1856 Tasmanian colonial election


The 1856 Tasmanian colonial elections took place from 8 to 22 September 1856 and 6 to 17 October 1856. The elections were the first to be held under the Electoral Act 1856, which established responsible government in Tasmania and created a bicameral parliament consisting of the 30-member Tasmanian House of Assembly and the 15-member Tasmanian Legislative Council.
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

House of Assembly

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 districtSeatsDateElected
Launceston38 SeptemberJohn Rogers, Adye Douglas, William Champ
Clarence115 SeptemberEdward Abbott
Hobart Town515 SeptemberThomas Chapman, Maxwell Miller, Francis Smith, Robert Nutt, James Dunn
Queenborough115 SeptemberDuncan McPherson
Campbell Town116 SeptemberWilliam Race Allison
Cumberland116 SeptemberThomas Gellibrand
Glenorchy116 SeptemberRobert Officer
Norfolk Plains116 SeptemberJohn Gregson
Sorell116 SeptemberAskin Morrison
Fingal117 SeptemberFrederick von Steiglitz
Kingborough117 SeptemberAlfred Nicholas
Oatlands117 SeptemberHenry Anstey
Ringwood117 SeptemberWilliam Weston
Brighton118 SeptemberHenry Butler
Franklin118 SeptemberWilliam Crooke
George Town118 SeptemberCharles Henty
Glamorgan118 SeptemberCharles Meredith
Morven118 SeptemberFrederick Innes
New Norfolk119 SeptemberMichael Fenton
Richmond119 SeptemberThomas Gregson
Selby119 SeptemberRonald Gunn
Westbury119 SeptemberThomas Field
Deloraine120 SeptemberAdolphus Rooke
Devon122 SeptemberJames Gibson