ABSTRACT
Self-government for the Australian colonies was not mentioned in the Australian Constitutions Act 1850 but at the insistence of the colonists Britain accepted that self-government would be a result of the new constitution making. What form would the self-government take? Self-government began in South Australia in 1856 with one man, one vote, and the secret ballot, and in New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria in 1855 with something less than that, with one man, one vote, and the secret ballot later introduced in 1858 and 1857, respectively. Restrictions on democracy remained, including women did not have the right to vote, less democratic Legislative Councils with property qualifications for voting, or nominated, unequal electorates weighted towards more conservative country regions, multiple voting, and remaining British powers.
