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The 1914 Victorian state election was held in the
Australian state The states and territories are the national subdivisions and second level of government of Australia. The states are partially sovereignty, sovereign, administrative divisions that are autonomous administrative division, self-governing polity, ...
of
Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...
on Thursday, 26 November 1914 to elect 49 of the 65 members of the state's Legislative Assembly.Colin A Hughes, ''A Handbook of Australian Government and Politics 1890–1964'', Canberra: Australian National University Press, 1968 ().


Background

Politics in the state of Victoria in the previous decade had been a 3-way contest between the Conservative, Liberal and Labor parties. Following the example of the federal party, the Conservative and Liberal factions in Victoria united to form the
Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...
. This new party dominated politics in the state, forming government with a majority of 43 of 65 seats in the previous election, although a new divide formed between city and rural based MPs. This divide resulted in a
no confidence motion A motion or vote of no confidence (or the inverse, a motion or vote of confidence) is a motion and corresponding vote thereon in a deliberative assembly (usually a legislative body) as to whether an officer (typically an executive) is deemed fit ...
being passed to the government of William Watt, when the rural based Liberal MPs and the opposition Labor MPs defeated the government in December 1913. To much surprise,
Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...
John Madden John Earl Madden (April 10, 1936 – December 28, 2021) was an American professional football coach and sports commentator in the National Football League (NFL). He served as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders from 1969 to 1978, leading them ...
appointed the opposition Labor party under George Elmslie to government, although it was impossible to retain its position due to its minority in numbers, and that the law at the time stated that new ministers had to recontest their seats at by-elections. Watt returned as
Premier Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier. A premier will normally be a head of govern ...
on 22 December 1913, and remained until he resigned in June 1914 to enter Federal politics. He was replaced by former Premier
Alexander Peacock Sir Alexander James Peacock (11 June 1861 – 7 October 1933) was an Australian politician who served as the 20th Premier of Victoria. Early years Peacock was born of Scottish descent at Creswick, the first Victorian Premier born after ...
. A month later,
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
broke out. Peacock's administration enthusiastically contributed to the war, and was seeking reelection on this basis.


Results


Legislative Assembly

Notes: *Sixteen seats were uncontested at this election, and were retained by the incumbent parties: **Liberal (7): Allandale, Borung,
Dandenong Dandenong ( ) is a southeastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, about from the Melbourne CBD. It is the council seat of the City of Greater Dandenong local government area, with a recorded population of 30,127 at the . Situated m ...
, Gippsland South, Gippsland West, Gunbower, Lowan, **Labor (9): Abbotsford, Albert Park, Carlton, Collingwood, Fitzroy, Flemington,
Geelong Geelong ( ) (Wathawurrung language, Wathawurrung: ''Djilang''/''Djalang'') is a port city in Victoria, Australia, located at the eastern end of Corio Bay (the smaller western portion of Port Phillip Bay) and the left bank of Barwon River (Victo ...
,
Port Melbourne Port Melbourne is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-west of the Melbourne central business district, located within the Cities of City of Melbourne, Melbourne and City of Port Phillip, Port Phillip Local government ...
, Williamstown


See also

*
Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, 1914–1917 This is a list of members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly as elected at the 15 November 1914 election and subsequent by-elections up to the election of 15 November 1917: : Hampson resigned in January 1915; replaced by Luke Clough in Fe ...
* Candidates of the 1914 Victorian state election


References

{{Victorian elections 1914 elections in Australia Elections in Victoria (state) 1910s in Victoria (state) November 1914 History of Australia