Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in NSW 1856-2006

May 2006 marks 150 years since the people of NSW elected their first Parliament under a system of responsible government. The Parliament has been involved in a number of events and projects celebrating this historic event.

Commemorative Projects Undertaken by the Parliament

Information sheets:

Books and Library projects: (*For sale from Federation Press and State Library Bookshop)

‘Decision and Deliberation: The Parliament of NSW 1856–2003’, by David Clune and Gareth Griffith.*
‘The Premiers of NSW 1856–2005’, by David Clune and Ken Turner.*
‘Parliament, Politics and Public Works: A History of the NSW Public Works Committee 1888-1930’, by Clive Beauchamp.*
Conservation of historic Electoral Maps held by the Parliamentary Library.

These projects were undertaken with support from the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in NSW Committee and funding from the NSW Government.

On-line databases:

Parliamentary Debates published in the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’, 1843–1880.
Biographical Register of former Members of the Parliament of NSW dating back to 1824 (Parliamentary Archives).

Commemorative Dates

Day	150 years ago
11 March - 19 April	First elections for the new Legislative Assembly
13 May	Appointment of the first Members of the new Legislative Council
22 May	First meeting of the new Parliament of NSW
6 June	Swearing-in of first Ministry and first Premier (Stuart Donaldson)

Events at Parliament House

Date	Event
31 March 2006	Book launch in the Legislative Assembly chamber: * Transcripts of speeches now available ‘The Premiers of NSW 1856 - 2005’, by David Clune and Ken Turner, and ‘Decision and Deliberation: The Parliament of NSW 1856 – 2003’, by David Clune and Gareth Griffith.
20 - 21 May 2006	Open Day Weekend. Parliament House will be open for visitors. In conjunction with the Open Day weekend, a colloquium on writing party history will be held in Parliament House on Saturday 20 May.
Throughout May 2006	Exhibition in the Parliament House Fountain Court Foyer: ‘The First Parliament’ (material sourced by Parliamentary Archives). Exhibition in the Parliament House Fountain Court Foyer: Selected artworks from the Parliamentary Collection, including the Brett Whiteley ‘Portrait of Patrick White’.
9 June 2006	Women Candidates for the NSW Parliament

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