The Donaldson ministry was the first ministry of the
Colony of New South Wales, and was led by
Stuart Donaldson
Sir Stuart Alexander Donaldson (16 December 1812 – 11 January 1867) was the first Premier of the Colony of New South Wales.
Early life
Donaldson was born in London, England. He entered his father's firm at the age of 15 and was sent first t ...
. Despite the first free elections for the
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The New South Wales Legislative Assembly is the lower of the two houses of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The upper house is the New South Wales Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament Ho ...
being held in March 1856, it took over two months for Donaldson to form Government. It was sworn in on 6 June 1856, after the
1856 election and lasted just eighty days.
The title of
Premier was widely used to refer to the Leader of Government, but not enshrined in formal use until 1920.
There was no party system in New South Wales politics until 1887. Under the constitution, ministers were required to resign to recontest their seats in a by-election when appointed.
Stuart Donaldson comfortably won the
by election for Sydney Hamlets, and
John Darvall
Sir John Bayley Darvall (19 November 1809 – 28 December 1883) was an Australian barrister, politician and beneficiary of slavery. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1844 and 1856 and again between 1861 and 186 ...
comfortably won the
by-election for Cumberland North Riding.
Thomas Holt (
Stanley Boroughs) and
Bob Nichols (
Northumberland Boroughs) were re-elected unopposed.
William Manning was not required to resign as he held the office of
Solicitor-General at the time of his election.
This ministry covers the period from 6 June 1856 until on 25 August 1856, when Donaldson resigned his commission, having lost the confidence of the Assembly.
Composition of ministry
Ministers are members of the
Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.
See also
*
Self-government in New South Wales
*
References
{{Ministries of New South Wales
New South Wales ministries
1856 establishments in Australia
1856 disestablishments in Australia