1859 Victorian colonial election

1859 Victorian colonial election
← 1856 26 August to 26 September 1859 1861 →
All 78 seats in the Victorian Legislative Assembly
40 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader John O'Shanassy William Nicholson
Party Conservative (Free Trade) Liberal (Protectionist)
Leader's seat Kilmore Sandridge
Seats won 23 41
Percentage 19.06 30.22
Premier before election

John O'Shanassy
Conservative (Free Trade)

Elected Premier

William Nicholson
Liberal (Protectionist)

The 1859 Victorian colonial election was held from 26 August to 26 September 1859 to elect the 2nd Parliament of Victoria. All 78 seats in 49 electorates in the Legislative Assembly were up for election, though eight seats were uncontested.[1] This election was the first held in Victoria after the electoral rolls were compiled according to the principle of manhood suffrage.[2][3]

There were 24 single-member, 21 two-member and 4 three-member electorates.[1]

The conservative ministry of John O'Shanassy was defeated at the election.[4]

  1. ^ a b "The Second Parliament Elected 26 August to 26 September 1859". Psephos: Adam Carr's Electoral Archive.
  2. ^ Australian voting history in action, Australian Electoral Commission website, Australian Government; accessed 28 January 2024.
  3. ^ Melbourne News, Bendigo Advertiser, 29 May 1858, page 2.
  4. ^ S. M. Ingham (1974), Sir John O'Shanassy (1818–1883), Australian Dictionary of Biography website, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 27 December 2023.