Parliament of Victoria - History

History

See also: History of Victoria and History of Australia

Prior to 1851 the area of Australia now known as Victoria was part of the colony of New South Wales and was administered by the Government of New South Wales in Sydney. On 5 August 1850 the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed the Australian Constitutions Act 1850 which made provision for the separation of Victoria from New South Wales. Enabling legislation was passed by the Government of New South Wales and Victoria was formally created a separate colony of the United Kingdom on 1 July 1851.

The Australian Constitutions Act provided for the colony to be administered by a Lieutenant-Governor and a Legislative Council, two-thirds of which was to be elected and the remainder appointed by the Sovereign, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor. The Lieutenant-Governor was subordinate in some matters to the Governor of New South Wales who was given the title Governor-General. The Legislative Council met for the first time in November 1851 at St Patrick's Hall, Melbourne.

The first Legislative Council served Victoria for five years and was responsible for at least three significant and enduring contributions to the parliamentary system of Victoria:

  • It drafted the Constitution of Victoria, which provides the framework for the system of government in Victoria;
  • It introduced the secret ballot, an innovation unknown at the time but now common around the world; and
  • It ordered the construction of the Victorian Parliament House in Melbourne.

The Constitution of Victoria was approved by the Legislative Council in March 1854, it was sent to Britain for approval by the Parliament of the United Kingdom and it was granted Royal Assent on 16 July 1855 and was proclaimed in Victoria on 23 November 1855. The Constitution established the Westminster-style system of responsible government that continues in Victoria today.

The election for the First Victorian Parliament was held during the spring of 1856, the first Victorian Members of Parliament met on 21 November 1856 in the recently completed parliament house and were sworn in, and on 25 November 1856 the First Victorian Parliament was officially opened by Acting-Governor Major-General Edward Macarthur. The Legislative Council consisted of thirty members representing six Provinces, each province returning five Members. The Legislative Assembly consisted of sixty members representing thirty-seven multi and single-member electorates.

Parliament has sat at Parliament House, Melbourne since that time, with the exception of the period 1901–1927. During that time Parliament House was used by the Federal Parliament and the Parliament of Victoria sat at the Royal Exhibition Building.

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