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 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 –
31 Mar 1844		Thomas Walker1 Jun 1843 –
31 Jul 1845		Charles Nicholson1 June 1843 –
20 Jun 1848		Alexander Thomson1 Jun 1843 –
31 Mar 1844		John Lang1 June 1843 –
1 Nov 1847
Adolphus Young1 Apr 1844 –
31 Jul 1845		Thomas Walker1 Jun 1843 –
31 Jul 1845		Charles Nicholson1 June 1843 –
20 Jun 1848		Sir Thomas Mitchell1 Apr 1844 –
31 Aug 1844		John Lang1 June 1843 –
1 Nov 1847
Adolphus Young1 Apr 1844 –
31 Jul 1845		Thomas Walker1 Jun 1843 –
31 Jul 1845		Charles Nicholson1 June 1843 –
20 Jun 1848		Benjamin Boyd1 Sep 1844 –
1 Aug 1845		John Lang1 June 1843 –
1 Nov 1847
Thomas Boyd1 Aug 1845 –
11 Dec 1845		Maurice O'Connell1 Aug 1845 –
20 Jun 1848		Charles Nicholson1 June 1843 –
20 Jun 1848		Edward Curr1 Sep 1845 –
31 May 1846		John Lang1 June 1843 –
1 Nov 1847
Edward Brewster1 Jan 1846 –
1 Feb 1848		Maurice O'Connell1 Aug 1845 –
20 Jun 1848		Charles Nicholson1 June 1843 –
20 Jun 1848		John Foster1 Jun 1846 –
20 Jun 1848		John Lang1 June 1843 –
1 Nov 1847
Charles Ebden1 Mar 1848 –
20 Jun 1848		Maurice O'Connell1 Aug 1845 –
20 Jun 1848		Charles Nicholson1 June 1843 –
20 Jun 1848		John Foster1 Jun 1846 –
20 Jun 1848		John Airey22 Dec 1847 –
20 Jun 1848
Lauchlan Mackinnon1 Sep 1848 –
31 May 1850		James Williamson1 Sep 1848 –
31 Jan 1849		John Dickson1 Sep 1848 –
30 Jun 1851		Edward Curr1 Sep 1848 –
31 May 1849		James Palmer1 Sep 1848 –
31 May 1849
Lauchlan Mackinnon1 Sep 1848 –
31 May 1850		William Macarthur1 Feb 1849 –
30 Jun 1851		John Dickson1 Sep 1848 –
30 Jun 1851		John Foster1 Jun 1849 –
31 May 1850		Henry Moor1 Jul 1849 –
30 Jun 1851
Charles Ebden1 Jun 1850 –
30 Jun 1851		William Macarthur1 Feb 1849 –
30 Jun 1851		John Dickson1 Sep 1848 –
30 Jun 1851		William Mercer1 Jun 1850 –
30 Jun 1851		Henry Moor1 Jul 1849 –
30 Jun 1851

Election results

1843

1844 (1)

and Alexander Thomson resigned in March 1844.

1844 (2)

, 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)

resigned on 31 July 1845.

1845 (2)

resigned on 31 July 1845.

1845 (3)

resigned on 1 August 1845.

1846 (1)

resigned in December 1845.

1846 (2)

resigned in May 1846.

1847

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

1848 By-election

resigned in February 1848.

1848

1849 (1)

resigned in January 1849.

1849 (2)

resigned in May 1849.

1849 (3)

resigned in May 1849.

1850

and John Foster resigned in May 1850.