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All 86 seats in the Victorian Legislative Assembly 44 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1883 Victorian colonial election was held on 22 February 1883 to elect the 12th Parliament of Victoria. All 86 seats in 55 electorates in the Legislative Assembly were up for election, though twelve seats were uncontested. [1]
There were 31 single-member, 20 two-member and 5 three-member electorates. [1]
The government of Sir Bryan O'Loghlen was heavily defeated at the election, with O'Loghlen himself losing his seat. [1] [2] After the election, with none of the political groupings having an outright majority, a government was formed on 8 March 1883 by a coalition led by James Service (taking the positions of Premier, Treasurer and Minister of Public Instruction), and Graham Berry (as Chief Secretary and Postmaster-General). [1] [3] [4] The coalition represented a joining of moderate conservatives (led by Service) and moderate liberals (led by Berry). [5]
Party / Grouping | Votes | % | Swing | Seats | Change | ||
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Liberal (Berry faction) | 98,121 | 50.24 | 35 | ||||
Conservative | 54,940 | 28.13 | 31 | ||||
Liberal (O'Loghlen faction) | 36,119 | 18.49 | 19 | ||||
Independent | 6,135 | 3.14 | 1 | ||||
Totals | 195,315 | 86 |
O'Loghlen's tenure as Premier prior to the 1883 election had been, as later described in the Adelaide Observer , a period of "muddle and confusion". It was "by general consent" and a longing "for peace and progress" that, after the election, the political factions led by James Service and Graham Berry joined forces to form a coalition of moderate conservatives and moderate liberals. The new Government ushered in a period of "political peace and material progress" for the colony, providing stability during a period of economic growth in Victoria. [6]
Under the Premier and Treasurer, James Service, the government passed important legislation. An early priority was reforms to eliminate political patronage in the civil service and railways. The Public Services Act and the Railways Management Act, passed in 1883, enabled the establishment of the Public Service Board and the Railways Commission. [5] During its term the parliament also passed the Factories and Shops Act, legalised trade unions and the eight hours' day and introduced important land legislation, as well as clearing a backlog of long-delayed bills. [5] Towards the end of the term of the Service-Berry coalition government, Melbourne's The Age newspaper commented that "no Parliament can show a more imposing record of measures of great public utility". [7] [8]
During 1885 Service decided he would retire as Premier. He resigned on 18 February 1886 and was replaced by fellow-Conservative, Duncan Gillies, less than three weeks before a general election. [5] Berry, the Liberal leader in the coalition, also resigned before the 1886 election, after which he was appointed as the Victorian Agent-General in London. He was replaced in the coalition by fellow-Liberal Alfred Deakin. [9]
David Gaunson was an Australian politician and criminal solicitor who conducted the defence of the infamous Australian bushranger, Ned Kelly in the pre-trial stages.
Sir Graham Berry,, was an Australian colonial politician and the 11th Premier of Victoria. He was one of the most radical and colourful figures in the politics of colonial Victoria, and made the most determined efforts to break the power of the Victorian Legislative Council, the stronghold of the landowning class.
Sir Bryan O'Loghlen, 3rd Baronet, Australian colonial politician, was the 13th Premier of Victoria.
James Service, an Australian colonial politician, was the 12th premier of Victoria, Australia.
Sir Thomas Bent was an Australian politician and the 22nd premier of Victoria.
Duncan Gillies, was an Australian colonial politician who served as the 14th Premier of Victoria.
William Shiels was an Australian colonial-era politician, serving as the 16th Premier of Victoria.
Sir James Brown Patterson, was an Australian politician who served as premier of Victoria from 1893 to 1894.
Sir Alexander James Peacock was an Australian politician who served as the 20th Premier of Victoria.
James Mirams was an Australian businessman and politician who was jailed for fraud.
James Howlin Graves was an Australian politician, member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly 1877 to 1900 and 1902 to 1904.
Robert Murray Smith, usually known as Murray Smith, CMG MA, was a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly and Agent-General for Victoria (Australia).
The Liberal Party, often known simply as the Liberals, was the name used by a number of political groupings and parties in the Victorian Parliament from the late 19th century until around 1917.
The 1877 Victorian colonial election was held on 11 May 1877 to elect the 9th Parliament of Victoria. It was the first election in Victoria in which all electorates voted on the same day. All 86 seats in 55 electorates in the Legislative Assembly were up for election, though four seats were uncontested.
The February 1880 Victorian colonial election was held on 28 February 1880 to elect the 10th Parliament of Victoria. All 86 seats in 55 electorates in the Legislative Assembly were up for election, though two seats were uncontested.
The July 1880 Victorian colonial election was held on 14 July 1880 to elect the 11th Parliament of Victoria. All 86 seats in 55 electorates in the Legislative Assembly were up for election, though eight seats were uncontested.
The 1886 Victorian colonial election was held on 22 February 1883 to elect the 13th Parliament of Victoria. All 86 seats in 55 electorates in the Legislative Assembly were up for election, though eleven seats were uncontested.
The 1874 Victorian colonial election was held from 25 March to 22 April 1874 to elect the 8th Parliament of Victoria. All 78 seats in 49 electorates in the Legislative Assembly were up for election, though eleven seats were uncontested.
The 1871 Victorian colonial election was held from 14 February to 16 March 1871 to elect the 7th Parliament of Victoria. All 78 seats in 49 electorates in the Legislative Assembly were up for election, though six seats were uncontested.
The 1868 Victorian colonial election was held from 21 January to 20 February 1868 to elect the 6th Parliament of Victoria. All 78 seats in 49 electorates in the Legislative Assembly were up for election, though seven seats were uncontested.