1894 New South Wales colonial election

The 1894 New South Wales colonial election was held on 17 July 1894 for all of the 125 seats in the 16th New South Wales Legislative Assembly and it was conducted in single-member constituencies with a first past the post voting system. Section 23 (1) of the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act of 1893 conferred a right to vote on 'every male person, being a natural born [British] subject, who shall have resided or had his principal place of abode in New South Wales for a continuous period of one year'. The 15th parliament of New South Wales was dissolved on 25 June 1894 by the Governor, Sir Robert Duff, on the advice of the Premier, George Dibbs.

1894 New South Wales colonial election
17 July 1894 (1894-07-17)
All 125 seats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
63 Assembly seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader George Reid George Dibbs No leader
Party Free Trade Protectionist Labor Electoral League
Leader since September 1891 January 1889
Leader's seat East Sydney (contesting Sydney-King) Murrumbidgee (contesting Tamworth)
Last election 44 seats 52 seats 35 seats
Seats won 50 seats 37 seats 15 seats
Seat change 6 15 20
Percentage 30.34 27.69% 16.49%
Swing 6.15 8.81 4.13
Legislative Assembly after the election
Premier before election

George Dibbs
Protectionist

 Elected Premier

George Reid
Free Trade

This election saw the elimination of multi-member districts. At the previous election there had been 20 two-member districts, 10 three-member districts, and 9 four-member districts. Their elimination also saw the Assembly reduced in size from 141 to 125 members. Also, for the first time, the election was conducted on the one day.[1][2][3]

Although he had lost control of the Assembly, Dibbs did not resign until after parliament had reconvened, when the Governor forced his hand.[4]

Key dates
Date Event
25 June 1894 The Legislative Assembly dissolved, and writs issued by the Governor to proceed with an election
9 – 14 July 1894 Close of nominations for candidates
17 July 1894 Polling day
7 August 1894 Opening of 16th Parliament

Results
Main article: Results of the 1894 New South Wales colonial election

New South Wales colonial election, 17 July 1894 [3]
Legislative Assembly
<< 1891–1895 >>

Enrolled voters 255,802
Votes cast 200,956 Turnout 78.56 +19.48
Informal votes 3,310 Informal 1.62 −0.38
Summary of votes by party
Party Primary votes % Swing Seats Change
  Free Trade 60,966 30.34 −6.15 50 +6
  Protectionist 55,652 27.69 −8.81 37 −15
  Labor 33,143 16.49 −4.13 15 −20
  Ind. Free Trade 23,324 11.61 +7.91 11 +7
  Ind. Protectionist 14,434 7.18 +5.17 4 ±0
  Independent Labor 11,504 5.72 +5.30 8 +7
  Independent 1,933 0.96 −0.71 0 −1
Total 200,956     125  

Retiring members
This section is an excerpt from Candidates of the 1894 New South Wales colonial election § Retiring members[edit]

Protectionist

Free Trade

Independent

See also

References
  1. "Part 5B - Members returned for each electorate" (PDF). New South Wales Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  2. "Former Members". Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. Green, Antony. "1894 election totals". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  4. Mansfield, Bruce E. "Dibbs, Sir George Richard (1834–1904)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 15 April 2020 – via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
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