co John Waugh 2006 Haines O Shanassy Nicholson and Heales The Old Guard 1855 1863 Chapter 2 in Paul Strangio amp Brian Costar eds 2006 The Victorian Premiers 1856 2006 Leichhardt NSW The Federation Press Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1861 Victorian colonial election amp oldid 1197542682, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
