Guide 3 to NSW State Archives relating to Responsible Government - OCR - Flipbook - Page 267
Appendix 12
Timeline of Significant Events in New South Wales
Parliamentary History
1823
first Legislative Council in New South Wales established by the British Parliament
1824
first meeting of the five member Legislative Council held on 25 August
first Act of Parliament in Australia passed on 28 September
1825
Legislative Council membership increased to seven, including some non-public office
holders
Van Diemen's Land (renamed Tasmania from 1856) separated from New South
Wales
western boundary of New South Wales moved to longitude 129° east
Executive Council formed
1828
Imperial Act 9 Geo IV c.83 increased the size of the Legislative Council to fifteen,
including seven non-official members
all current English common and statute laws adopted in New South Wales
1832
press allowed to observe and report proceedings of the Legislative Council
1835
William Charles Wentworth established the Australian Patriotic Association to
campaign for representative government
1836
South Australia proclaimed a separate colony
Port Phillip District proclaimed as open to settlement
1838
public admitted into the gallery of the Legislative Council chambers
1839
Charles La Trobe appointed as Superintendent of the Port Phillip District
1840
eventual subdivision of New South Wales foreshadowed when its territory defined by
Royal Instruction
New Zealand proclaimed a dependency of New South Wales
transportation of convicts to New South Wales abolished
1841
New Zealand proclaimed a separate colony
1842
passage of the Imperial Act 5 & 6 Vic c.76 gave New South Wales a form of
representative government
electors eligible to vote for Members of the Legislative Council were those male
landowners with certain property qualifications (holding a freehold property valued
at £200 or a householder paying rent of £20 per annum)
1843
the Imperial Act 5 & 6 Vic c.76 took effect in New South Wales on 5 January
Legislative Council reconstituted with its membership increased to 36, of whom 12
were to be appointed by the Governor and 24 to be elected
first Parliamentary elections in New South Wales for the two-thirds elected
Legislative Council held between 15 June-3 July
264
State Records Authority of New South Wales
