Bolte ministry

The Bolte Ministry was the 58th Ministry of the Government of Victoria, and was led by Liberal Premier Sir Henry Bolte. It succeeded the Cain ministry on 7 June 1955, following the defeat of the Labor government at the 1955 election held ten days earlier. The ministry lasted over 17 years and was followed by the Hamer Ministry on 24 August 1972 after the resignation of Bolte from politics.

First Ministry

On 7 and 8 June 1955, the Governor, Sir Dallas Brooks, appointed the following ministers to the portfolios indicated. Some changes resulted from the departure of William Leggatt, who was appointed Agent-General for Victoria in London in February 1956, the death of Robert Whately the following month, and the appointment of Gordon McArthur as President of the Victorian Legislative Council. However, the ministry was stable from 1956 until its reconstitution after the 1961 election.
The list below is ordered by decreasing seniority within the Cabinet, as indicated by the Government Gazette and the Victorian Year Book.

Minister	Portfolios
Henry Bolte, MLA	Premier Treasurer Minister for Conservation
Arthur Rylah, MLA	Deputy Premier Chief Secretary Leader of the Government in the Legislative Assembly Attorney-General
Arthur Warner, MLC	Minister of Transport Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council
Gilbert Chandler, MLC	Minister for Agriculture Minister for Forests Minister for State Development and Decentralisation Minister for Immigration
William Leggatt, MLA	Minister for Education Minister for Immigration
Sir Thomas Maltby, MLA	Commissioner of Public Works
Sir Ewen Paul Cameron, MLC	Minister for Health
Wilfred Mibus, MLA	Minister for Water Supply Minister of Mines
Robert Whately, MLA	Minister for Forests Minister for State Development and Decentralisation Minister for Immigration
John Bloomfield, MLA	Minister for Labour and Industry Minister for Electrical Undertakings Minister for Education
Horace Petty, MLA	Minister for Housing Minister for Immigration
Keith Turnbull, MLA	Minister for Soldier Settlement Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey President of the Board of Land and Works
George Reid, MLA	Minister without portfolio Minister for Labour and Industry Minister for Electrical Undertakings
Gordon McArthur, MLC	Minister without portfolio Minister for Forests Minister for State Development and Decentralisation
Murray Porter, MLA	Minister without portfolio Minister for Forests Minister for Local Government
Alexander Fraser, MLA	Minister without portfolio Minister for Forests Minister for State Development
Lindsay Thompson, MLC	Minister without portfolio

Second Ministry

On 28 July 1961, following the 1961 election, the Bolte Ministry was reconstituted. Sir Ewen Cameron became Chairman of Committees in the Legislative Council, whilst Sir Thomas Maltby retired from politics. They were replaced by Ronald Mack and Edward Meagher. The ministry was reconstituted on 8 July 1964 following the 1964 election.

Minister	Portfolios
Henry Bolte, MLA	Premier Treasurer
Arthur Rylah, MLA	Deputy Premier Chief Secretary Leader of the Government in the Legislative Assembly Attorney-General
Arthur Warner, MLC	Minister of Transport Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council
Gilbert Chandler, MLC	Minister for Agriculture Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council
Wilfred Mibus, MLA	Minister for Water Supply Minister of Mines
John Bloomfield, MLA	Minister for Education
Horace Petty, MLA	Minister for Immigration Commissioner of Public Works
Keith Turnbull, MLA	Minister for Conservation Minister for Soldier Settlement Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey President of the Board of Land and Works
George Reid, MLA	Minister for Labour and Industry Minister for Electrical Undertakings
Murray Porter, MLA	Minister for Local Government Commissioner of Public Works
Alexander Fraser, MLA	Minister for State Development
Lindsay Thompson, MLC	Minister for Housing Minister for Forests
Ronald Mack, MLC	Minister for Health
Edward Meagher, MLA	Minister without portfolio Minister for Immigration Minister of Transport
Rupert Hamer, MLC	Minister for Immigration
Jim Balfour, MLA	Minister for Water Supply Minister of Mines

Third Ministry

On 8 July 1964, following the 1964 election, the Bolte Ministry was reconstituted.

Minister	Portfolios
Sir Henry Bolte, MLA	Premier Treasurer Minister for State Development
Sir Arthur Rylah, MLA	Deputy Premier Chief Secretary Leader of the Government in the Legislative Assembly Attorney-General Minister for Health
Gilbert Chandler, MLC	Minister for Agriculture Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council
John Bloomfield, MLA	Minister for Education
Sir George Reid, MLA	Minister for Labour and Industry Minister for Electrical Undertakings Minister for Fuel and Power
Murray Porter, MLA	Commissioner of Public Works
Lindsay Thompson, MLC	Minister for Housing Minister for Forests
Ronald Mack, MLC	Minister for Health
Edward Meagher, MLA	Minister of Transport
Rupert Hamer, MLC	Minister for Local Government
Jim Balfour, MLA	Minister for Conservation Minister for Soldier Settlement Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey President of the Board of Land and Works
Thomas Darcy, MLA	Minister for Water Supply Minister of Mines
John Rossiter, MLA	Minister without portfolio Minister for Immigration
Vernon Wilcox, MLA	Minister for Immigration Minister for Labour and Industry
Pat Dickie, MLC	Minister for State Development Minister for Health
Jim Manson, MLA	Minister without portfolio Minister for State Development