1861 Victorian colonial election

none 1861 Victorian colonial election Victoria 1861 Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg parliamentary no 1859 Victorian colonial election 1859 1864 Victorian colonial election 1864 2−19 August 1861 All 78 seats in the Victorian Legislative Assembly40 seats needed for a majority 150x150px Richard Heales Moderate Liberal (Protectionist) CEF2CE East Bourke Boroughs 40 52.34 150x150px John O'Shanassy Conservative (Free Trade) Kilmore 8EB5D1 35 25.53 Premier Richard Heales Liberal Richard Heales Liberal Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, 1861–1864 Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, 1859–1861 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.The Third Parliament Elected 2 to 19 August 1861 http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/states/vic/historic/1861assembly.txt Psephos: Adam Carr's Electoral Archive There were 24 single-member, 21 two-member and 4 three-member electorates. The liberal ministry led by Richard Heales was returned "with materially increased support", supported by the Protectionist League and the goldfields electorates.Henry Gyles Turner, (1904), page 87.Margot Beever (1972), Richard Heales (1821–1864), Australian Dictionary of Biography website, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 8 January 2024. Results + Legislative Assembly (FPTP) Party / Grouping Votes % Swing Seats Change   Ministerial 59,730 52.34 40   Opposition 29,129 25.53 35   Independent & unspecified 25,259 22.13 3  Totals 114,118 78 Aftermath The first session of the third Victorian parliament commenced on 30 August 1861. 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.Henry Gyles Turner, (1904), page 88. The government resigned and Governor Barkly intervened to encourage an alliance between former political opponents, John O'Shanassy and William Haines.John Waugh (2006), page 20. O'Shanassy then formed his third government, which included Haines as treasurer and Charles Gavan Duffy as lands minister. 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. 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. The Civil Service Act 1862 classified public service salaries and set out principles for promotion. The Act Amendment Act 1863 abolished public nominations and imposed a deposit of £50 for candidates in elections for the Legislative Assembly.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. 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.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. 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. 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.Henry Gyles Turner, (1904), pages 90-91.Geoffrey Bartlett (1974), Sir James McCulloch (1819–1893), Australian Dictionary of Biography website, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 10 December 2023. In 1863 and early 1864 Heales, as lands minister, introduced bills amending the Land Act 1862. 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. 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. See also Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, 1861–1864 Notes References 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. Category:Elections in Victoria (state) Category:1860s in Victoria (state) Category:August 1861 in Australia