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The 1931 Victorian local elections were held on 27 August 1931 to elect the councils of 100 of the local government areas in Victoria, Australia. A number of by-elections were also held to fill extraordinary vacancies.[1]

Until the 1994 reforms introduced by the Kennett state government, all local elections were staggered, with not all councillors up for election each year.[2]

Background

Labor went into the local elections with eight sitting councillors, after A. Pollock (Collingwood) and J. Ryan (Port Melbourne) failed to secure party endorsement for re-election. The party ran a total of 19 candidates − 17 in the Greater Melbourne area and two in Wonthaggi.[1]

Before the elections, the federal Nationalist Party merged with a group of defectors from the Labor who supported Joseph Lyons, and formed the United Australia Party. However, the Nationalist name continued to be used for the party's state branch until after the local elections when the name formally changed on 15 September 1931.[3]

A number of local parties contested the elections. Additionally, the All for Australia League contested its first elections, having been formed several months prior in January 1931.[4]

Results

Main article: Results of the 1931 Victorian local elections
Party Votes % Swing Seats Change
  Independents 119,854 79.22 150
  Labor 13,234 8.75 2 Decrease 8
  Nationalist 5,829 3.85 3 Increase 1
  Progressive Ratepayers 3,025 2.00 4 Increase 4
  Port Melbourne Progressives 2,329 1.54 2 Increase 2
  Returned Soldiers 1,480 0.98 1 Increase 1
  Reform Movement 1,431 0.95 +0.95 1 Increase 1
  Independent Labor 960 0.63 0 Steady
  Preston Progressives 836 0.55 1 Increase 1
  Unemployed Association 782 0.52 0 Steady
  East Oakleigh Improvement 386 0.26 0 Steady
  Vigilance League 375 0.25 +0.25 0 Steady
  All for Australia 272 0.18 +0.18 0 Steady
  Chelsea Ratepayers 217 0.14 0 Steady
  Country 135 0.09 0 Steady
  Communist 130 0.09 0 Steady
 Total 151,275 100.0 165

Aftermath

Labor suffered losses in Brunswick, Coburg, Collingwood, Footscray, Heidelberg, Port Melbourne and Williamstown.[1]

Four female candidates contested the elections − Ethel Blagdon (Hawthorn), Marie Dalley (Kew), Jennie Baines (Port Melbourne) and Violet Lambert (Fern Tree Gully). Lambert was elected in South Riding, defeating sitting councillor J. Hobbs with 74.04% of the vote.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d This only includes the council seats up for election in 1931.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS". Trove. The Age.
  2. ^ "FINAL REPORT Electoral Representation Review for the Boroondara City Council (see page 11)" (PDF). Victorian Electoral Commission. 2008-05-26.
  3. ^ "NATIONALIST PARTY". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. 16 September 1931. p. 1.
  4. ^ Carole Ferrier. "A red revolutionist and ranter". Australian National University. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008.
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