The new Constitution came into effect in 1856.
It created a bicameral Parliament of Victoria, with the Legislative Assembly being the lower house and the Council being the upper house.
The Council consisted of 30 members, with 5 members being elected from each of the 6 provinces.
The Parliament of Victoria first met on 21 November 1856 at the almost completed main sections of Parliament House.
James Frederick Palmer was elected first President of the Council.

The Legislative Council was later elected from a varying number of provinces.
In 1882 several new provinces were created while Central and Eastern were abolished.
In 1904 more provinces were created and two members (MLCs) represented each province.
The terms for members were two Assembly terms, and one member was elected in rotation at each election, by majority-preferential (AV) vote.
Until 1950 the Legislative Council was elected on a restricted property-based franchise and always had a conservative majority.

Until 1958, elections for the Legislative Council were not held in conjunction with those for the Legislative Assembly; and starting at the 1961 election they have been held at the same time.
Prior to the 2006 election, the Legislative Council consisted of 44 members elected for two terms of the Legislative Assembly from 22 two-member provinces.
Half the members were elected at each election on a rotation basis.
This old system tended to favour the Liberal Party and the National Party (often in Coalition) over the Labor Party and other parties.
This resulted in many instances of a Labor government being faced with an opposition-controlled Council – a rare occurrence elsewhere in Australia.
The new Constitution came into effect in 1856. It created a bicameral Parliament of Victoria, with the Legislative Assembly being the lower house and the Council being the upper house. The Council consisted of 30 members, with 5 members being elected from each of the 6 provinces. The Parliament of Victoria first met on 21 November 1856 at the almost completed main sections of Parliament House. James Frederick Palmer was elected first President of the Council.
The Legislative Council was later elected from a varying number of provinces. In 1882 several new provinces were created while Central and Eastern were abolished. In 1904 more provinces were created and two members (MLCs) represented each province. The terms for members were two Assembly terms, and one member was elected in rotation at each election, by majority-preferential (AV) vote. Until 1950 the Legislative Council was elected on a restricted property-based franchise and always had a conservative majority.
Until 1958, elections for the Legislative Council were not held in conjunction with those for the Legislative Assembly; and starting at the 1961 election they have been held at the same time. Prior to the 2006 election, the Legislative Council consisted of 44 members elected for two terms of the Legislative Assembly from 22 two-member provinces. Half the members were elected at each election on a rotation basis. This old system tended to favour the Liberal Party and the National Party (often in Coalition) over the Labor Party and other parties. This resulted in many instances of a Labor government being faced with an opposition-controlled Council – a rare occurrence elsewhere in Australia.
Victorian Legislative Council