1856 Tasmanian colonial election

The 1856 Tasmanian colonial elections took place from 8 to 22 September 1856 (for the House of Assembly) and 6 to 17 October 1856 (for the Legislative Council). The elections were the first to be held under the Electoral Act 1856, which established responsible government in Tasmania (until 1 January 1856 called Van Diemen's Land) and created a bicameral parliament consisting of the 30-member Tasmanian House of Assembly and the 15-member Tasmanian Legislative Council.

1856 Tasmanian colonial elections

8–22 September (House of Assembly)
6–17 October (Legislative Council)
1861 →
 
Leader William Champ

Premier after election

William Champ

Members were elected using first-past-the-post voting. Following the election, William Champ became the first Premier of Tasmania on 1 November 1856, but his government lasted only 117 days.

Results

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House of Assembly

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Elections for members of the House of Assembly took place between 8 and 22 September 1856. Members were elected from single-member 24 single-member divisions, while Hobart Town returned 5 members and Launceston returned 3 members. 16 members were elected unopposed, while the other members were elected using first-past-the-post voting.

Electoral district Seats Date Elected[1]
Launceston 3 8 September John Rogers, Adye Douglas, William Champ
Clarence 1 15 September Edward Abbott
Hobart Town 5 15 September Thomas Chapman, Maxwell Miller, Francis Smith, Robert Nutt, James Dunn
Queenborough 1 15 September Duncan McPherson
Campbell Town 1 16 September William Race Allison
Cumberland 1 16 September Thomas Gellibrand
Glenorchy 1 16 September Robert Officer (unopposed)
Norfolk Plains 1 16 September John Gregson (unopposed)
Sorell 1 16 September Askin Morrison (unopposed)
Fingal 1 17 September Frederick von Steiglitz (unopposed)
Kingborough 1 17 September Alfred Nicholas
Oatlands 1 17 September Henry Anstey (unopposed)
Ringwood 1 17 September William Weston (unopposed)
Brighton 1 18 September Henry Butler (unopposed)
Franklin 1 18 September William Crooke (unopposed)
George Town 1 18 September Charles Henty (unopposed)
Glamorgan 1 18 September Charles Meredith (unopposed)
Morven 1 18 September Frederick Innes (unopposed)
New Norfolk 1 19 September Michael Fenton (unopposed)
Richmond 1 19 September Thomas Gregson
Selby 1 19 September Ronald Gunn (unopposed)
Westbury 1 19 September Thomas Field (unopposed)
Deloraine 1 20 September Adolphus Rooke (unopposed)
Devon 1 22 September James Gibson (unopposed)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Bennett, Scott (1988). Tasmanian Electoral Statistics, 1851–1982. Sydney: University of New South Wales. ISBN 0949776149.