| Upper: | yes |
| Port Phillip | |
| State: | nsw |
| Image Upright: | 0.81 |
| Created: | 1843 |
| Abolished: | 1851 |
| Namesake: | Port Phillip |
| Electors: | 1,157 (1843) |
| Coordinates: | -37°N 144°W |
The Electoral district of Port Phillip was an electorate of the New South Wales Legislative Council before it became the separate colony of Victoria (Australia) on 1 July 1851. At the time, some members of the Council were elected and the balance were appointed by the Governor. The Town of Melbourne returned one member while the Port Phillip district, which covered the rest of what became Victoria after its separation in 1851, returned five members.
Settlers of the Port Phillip District had wanted representation in the New South Wales Legislative Council for some time. In 1843 representatives were elected; "But the colonists were not satisfied with government from and by Sydney".[1]
On 1 July 1851, the District was separated from New South Wales under provisions of the Australian Colonies Government Act 1850, and became the Colony of Victoria and the Victorian Legislative Council was created.
| Member 1 | Term | Member 2 | Term | Member 3 | Term | Member 4 | Term | Member 5 | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Ebden[2] | 1 Jun 1843 – | Thomas Walker[3] | 1 Jun 1843 – | Charles Nicholson[4] | 1 June 1843 – | Alexander Thomson[5] | 1 Jun 1843 – | John Lang[6] | 1 June 1843 – |
| Adolphus Young[7] | 1 Apr 1844 – | Sir Thomas Mitchell[8] | 1 Apr 1844 – | ||||||
| Benjamin Boyd[9] | 1 Sep 1844 – | ||||||||
| Thomas Boyd[10] | 1 Aug 1845 – | Maurice O'Connell[11] | 1 Aug 1845 – | Edward Curr[12] | 1 Sep 1845 – | ||||
| Edward Brewster[13] | 1 Jan 1846 – | John Foster[14] | 1 Jun 1846 – | ||||||
| Charles Ebden | 1 Mar 1848 – | John Airey[15] | 22 Dec 1847 – | ||||||
| Lauchlan Mackinnon[16] | 1 Sep 1848 – | James Williamson[17] | 1 Sep 1848 – | John Dickson[18] | 1 Sep 1848 – | Edward Curr | 1 Sep 1848 – | James Palmer[19] | 1 Sep 1848 – |
| William Macarthur[20] | 1 Feb 1849 – | John Foster | 1 Jun 1849 – | Henry Moor[21] | 1 Jul 1849 – | ||||
| Charles Ebden | 1 Jun 1850 – | William Mercer[22] | 1 Jun 1850 – |
Charles Ebden and Alexander Thomson resigned in March 1844.
Sir Thomas Mitchell, while an elected member was also the Surveyor General. He was criticised by Governor Sir George Gipps for not supporting the government by absenting himself from the Legislative Council when he did not agree with government measures. Mitchell chose to resign his seat.[23]
Thomas Walker resigned on 31 July 1845.
Adolphus Young resigned on 31 July 1845.
Benjamin Boyd resigned on 1 August 1845.
Thomas Boyd resigned in December 1845.
Edward Curr resigned in May 1846.
John Lang was absent for two successive sessions of the Council and his seat was declared vacant in November 1847.
Edward Brewster resigned in February 1848.
James Williamson resigned in January 1849.
Edward Curr resigned in May 1849.
James Palmer resigned in May 1849.
Lauchlan Mackinnon and John Foster resigned in May 1850.