Electoral district of Town of Melbourne

The Electoral district of Town of Melbourne[2] (later known as Electoral district of City of Melbourne)[3] was an electorate of the New South Wales Legislative Council before it became part of the Colony of Victoria on 1 July 1851.

For the electorate of the old unicameral Victorian Legislative Council of 1851 to 1856, see Electoral district of City of Melbourne. For the lower house seat (Victorian Legislative Assembly) from 1856, see Electoral district of Melbourne. For the upper house seat (Victorian Legislative Council) 1882–2006, see Melbourne Province. For the Australian federal electorate, see Division of Melbourne.

Town of Melbourne
New South Wales—Legislative Council
Melbourne, 1855
StateNew South Wales
Created1843
Abolished1851
NamesakeMelbourne
Electors556 (in 1843)[1]
Coordinates37°49′S 144°58′E

History

Settlers of the Port Phillip District had wanted representation in the New South Wales Legislative Council for some time. In 1843 a representative for the Town of Melbourne (and five members for the Electoral district of Port Phillip).[2] were elected; "But the colonists were not satisfied with government from and by Sydney".[4][1]

On 1 July 1851, the Port Phillip district (which included Melbourne) 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.[5]

Members
Town of Melbourne
Member Term
Henry Condell [6]   1 Jun 1843 –   1 Feb 1844
Joseph Robinson [7]   Mar 1844 – 20 Jun 1848
City of Melbourne
Earl Grey [8]   1 Jul   1848 – 31 Oct 1850
William Westgarth [9]   1 Nov 1850 – 20 Jun 1851

Election results

1843
This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1843 New South Wales colonial election § Town of Melbourne[edit]
1843 New South Wales colonial election, 17 June:
Town of Melbourne [10]
Candidate Votes %
Henry Condell 295 53.06
Edward Curr 261 46.94
Total votes 556 100.00

1844

Condell resigned in February 1844.[6]

1844 Town of Melbourne by-election
14 March [11]
Candidate Votes %
Joseph Robinson unopposed  

1848
This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1848 New South Wales colonial election § City of Melbourne[edit]
1848 New South Wales colonial election, 26 July:
City of Melbourne [12]
Candidate Votes %
Earl Grey 295 74.31
John Foster 102 25.69
Total votes 397 100.00
Earl Grey, the Colonial Secretary in London, had never set foot in the colony and there was no suggestion he met the property requirement for election. He was nominated and elected as part of the campaign for independence, protesting against government by New South Wales.[13]

1850

As Earl Grey had never set foot in the colony, he did not attend the Legislative Council and his seat was vacated by his absence on 31 October 1850.[8]

1850 City of Melbourne by-election
7 November [14]
Candidate Votes %
William Westgarth unopposed  
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References
  1. M.M.H.. Thompson. The Seeds of Democracy: Early Elections in Colonial New South Wales. p. 151.
  2. "Government of New South Wales, Act No. XVI" (PDF). New South Wales Government. 1843. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  3. Melbourne was declared a city on 25 June 1847. Lewis, Miles (1995). Melbourne: the city's history and development (2nd ed.). Melbourne: City of Melbourne. p. 25. ISBN 0-949624-71-3.
  4. "Victoria, Australia". Encyclopædia Britannica. 1911. pp. 42–43.
  5. "Victorian Electoral Act" (PDF). New South Wales Government. 1851. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  6. "Mr Henry Condell (1797-1871)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  7. "Mr Joseph Phelps Robinson (1815-1848)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  8. "The Hon. Henry (Earl Grey) Grey". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  9. "Mr William Westgarth (1815-1889)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  10. "Borough of Melbourne". The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser. 8 July 1843. p. 4. Retrieved 23 May 2019 – via Trove.
  11. "Town election". Port Phillip Gazette. 16 March 1844. p. 4. Retrieved 28 May 2019 – via Trove.
  12. "Election of a representative for the City of Melbourne". Port Phillip Gazette and Settler's Journal. 29 July 1848. p. 2. Retrieved 26 May 2019 – via Trove.
  13. "Contemporary opinions on the late election movements". Geelong Advertiser. 29 July 1848. p. 2. Retrieved 23 May 2019 – via Trove.
    "Apology for Earl Grey's election". The Port Phillip Patriot and Morning Advertiser. 31 July 1848. p. 2. Retrieved 26 May 2019 – via Trove.
  14. "Melbourne election". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 November 1850. p. 2. Retrieved 28 May 2019 – via Trove.
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