Electoral district of Port Phillip


The Electoral district of Port Phillip was an electorate of the New South Wales Legislative Council before it became the separate colony of Victoria (Australia) on 1 July 1851. At the time, some members of the council were elected and the balance were appointed by the Governor. The Town of Melbourne returned one member while the Port Phillip district, which covered the rest of what became Victoria after its separation in 1851, returned five members.

History

Settlers of the Port Phillip District had wanted representation in the New South Wales Legislative Council for some time. In 1843 representatives were elected; "But the colonists were not satisfied with government from and by Sydney".
On 1 July 1851, the District 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.

Members

Member 1TermMember 2TermMember 3TermMember 4TermMember 5Term
Charles Ebden1 Jun 1843 – Thomas Walker1 Jun 1843 – Charles Nicholson1 June 1843 – Alexander Thomson1 Jun 1843 – John Lang1 June 1843 –
Adolphus Young1 Apr 1844 – Thomas Walker1 Jun 1843 – Charles Nicholson1 June 1843 – Sir Thomas Mitchell1 Apr 1844 – John Lang1 June 1843 –
Adolphus Young1 Apr 1844 – Thomas Walker1 Jun 1843 – Charles Nicholson1 June 1843 – Benjamin Boyd1 Sep 1844 – John Lang1 June 1843 –
Thomas Boyd1 Aug 1845 – Maurice O'Connell1 Aug 1845 – Charles Nicholson1 June 1843 – Edward Curr1 Sep 1845 – John Lang1 June 1843 –
Edward Brewster1 Jan 1846 – Maurice O'Connell1 Aug 1845 – Charles Nicholson1 June 1843 – John Foster1 Jun 1846 – John Lang1 June 1843 –
Charles Ebden1 Mar 1848 – Maurice O'Connell1 Aug 1845 – Charles Nicholson1 June 1843 – John Foster1 Jun 1846 – John Airey22 Dec 1847 –
Lauchlan Mackinnon1 Sep 1848 – James Williamson1 Sep 1848 – John Dickson1 Sep 1848 – Edward Curr1 Sep 1848 – James Palmer1 Sep 1848 –
Lauchlan Mackinnon1 Sep 1848 – William Macarthur1 Feb 1849 – John Dickson1 Sep 1848 – John Foster1 Jun 1849 – Henry Moor1 Jul 1849 –
Charles Ebden1 Jun 1850 – William Macarthur1 Feb 1849 – John Dickson1 Sep 1848 – William Mercer1 Jun 1850 – Henry Moor1 Jul 1849 –

Election results

1844 (1)

Charles Ebden and Alexander Thomson resigned in March 1844.

1844 (2)

Sir Thomas Mitchell, while an elected member was also the Surveyor General. He was criticised by Governor Sir George Gipps for not supporting the government by absenting himself from the Legislative Council when he did not agree with government measures. Mitchell chose to resign his seat.

1845 (1)

Thomas Walker resigned on 31 July 1845.

1845 (2)

Adolphus Young resigned on 31 July 1845.

1845 (3)

Benjamin Boyd resigned on 1 August 1845.

1846 (1)

Thomas Boyd resigned in December 1845.

1846 (2)

Edward Curr resigned in May 1846.

1847

John Lang was absent for two successive sessions of the council and his seat was declared vacant in November 1847.

1848 By-election

Edward Brewster resigned in February 1848.

1849 (1)

James Williamson resigned in January 1849.

1849 (2)

Edward Curr resigned in May 1849.

1849 (3)

James Palmer resigned in May 1849.

1850

Lauchlan Mackinnon and John Foster resigned in May 1850.