Bolte Ministry
The Bolte Ministry was a Ministry of the Government of Victoria, and was led by Liberal Premier 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.
| Office | Minister |
Premier and Treasurer Minister for Conservation | Henry Bolte, MLA |
Deputy Premier Chief Secretary Leader of the Government in the Legislative Assembly Attorney-General | Arthur Rylah, BA, LL.B., MLA |
Minister for Transport Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council | Arthur Warner, MLC |
Minister for Agriculture Minister for Education Minister for Immigration | Col. William Leggatt, DSO, MC, BA, LL.B. MLA |
Commissioner of Public Works | Sir Thomas Maltby, MLA |
Minister for Health | Ewen Paul Cameron, MLC |
Minister for Water Supply Minister for Mines | Wilfred Mibus, MLA |
Minister for Forests Minister for State Development and Decentralisation Minister for Immigration | Robert Whately, MA, Dip.Ed., MLA |
Minister for Education | John Bloomfield, LL.B., MLA |
Minister for Housing Minister for Immigration | Horace Petty, B.Com., MLA |
Minister for Soldier Settlement Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey President of the Board of Land of Works | Keith Turnbull, MLA |
Minister without portfolio Minister without portfolio Minister without portfolio Minister for Forests Minister for Local Government | Murray Porter, MLA |
Minister without portfolio Minister without portfolio | Lindsay Thompson, BA, BEd, MLC |
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.| Office | Minister |
Premier and Treasurer | Henry Bolte, MLA |
Deputy Premier Chief Secretary Leader of the Government in the Legislative Assembly Attorney-General | Arthur Rylah, BA, LL.B., MLA |
Minister for Transport Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council | Arthur Warner, MLC |
Minister for Agriculture Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council | Gilbert Chandler, MLC |
Minister for Water Supply Minister for Mines | Wilfred Mibus, MLA |
Minister for Education | John Bloomfield, LL.B., MLA |
Minister for Immigration Commissioner of Public Works | Horace Petty, B.Com., MLA |
Minister for Conservation Minister for Soldier Settlement Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey President of the Board of Land of Works | Keith Turnbull, MLA |
Minister for Labour and Industry Minister for Electrical Undertakings | George Reid, LL.B., MLA |
Minister for Local Government Commissioner of Public Works | Murray Porter, MLA |
Minister for State Development | Alexander Fraser, MLA |
Minister for Housing Minister for Forests | Lindsay Thompson, BA, BEd, MLC |
Minister for Health | Ronald Mack, MLC |
Minister without portfolio Minister for Immigration Minister for Transport | Edward Meagher, MBE, JP, MLA |
Minister for Immigration | Rupert Hamer, LL.M., MLC |
Minister for Water Supply Minister for Mines | Jim Balfour, MLA |
Third Ministry
On 8 July 1964, following the 1964 election, the Bolte Ministry was reconstituted.| Office | Minister |
Premier and Treasurer Minister for State Development | Henry Bolte, MLA |
Deputy Premier Chief Secretary Leader of the Government in the Legislative Assembly Attorney-General Minister for Health | Arthur Rylah, BA, LL.B., MLA |
Minister for Agriculture Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council | Gilbert Chandler, MLC |
Minister for Education | John Bloomfield, LL.B., MLA |
Minister for Fuel and Power | George Reid, LL.B., MLA |
Commissioner of Public Works | Murray Porter, MLA |
Minister for Housing Minister for Forests | Lindsay Thompson, BA, BEd, MLC |
Minister for Health | Ronald Mack, MLC |
| Minister for Transport | Edward Meagher, MBE, JP, MLA |
| Minister for Local Government | Rupert Hamer, LL.M., MLC |
Minister for Conservation Minister for Soldier Settlement Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey President of the Board of Land of Works | Jim Balfour, MLA |
Minister for Water Supply Minister for Mines | Thomas Darcy, MLA |
Minister without portfolio Minister for Immigration | John Rossiter, MLA |
Minister for Immigration Minister for Labour and Industry | Vernon Wilcox, MLA |
Minister for State Development Minister for Health | Pat Dickie, MLC |
Minister without portfolio Minister for State Development | Jim Manson, MLA |