1890 South Australian colonial election

1890 South Australian colonial election

← 1887 9 April 1890 (1890-04-09) 1893 →

All 54 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly
27 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader John Cockburn Thomas Playford
Party Liberal Conservative
Leader's seat Burra Onkaparinga

Premier before election

John Cockburn
Liberal

Elected Premier

John Cockburn
Liberal

Colonial elections were held in South Australia from 9 April to 23 April 1890.[1][2] All 54 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election.

The Northern Territory became an electorate for the House of Assembly, increasing the House to 54 members, elected from twenty seven 2-member districts. The divisions between the conservative and radical groups in the Assembly continued after the 1887 election, as did the instability. The Downer (conservative) government was defeated immediately after the election, and the Playford (radical) government was formed. After two years, the more radical Cockburn group replaced the Playford government, and took the parliament into the election.

The incumbent government led by Premier of South Australia John Cockburn defeated the opposition led by Leader of the Opposition Thomas Playford II. Each district elected multiple members, with voters casting multiple votes.

House of Assembly (FPTP) — Turnout 53.10% (Non-CV) — Informal N/A
  Party Votes % Swing Seats Change
  Independent 66,407 100.00 * 54 *
  Total 66,407     54

Since the inaugural 1857 election, no parties or solid groupings had been formed, which resulted in frequent changes of the Premier. If for any reason the incumbent Premier lost sufficient support through a successful motion of no confidence at any time on the floor of the house, he would tender his resignation to the Governor of South Australia, which would result in another member deemed to have the support of the House of Assembly being sworn in by the Governor as the next Premier.

However, from the 1887 election there began a growing informal division between groups of members who were loosely described as ‘conservative’ and ‘radical’ by the press. The ‘conservatives’ found their leaders in John Cox Bray and John William Downer, while the ‘radicals’ were led by John Colton, Thomas Playford and John Cockburn. The leaders often contested government against their reported allies in loose alliances, producing an element of political ‘structure’ which began to see a trend emerge toward increased government stability. The United Labor Party would be formed in 1891, while the National Defence League would be formed later in the same year.

John DownerFrederick HolderThomas Playford IIJohn Cockburn (Australian politician)Thomas Playford IIJohn DownerJohn Colton (politician)John Cox BrayWilliam Morgan (Australian politician)James BoucautJohn Colton (politician)James BoucautArthur BlythHenry AyersArthur BlythJohn Hart (South Australian colonist)Henry StrangwaysHenry AyersJohn Hart (South Australian colonist)Henry AyersJames BoucautJohn Hart (South Australian colonist)Henry AyersFrancis DuttonArthur BlythHenry AyersFrancis DuttonGeorge Marsden WaterhouseThomas Reynolds (Australian politician)Richard Hanson (Australian politician)Robert TorrensJohn Baker (Australian politician)B.T. Finniss


  1. ^ "Statistical Record of the Legislature, 1836 to 2009" (PDF). Parliament of South Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  2. ^ "Balloting for Places". Evening Journal (SECOND EDITION ed.). Adelaide. 13 March 1890. p. 3. Retrieved 2 February 2016 – via National Library of Australia.