New South Wales colonial election, 1891

New South Wales colonial election, 1891

17 June 1891 – 3 July 1891

All 141 seats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.   First party Second party Third party   Leader George Dibbs Sir Henry Parkes Steering Committee of 5 Party Protectionist Free Trade Labor Leader since 17 January 1889 1886 July 1891 Leader's seat Murrumbidgee St Leonards Last election 66 seats 71 seats First election Seats won 52 seats 44 seats 35 seats Seat change 14 27 35 Percentage 36.50% 36.49% 20.62% Swing 14.87 12.14 20.62

Legislative Assembly after the election

Premier before election Sir Henry Parkes Free Trade Elected Premier George Dibbs Protectionist

The 1891 New South Wales colonial election was held between 17 June to 3 July 1891. This election was for all of the 141 seats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and it was conducted in 35 single-member constituencies, 20 2-member constituencies, 10 3-member constituencies and nine 4-member constituencies, all with a first past the post system. The previous parliament of New South Wales was dissolved on 6 June 1891 by the Governor, The Earl of Jersey, on the advice of the Premier, Sir Henry Parkes.

The election saw the first appearance of the Australian Labor Party (then known as the Labour Electoral League of New South Wales), who took a significant number of votes and seats from the previous two major parties in the assembly. The main political parties in New South Wales, the Protectionist Party and the Free Trade Party both lost seats to Labour, with Parkes' Free Trade government losing office to George Dibbs' Protectionists after Dibbs arranged for support for his government from Labour. The election included seven seats that were uncontested.

Key dates

Date	Event
6 June 1891	The Legislative Assembly was dissolved, and writs were issued by the Governor to proceed with an election.
15 to 24 June 1891	Nominations for candidates for the election closed.
17 June to 3 July 1891	Polling days.
14 July 1891	Opening of new Parliament.

Results

New South Wales colonial election, 3 July 1891 Legislative Assembly << 1889 — 1894 >>
Enrolled voters
Votes cast		180,449		Turnout	64.40	+4.87
Informal votes		3,680		Informal	2.00	+0.28
Summary of votes by party
Party		Primary votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Protectionist	65,866	36.50	-14.87	52	−14
	Free Trade	65,850	36.49	−12.14	44	−27
	Labor	37,216	20.62	+20.62	35	+35
	Independent	21,595	11.08	+8.09	12	+8
	Ind. Free Trade	6,684	3.70	+3.70	4	+4
	Ind. Protectionist	3,627	2.01	+2.01	4	+4
	Independent Labor	759	0.42	+0.42	1	+1
	Independent	445	0.25	+0.25	1	+1
Total		426,612			141

References

• "Former members of the New South Wales Parliament, 1856-2006". New South Wales Parliament.
• Antony Green. "NSW Elections Analysis". New South Wales Parliament. Retrieved 2015-04-06.

See also

• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1891–1894
• Candidates of the New South Wales colonial election, 1891