THE VICTORIAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
SEPARATION
Victoria became a separate colony to New
South Wales on 1St July 1851. The draft constitution was sent to
Britain for approval in March 1853. Elections for the Legislative Council took
place in August and September 1856 and for the Legislative Assembly in September
and October 1856. With Sir Henry Barkly as the new Governor, the first elected
parliament opened on 21St November 1856. Up until the 1890’s
Victorian’s celebrated Separation day with a public holiday.
MEMBERS
Members were elected for 5 years. They had
to be over 21 years of age and owners of Freehold property with a value of
£2000.
VOTERS
To vote for the Legislative Assembly one
had to be 21 or over, have resided in the colony for over one year, be able to
read and write and to own property worth £50 or occupy property worth
£10, or lease Crown lands or have a
Salary of £100 per annum. Women did not have the right to vote until 1902
federally (first voted 1903) and in Victoria 1908. Women first voted in a
Victorian election in Nov 1911.
THE VICTORIAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
The Colonial Office announced in December
1852 that the four south-eastern colonies were to be granted the status of
self-governing colonies. At the end of 1853 work began on drawing up the
Constitution.
The draft constitution was sent to Britain
for approval in March 1853. It was finally approved and sent back to Melbourne,
arriving in late 1855.
Elections for the new Legislative Council
took place in August and September 1856.
The Legislative Council was to be made up
of 30 members. They were elected for a ten- year term, had to be at least 30
years of age and to own property valued at more than £5000
VOTING QUALIFICATIONS
Electors of the Council had be over 21
years old, and could qualify by owning or leasing property with an annual value
of at least 1000 pounds, by having graduated from a British University, or by
being a lawyer, doctor, clergyman or army or navy officer.
Kilmore Historical Society Page Updated 15 January, 2007