1892 Victorian colonial election

The 1892 Victorian colonial election was held on 20 April 1892 to elect the 15th Parliament of Victoria. All 95 seats in the Legislative Assembly were up for election, though 13 were uncontested.^[1][2]

1892 Victorian colonial election

← 1889 20 April 1892 1894 →
All 95 seats in the Victorian Legislative Assembly 48 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader William Shiels James Patterson William Trenwith Party Liberal Conservative Labour Leader's seat Normanby Castlemaine Richmond Seats won 56 28 11 Percentage 52.91 27.11 19.72
Premier before election William Shiels Liberal Elected Premier William Shiels Liberal

This was the first election contested by the Labour Party, which was led by William Trenwith.^[3]

Background

In February 1892, Premier James Munro, who was deeply in debt, asked his Cabinet to appoint him Victorian Agent-General in London. He then resigned as Premier and immediately took ship from Port Melbourne.^[4]

The Liberals turned to William Shiels as a "clean" new leader, and he became the new Premier on 16 February 1892.^[5]

Results

13 seats were uncontested at this election, and therefore retained by the incumbent member:

• Liberal: Ararat, Clunes and Allandale, Daylesford, Donald and Swan Hill, Gippsland East, Gippsland North, Numurkah and Nathalia, Warrenheip, Warrnambool (9)
• Conservative: Bourke West, Evelyn, Melbourne, Portland (4)

Legislative Assembly (FPTP)^[3]

Party			Votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Liberal		102,010	52.91		56
	Conservative		52,260	27.11		28
	Labour		37,777	19.72	+19.72	11	11
	Independent		280	0.15		0
	Independent Labour		205	0.11		0
Formal votes			192,792

Aftermath

The Shiels government was defeated on a vote of confidence on 18 January 1893, and was succeeded by Conservative James Patterson. Patterson himself was defeated on a vote of confidence on 28 August 1894, and sought a dissolution of the house.^[3] The Liberals returned to government in 1894, led by George Turner.^[3]

References

1. "THE GENERAL ELECTION IN VICTORIA". Trove. Western Mail.
2. "THE GENERAL ELECTION IN VICTORIA". Trove. The West Australian.
3. "THE FIFTEENTH PARLIAMENT ELECTED 20 APRIL 1892". Psephos: Adam Carr's Electoral Archive.
4. Mitchell, Ann M., "Munro, James (1832–1908)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2020-01-11
5. Serle, Geoffrey. "Shiels, William (1848–1904)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 16 November 2012.