1897 Western Australian colonial election

none April 2022 June 2020 October 2026 1897 Western Australian colonial election Western Australia 1870 parliamentary no 1894 Western Australian colonial election 1894 1901 Western Australian state election 1901 All 44 seats in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1894–1897 Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1897–1901 27 April – 26 May 1897 100px John Forrest 22 December 1890 Ministerialist 6797EA Bunbury 49.80% 19 seats 29 seats 10 100px George Leake 1895 Oppositionist F5DEB6 Albany 27.35% 13 seats 8 seats 5 1897_Western_Australian_colonial_election.svg 300px Winning party by electorate Premier John Forrest Ministerialist John Forrest Ministerialist Elections were held in the state of Western Australia between 27 April and 26 May 1897 to elect 44 members to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. The Ministerialist group led by John Forrest won a third term in office as a result of the elections. The poll took place based on boundaries established in the Constitution Act Amendment Act 1896, which increased the number of members from 33 mainly by adding new seats in the Goldfields region, and had been called a year earlier than was necessary. The house on the hill: A history of the Parliament of Western Australia 1832-1990 de Garis Brian Black, David 1991 Parliament of Western Australia West Perth 0-7309-3983-9 Self-Government and Political Parties 73–74 In 18 of the 44 seats, only one candidate nominated and polls were not held. As payment of members was not introduced until 1900, the Political Labour Party, formed in 1896, had found it difficult to attract candidates who could afford to enter Parliament, but three of its candidates ran for election, and Charles Oldham, a former president of the Trades and Labor Council, became the first Labour member of Parliament in Western Australia. Results Results of the Western Australian colonial election, 1897 Western Australian state election, 1897 Legislative Assembly 17,114cont 1 1 9,016 52.68% 279 3.09% yes Ministerial (WA) 4,351 49.80% 29cont 1 1 + 10 Opposition (WA) 2,390 27.35% 8 – 5 Independent 1,613 18.46% 6 + 5 Labor WA 383 4.38% +4.38% 1 + 1 8,737 44 Ministerial (WA) |} Notes: mini 1 1 The Ministerialists' total of 29 seats includes 16 which were uncontested, representing 4,297 of the 23,318 enrolled voters. A further two seats, won by George Leake (Albany, Oppositionist) and Elias Solomon (South Fremantle, Independent) representing 1,907 enrolled voters were also uncontested. See also Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1894–1897 Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1897–1901 References Category:Elections in Western Australia Category:1897 elections in Australia Category:April 1897 in Australia Category:May 1897 in Australia Category:1890s in Western Australia