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All 124 seats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly 63 Assembly seats were needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Results of the election, showing winners in each seat. Seats without circles indicate the electorate returned one member. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1887 New South Wales colonial election was held between 4 February and 26 February 1887. This election was for all of the 124 seats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and it was conducted in 37 single-member constituencies, 23 2-member constituencies, seven 3-member constituencies and five 4-member constituencies, all with a first past the post system. [1] [2] [3] Part 1 (section 13) of the Electoral Act of 1880 had awarded the right to vote to 'every male subject of Her Majesty of the full age of twenty-one years and absolutely free being a natural born or naturalized'. [4] The previous parliament of New South Wales was dissolved on 26 January 1887 by the Governor, Lord Carrington, on the advice of the Premier, Sir Henry Parkes.
Parkes had defeated the government of Patrick Jennings less than a week previously, and was keen to test his electoral strength. This was the first election at which there were recognisable political parties, namely the Protectionist Party, which coalesced around Jennings' successor George Dibbs, and Parkes' Free Trade Party. At this stage these parties were still organisationally very different from today's political parties, and party affiliation was often fluid or non-existent, depending on the individual member.
Date | Event |
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26 January 1887 | The Legislative Assembly was dissolved, and writs were issued by the Governor to proceed with an election. |
2 February to 18 February 1887 | Nominations for candidates for the election closed. |
4 February to 26 February 1887 | Polling days. |
8 March 1887 | Opening of new Parliament. |
New South Wales colonial election, 4 – 26 February 1887 [1] | ||||||
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Enrolled voters | ||||||
Votes cast | 128,787 | Turnout | 57.84 | −3.26 | ||
Informal votes | 2,275 | Informal | 1.74 | −0.27 | ||
Summary of votes by party | ||||||
Party | Primary votes | % | Swing | Seats | Change | |
Free Trade | 78,238 | 60.75 | n/a | 79 | n/a | |
Protectionist | 42,354 | 32.89 | n/a | 37 | n/a | |
Ind. Free Trade | 4,159 | 3.23 | n/a | 4 | n/a | |
Ind. Protectionist | 3,105 | 2.41 | n/a | 4 | n/a | |
Independent | 931 | 0.72 | n/a | 0 | n/a | |
Total | 252,004 | 124 |
Balmain, an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, has had three incarnations since it was established in 1880. It expanded from 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 members before being abolished in 1894. It was re-established in 1904 returning 1 member until 1920. When multiple member constituencies were established using the Hare-Clark single transferable vote in 1920, Balmain returned 5 members. It had a single member from 1927 when the state returned to single member electorates. It was abolished in 1991 and largely replaced by Port Jackson which included the Sydney CBD. It was re-established in 2007 when Port Jackson was abolished.
The third Parkes ministry was the nineteenth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by Sir Henry Parkes in a coalition with Sir John Robertson. It was the third of five occasions that Parkes was Leader of the Government.
The fifth Robertson ministry was the 22nd ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by the Premier, Sir John Robertson. It was the fifth and final occasion that Robertson was Premier. Robertson was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in March 1856.
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The fourth Parkes ministry was the 24th ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by the seventh Premier, Sir Henry Parkes. It was the fourth of five occasions that Parkes was Premier.
The fifth Parkes ministry was the 26th ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by the seventh Premier, Sir Henry Parkes. It was the fifth and final occasion that Parkes was Premier. The title of Premier was widely used to refer to the Leader of Government, but was not a formal position in the government until 1920. Instead the Premier was appointed to another portfolio, usually Colonial Secretary. Having served in the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1854 and 1856, Parkes was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in 1856, however resigned from Parliament later that year. He served in the Assembly on several occasions, between 1858 and 1870, being forced to resign on 4 occasions due to his personal insolvency. He came to power as Premier on the first occasion in 1872, serving as Premier for a period of three years. However, Parkes lost the confidence of the Assembly following Governor Robinson's decision to release of the bushranger Frank Gardiner led to the defeat of the ministry in 1875.
The second Dibbs ministry was the 25th ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was the second of three occasions of being led by the tenth Premier, George Dibbs. Dibbs was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1874. In a period of great financial stress for the Colony, this ministry covers just 49 days from 17 January 1889 until 7 March 1889. Dibbs took over as Premier on the first occasion in October 1885 following resignation of the Alexander Stuart due to ill-health, with his ministry lasting for 75 days. Dibbs served as Colonial Secretary in the Jennings ministry, before it too suffered budgetary pressures. It was during this time that the party system was formed in New South Wales with Sir Henry Parkes leading the Free Trade Party. Dibbs had been elected as an independent free trader, however his opposition to Parkes caused Dibbs to align himself with the Protectionist Party. Dibbs had assumed office when Parkes lost a vote on the floor of the Assembly. Parliament was dissolved on 19 January 1889 and an election was held in February. There was a significant swing to the Protectionists, gaining 29 seats, however it was insufficient to command a majority of the Legislative Assembly and Parkes resumed the premiership.
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