1861 Victorian colonial election

1861 Victorian colonial election
← 1859 2−19 August 1861 1864 →
All 78 seats in the Victorian Legislative Assembly
40 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Richard Heales John O'Shanassy
Party Moderate Liberal (Protectionist) Conservative (Free Trade)
Leader's seat East Bourke Boroughs Kilmore
Seats won 40 35
Percentage 52.34 25.53
Premier before election

Richard Heales
Liberal

Elected Premier

Richard Heales
Liberal

The 1861 Victorian colonial election was held from 2−19 August 1861 to elect the 3rd Parliament of Victoria. All 78 seats in 49 electorates in the Legislative Assembly were up for election, though four seats were uncontested.[1]

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

The liberal ministry led by Richard Heales was returned "with materially increased support", supported by the Protectionist League and the goldfields electorates.[2][3]

  1. ^ a b "The Third Parliament Elected 2 to 19 August 1861". Psephos: Adam Carr's Electoral Archive.
  2. ^ Henry Gyles Turner, (1904), page 87.
  3. ^ Margot Beever (1972), Richard Heales (1821–1864), Australian Dictionary of Biography website, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 8 January 2024.