Central District was an electoral district for theLegislative Council of South Australia from 1882 until 1912. Prior to the passing of theConstitution Act Further Amendment Act 1881, the Legislative Council had been 18 members elected by people from across the entire Province.
At its creation in 1882, the Central District consisted of six electoral districts for theSouth Australian House of Assembly -East Adelaide,West Adelaide,North Adelaide,West Torrens,Sturt,Port Adelaide.[1] It covered the area of theCity of Adelaide and the surrounding areas on the south, west and northwest.
When created, the district was to elect six members to the Legislative Council which had been increased to 24 members, six from each of four districts. Transitional arrangements meant that members were only to be elected from the new districts as the terms of the existing members expired.[1] From 1891, all members of the Council were elected by districts.
TheConstitution Act Amendment Act 1901 reduced the size of the parliament, but Central District was the only one to continue to elect six members, from a slightly larger area including some of theAdelaide Hills.[2] TheConstitution Act Further Amendment Act 1913 (No. 1148) increased the size of the Council (among other changes), by dividing the Central District intoCentral District No. 1 andCentral District No. 2, each of which elected four members.[3]
Central district was divided intoCentral District No. 1 andCentral District No. 2 by theConstitution Act Further Amendment Act 1913 (No. 1148), each of which would have four representatives.[3] The act provided that the sitting members should decide amongst themselves which three represented each of the two new districts. Their decision was[4]