Research Guides: Victorian Government publications: Parliament, parliamentarians & ministries

Victorian parliamentary handbook

The Victorian parliamentary handbook includes biographical information on current and historical members, as well as general historical information on the Victorian Parliament. A new edition is published for each new Parliament about one to two years after the previous general election. The Parliament of Victoria web site (below) provides a current account of this information.

The items listed below provide histories of Parliament, biographical information on former parliamentarians and lists of ministers and ministries.

Online - Parliament of Victoria
Contains information from the Victorian parliamentary handbook. You can search for former members and there is also a table listing of previous parliaments.
Victorian parliamentary handbook
In print from 1981 onwards.
The Victorian parliamentary handbook by compiled as a handy reference for the use of honorable members.
Published in print for the years 1913, 1915 and 1925.
Australian dictionary of biography
A key resource for Australian biographical information including many biographies of Victorian politicians who died prior to 1980.

Books

There are a range of books that look at the history of the government of Victoria. To find biographies of specific members search the catalogue using the person's name. Parliamentarians that held high office (premiers for instance) will often be the subject of biographies.

Some of the most notable references on Victoria's parliament and parliamentarians are listed below.

A handbook of Australian government and politics, 1855–1999
Provides lists of Governors, lists of ministries, lists of ministers in particular portfolios, summaries of changes to electoral law and results of elections including which parties won which seats.
A people’s counsel: a history of the parliament of Victoria, 1856–1990
A fine and substantial history.
Re-member: a database of all Victorian MPs since 1851
Updates the Biographical register of the Victorian Parliament. Includes brief biographical information on all members of the Parliament of Victoria. Includes party affiliation, seat, political offices, dates of birth and death, marriage and children, religion and occupation, and images.
A biographical register of the Victorian Parliament, 1851–2006
Includes brief biographical information on all members of the Parliament of Victoria and gives list of sources. Includes party affiliation, seat, political offices, dates of birth and death, marriage and children, religion and occupation.
A blended house: the Legislative Council of Victoria, 1851–1856
History of the pre-self government Legislative Council.
The government of Victoria
Although almost thirty years old, still very useful for history of Victorian Parliament and development of government in the colony and the state.
150 years of Spring Street: Victorian government: 1850s to 21st century
This more recent history is also available online . It can be accessed from home by Victorian Users.

Opening Parliament 1929

Opening of Parliament by the Hon. Sir William Irvine, Lieut.-Governor of Victoria 3rd July, 1929, H30248

Statistics

For downloadable statistics from a range of departments see the VicData site.

Victorian Government publications

Victorian parliamentary handbook

Books

Opening Parliament 1929

Statistics

State Library Victoria