Electoral district of Port Phillip

Former electorate of the New South Wales Legislative Council

Australian electorate

Port Phillip
New South Wales—Legislative Council

Location of the District in 1843.
Same as current-day Victoria.

State| New South Wales
Created| 1843
Abolished| 1851
Namesake| Port Phillip
Electors| 1,157 (1843)
Coordinates| 37°S 144°E﻿ / ﻿37°S 144°E﻿ / -37; 144

The Electoral district of Port Phillip was an electorate of the New South Wales Legislative Council before it became the separate colony of Victoria (Australia) on 1 July 1851. At the time, some members of the Council were elected and the balance were appointed by the Governor. The Town of Melbourne returned one member while the Port Phillip district, which covered the rest of what became Victoria after its separation in 1851, returned five members.[1]

## History

[edit]

Settlers of the Port Phillip District had wanted representation in the New South Wales Legislative Council for some time. In 1843 representatives were elected; "But the colonists were not satisfied with government from and by Sydney".[2]

On 1 July 1851, the District was separated from New South Wales under provisions of the Australian Colonies Government Act 1850, and became the Colony of Victoria and the Victorian Legislative Council was created.

## Members

[edit]

Member 1 | Term | Member 2 | Term | Member 3 | Term | Member 4 | Term | Member 5 | Term

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Charles Ebden [3] | 1 Jun 1843 – 31 Mar 1844 | Thomas Walker [4] | 1 Jun 1843 – 31 Jul 1845 | Charles Nicholson[5] | 1 June 1843 – 20 Jun 1848 | Alexander Thomson [6] | 1 Jun 1843 – 31 Mar 1844 | John Lang [7] | 1 June 1843 – 1 Nov 1847
Adolphus Young [8] | 1 Apr 1844 – 31 Jul 1845 | Sir Thomas Mitchell [9] | 1 Apr 1844 – 31 Aug 1844
Benjamin Boyd [10] | 1 Sep 1844 – 1 Aug 1845
Thomas Boyd [11] | 1 Aug 1845 – 11 Dec 1845 | Maurice O'Connell [12] | 1 Aug 1845 – 20 Jun 1848 | Edward Curr [13] | 1 Sep 1845 – 31 May 1846
Edward Brewster [14] | 1 Jan 1846 – 1 Feb 1848 | John Foster [15] | 1 Jun 1846 – 20 Jun 1848
Charles Ebden [3] | 1 Mar 1848 – 20 Jun 1848 | John Airey [16] | 22 Dec 1847 – 20 Jun 1848
Lauchlan Mackinnon [17] | 1 Sep 1848 – 31 May 1850 | James Williamson [18] | 1 Sep 1848 – 31 Jan 1849 | John Dickson [19] | 1 Sep 1848 – 30 Jun 1851 | Edward Curr [13] | 1 Sep 1848 – 31 May 1849 | James Palmer [20] | 1 Sep 1848 – 31 May 1849
William Macarthur [21] | 1 Feb 1849 – 30 Jun 1851 | John Foster [15] | 1 Jun 1849 – 31 May 1850 | Henry Moor [22] | 1 Jul 1849 – 30 Jun 1851
Charles Ebden [3] | 1 Jun 1850 – 30 Jun 1851 | William Mercer [23] | 1 Jun 1850 – 30 Jun 1851

## Election results

[edit]

### 1843

[edit]

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1843 New South Wales colonial election § Port Phillip.[edit]

1843 New South Wales colonial election, 20 June:
Port Phillip [24][25] Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|

Charles Ebden | 228  | 19.69
Thomas Walker | 217  | 18.74
Charles Nicholson | 206  | 17.79
Alexander Thomson | 184  | 15.89
John Dunmore Lang | 166  | 14.34
Sir Thomas Mitchell | 157  | 13.56
Total votes  | 1,158  | 100.00

### 1844 (1)

[edit]

Charles Ebden and Alexander Thomson resigned in March 1844.

Port Phillip by-election
23 April 1844 [26] Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|

Sir Thomas Mitchell | 195  | 44.10
Adolphus Young | 134  | 31.68
Maurice O'Connell | 94  | 22.22
Total votes  | 423  | 100

### 1844 (2)

[edit]

Sir Thomas Mitchell, while an elected member was also the Surveyor General. He was criticised by Governor Sir George Gipps for not supporting the government by absenting himself from the Legislative Council when he did not agree with government measures. Mitchell chose to resign his seat.[27]

Port Phillip by-election
17 September 1844 [28] Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|

Benjamin Boyd | unopposed  |

### 1845 (1)

[edit]

Thomas Walker resigned on 31 July 1845.

Port Phillip by-election
7 August 1845 [29] Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|

Maurice O'Connell | show of hands  |
Archibald Boyd  |   |

### 1845 (2)

[edit]

Adolphus Young resigned on 31 July 1845.

Port Phillip by-election
7 August 1845 [29] Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|

Thomas Boyd | unopposed  |

### 1845 (3)

[edit]

Benjamin Boyd resigned on 1 August 1845.

Port Phillip by-election
26 September 1845 [30] Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|

Edward Curr | 50  | 81.97
Neil Black | 11  | 8.03
Total votes  | 61  | 100

### 1846 (1)

[edit]

Thomas Boyd resigned in December 1845.

Port Phillip by-election
23 January 1846 [31] Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|

Edward Brewster | unopposed  |

### 1846 (2)

[edit]

Edward Curr resigned in May 1846.

Port Phillip by-election
29 June 1846 [32] Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|

John Foster | unopposed  |

### 1847

[edit]

John Lang was absent for two successive sessions of the Council and his seat was declared vacant in November 1847.

Port Phillip by-election
22 December 1847 [33] Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|

John Airey | unopposed  |

### 1848 By-election

[edit]

Edward Brewster resigned in February 1848.

Port Phillip by-election
15 March 1848 [34] Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|

Charles Ebden | unopposed  |

### 1848

[edit]

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1848 New South Wales colonial election § Port Phillip.[edit]

1848 New South Wales colonial election, 3 October:
Port Phillip [35] Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|

Lauchlan Mackinnon (elected 1)  | 239  | 17
James Williamson (elected 2)  | 234  | 16
John Dickson (elected 3)  | 232  | 16
James Palmer (elected 4)  | 226  | 16
Edward Curr (elected 5)  | 189  | 13
The Duke of Wellington,
Lord Palmerston,
Lord Brougham,
Lord John Russell,
Sir Robert Peel | 58  | 4
William Macarthur | 25  | 1
Total votes  | 1,435  | 100
The original polling day was 27 July;[36] however, no candidates were nominated for Port Phillip as a result of the campaign for independence from New South Wales.[37] A further writ was issued on 25 August.[38]

### 1849 (1)

[edit]

James Williamson resigned in January 1849.

Port Phillip by-election
27 February 1849 [39] Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|

William Macarthur | 97  | 90.65
The Duke of Wellington | 9  | 8.41
John Fawkner | 1  | 0.93
Total votes  | 107  | 100

### 1849 (2)

[edit]

Edward Curr resigned in May 1849.

Port Phillip by-election
23 June 1849 [40] Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|

John Foster | unopposed  |

### 1849 (3)

[edit]

James Palmer resigned in May 1849.

Port Phillip by-election
17 July 1849 [41] Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|

Henry Moor | unopposed  |

### 1850

[edit]

Lauchlan Mackinnon and John Foster resigned in May 1850.

Port Phillip by-election
11 June 1850 [42] Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|

Charles Ebden | 421  | 31.94
William Mercer | 401  | 30.42
John Lang | 386  | 29.29
Lachlan McAlister  | 110  | 8.35
Total votes  | 1,318  | 100

## See also

[edit]

* Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council, 1843–1851

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Electoral Act 1843 No 1a" (PDF), (NSW) – via NSW Legislation
2. ^ Coghlan, Timothy Augustine; Levey, George Collins (1911). "Victoria (Australia)" . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 37–44, see pages 42-43.
3. ^ a b c "Mr Charles Hotson Ebden (1811-1867)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
4. ^ "Mr Thomas Walker (1) (1804-1886)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
5. ^ "Sir Charles Nicholson (1808-1903)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
6. ^ "Mr Alexander Thomson (1800-1866)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
7. ^ "The Reverend John Dunmore Lang, MA, DD (1799 - 1878)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
8. ^ "Mr Adolphus William Young (1814-1885)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
9. ^ "Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell (1792-1855)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
10. ^ "Mr Benjamin Boyd (1803-1851)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
11. ^ "Mr Thomas Elder Boyd (1802-1860)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
12. ^ "Sir Maurice Charles O'Connell, Kt (1812 - 1879)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
13. ^ a b "Mr Edward Curr (1798-1850)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
14. ^ "Mr Edward Jones Brewster". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
15. ^ a b "Mr John Leslie Fitzgerald Vesey Foster (1818-1900)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
16. ^ "Mr John Moore Cole Airey". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
17. ^ "Mr Lauchlan Mackinnon (1817-1888)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
18. ^ "Mr James Williamson (1811-1881)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
19. ^ "Dr John Dickson". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
20. ^ "Sir James Frederick Palmer, Kt (1803-1871)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
21. ^ "Sir William Macarthur (1800-1882)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
22. ^ "Mr Henry Moor (1809-1877)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
23. ^ "Major William Drummond Mercer (1796-1871)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
24. ^ "Port Phillip election". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 July 1843. p. 2. Retrieved 23 May 2019 – via Trove.
25. ^ M. M. H. Thompson (2006). The Seeds of Democracy: Early Elections in Colonial New South Wales. Federation Press. ISBN 978-1-86287-631-6.
26. ^ "The election". Geelong Advertiser. 25 April 1844. p. 2. Retrieved 2 June 2019 – via Trove.
27. ^ "Resignation of Sir Thomas Mitchell". Geelong Advertiser. 26 August 1844. p. 2 (Morning.). Retrieved 2 June 2019 – via Trove.
28. ^ "District election". Geelong Advertiser. 16 September 1844. p. 4 (Morning.). Retrieved 2 June 2019 – via Trove.
29. ^ a b "District election". Geelong Advertiser and Squatters' Advocate. 9 August 1845. p. 3. Retrieved 3 June 2019 – via Trove.
30. ^ "Local Intelligence". The Port Phillip Patriot and Morning Advertiser. 4 October 1845. p. 2. Retrieved 3 June 2019 – via Trove.
31. ^ "The election". The Melbourne Courier. 19 January 1846. p. 2. Retrieved 4 June 2019 – via Trove.
32. ^ "The election". Geelong Advertiser and Squatters' Advocate. 24 June 1846. p. 2. Retrieved 4 June 2019 – via Trove.
33. ^ "The election". Geelong Advertiser. 17 December 1847. p. 1. Retrieved 4 June 2019 – via Trove.
34. ^ "Election of a member for the Legislative Council". Port Phillip Gazette and Settler's Journal. 11 March 1848. p. 2. Retrieved 4 June 2019 – via Trove.
35. ^ "The district election". The Argus. 13 October 1848. p. 2. Retrieved 26 May 2019 – via Trove.
36. ^ "Writs for a general election". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 68\. 27 June 1848. p. 799. Retrieved 26 May 2019 – via Trove.
37. ^ "Melbourne". Geelong Advertiser. 27 July 1848. p. 4. Retrieved 26 May 2019 – via Trove.
38. ^ "Writ of election: Port Phillip". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 91\. 25 August 1848. p. 1065. Retrieved 26 May 2019 – via Trove.
39. ^ "The Port Phillip elections". The People's Advocate and New South Wales Vindicator. 24 March 1849. p. 4. Retrieved 5 June 2019 – via Trove.
40. ^ "Election of Mr J F L Foster". Geelong Advertiser. 12 June 1849. p. 2. Retrieved 5 June 2019 – via Trove.
41. ^ "Election of Mr Moor". Geelong Advertiser. 7 July 1849. p. 1. Retrieved 5 June 2019 – via Trove.
42. ^ "Abstract of the general state of the poll". Geelong Advertiser. 24 June 1850. p. 2. Retrieved 5 June 2019 – via Trove.

* 1847 DIRECTORY FOR THE DISTRICT OF PORT PHILLIP

* v
* t
* e

Former electoral districts of the New South Wales Legislative Council

Elections|

* 1843 (results)
* 1848 (results)
* 1851 (results)
* by-elections

Members|

* 1843–1851
* 1851–1856

Towns|

* Cumberland Boroughs
* North Eastern Boroughs
* Northumberland Boroughs
* Town of Parramatta
* Southern Boroughs
* City of Sydney
* Sydney Hamlets

Counties|

* Argyle
* Bathurst
* Camden
* Cook and Westmoreland
* Cumberland
* Durham
* Gloucester and Macquarie
* Gloucester, Macquarie, and Stanley
* Hunter, Brisbane and Bligh
* King and Georgiana
* Murray and St Vincent
* Murray, King and Georgiana
* Northumberland
* Northumberland and Hunter
* Phillip, Brisbane and Bligh
* Roxburgh and Wellington
* Roxburgh, Phillip and Wellington
* St Vincent and Auckland
* Western Boroughs

Pastoral districts|

* Clarence and Darling Downs
* Lachlan and Lower Darling
* Liverpool Plains and Gwydir
* Maneroo
* Murrumbidgee
* New England and Macleay
* Wellington and Bligh

Victoria|

* Town of Melbourne
* Port Phillip

Queensland|

* Pastoral Districts of Moreton, Wide Bay, Burnett, and Maranoa
* County of Stanley
* Stanley Boroughs

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