The Bolte Ministry was the 58th Ministry of the Government of Victoria, and was led by Liberal Premier Sir Henry Bolte. It succeeded the Cain ministry on 7 June 1955, following the defeat of the Labor government at the 1955 election held ten days earlier. The ministry lasted over 17 years and was followed by the Hamer Ministry on 24 August 1972 after the resignation of Bolte from politics.
First Ministry On 7 and 8 June 1955, the Governor, Sir Dallas Brooks, appointed the following ministers to the portfolios indicated. Some changes resulted from the departure of William Leggatt, who was appointed Agent-General for Victoria in London in February 1956, the death of Robert Whately the following month, and the appointment of Gordon McArthur as President of the Victorian Legislative Council. However, the ministry was stable from 1956 until its reconstitution after the 1961 election.
The list below is ordered by decreasing seniority within the Cabinet, as indicated by the Government Gazette and the Victorian Year Book.
Minister Portfolios Henry Bolte, MLAPremier Treasurer Minister for Conservation Arthur Rylah, MLADeputy Premier Chief Secretary Leader of the Government in the Legislative Assembly Attorney-General Arthur Warner, MLCMinister of Transport Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council Gilbert Chandler, MLCMinister for Agriculture Minister for Forests (21 March 1956 to 10 April 1956) Minister for State Development and Decentralisation (21 March 1956 to 10 April 1956) Minister for Immigration (21 March 1956 to 10 April 1956) William Leggatt, MLA(until 2 February 1956)Minister for Education Minister for Immigration Sir Thomas Maltby, MLACommissioner of Public Works Sir Ewen Paul Cameron, MLCMinister for Health Wilfred Mibus, MLAMinister for Water Supply Minister of Mines Robert Whately, MLA(until 17 March 1956)Minister for Forests Minister for State Development and Decentralisation Minister for Immigration (from 14 February 1956) John Bloomfield, MLAMinister for Labour and Industry (until 14 February 1956) Minister for Electrical Undertakings (until 14 February 1956) Minister for Education (from 14 February 1956) Horace Petty, MLAMinister for Housing Minister for Immigration (from 10 April 1956) Keith Turnbull, MLAMinister for Soldier Settlement Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey President of the Board of Land and Works George Reid, MLAMinister without portfolio (until 14 February 1956) Minister for Labour and Industry (from 14 February 1956) Minister for Electrical Undertakings (from 14 February 1956) Gordon McArthur, MLC(until 8 July 1958)Minister without portfolio (until 10 April 1956) Minister for Forests (from 10 April 1956) Minister for State Development and Decentralisation (from 10 April 1956) Murray Porter, MLA(from 14 February 1956)Minister without portfolio (until 16 July 1958) Minister for Forests (16 July 1958 – 21 January 1959) Minister for Local Government (from 16 December 1958) Alexander Fraser, MLA(from 27 March 1956)Minister without portfolio (until 21 January 1959) Minister for Forests (from 21 January 1959) Minister for State Development (from 21 January 1959) Lindsay Thompson, MLC(from 16 July 1958)Minister without portfolio
Second Ministry On 28 July 1961, following the 1961 election, the Bolte Ministry was reconstituted. Sir Ewen Cameron became Chairman of Committees in the Legislative Council, whilst Sir Thomas Maltby retired from politics. They were replaced by Ronald Mack and Edward Meagher. The ministry was reconstituted on 8 July 1964 following the 1964 election.
Minister Portfolios Henry Bolte, MLAPremier Treasurer Arthur Rylah, MLADeputy Premier Chief Secretary Leader of the Government in the Legislative Assembly Attorney-General Arthur Warner, MLC(until 5 September 1962)Minister of Transport Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council Gilbert Chandler, MLCMinister for Agriculture Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council (from 5 September 1962) Wilfred Mibus, MLA(until 18 April 1964)Minister for Water Supply Minister of Mines John Bloomfield, MLAMinister for Education Horace Petty, MLA(until 27 May 1964)Minister for Immigration (until 9 January 1962) Commissioner of Public Works Keith Turnbull, MLAMinister for Conservation Minister for Soldier Settlement Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey President of the Board of Land and Works George Reid, MLAMinister for Labour and Industry Minister for Electrical Undertakings Murray Porter, MLAMinister for Local Government Commissioner of Public Works (from 27 May 1964) Alexander Fraser, MLAMinister for State Development Lindsay Thompson, MLCMinister for Housing Minister for Forests Ronald Mack, MLCMinister for Health Edward Meagher, MLAMinister without portfolio (until 9 January 1962) Minister for Immigration (9 January – 5 September 1962) Minister of Transport (from 5 September 1962) Rupert Hamer, MLC Minister for Immigration (from 5 September 1962) Jim Balfour, MLA(from 28 April 1964)Minister for Water Supply Minister of Mines
Third Ministry On 8 July 1964, following the 1964 election, the Bolte Ministry was reconstituted.
Minister Portfolios Sir Henry Bolte, MLAPremier Treasurer Minister for State Development (until 16 July 1964)Sir Arthur Rylah, MLADeputy Premier Chief Secretary Leader of the Government in the Legislative Assembly Attorney-General Minister for Health (15–22 September 1965) Gilbert Chandler, MLCMinister for Agriculture Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council John Bloomfield, MLAMinister for Education Sir George Reid, MLAMinister for Labour and Industry (until 2 December 1965) Minister for Electrical Undertakings (until 2 December 1965) Minister for Fuel and Power (from 2 December 1965) Murray Porter, MLACommissioner of Public Works Lindsay Thompson, MLCMinister for Housing Minister for Forests Ronald Mack, MLC(until 15 September 1965)Minister for Health Edward Meagher, MLAMinister of Transport Rupert Hamer, MLC Minister for Local Government Jim Balfour, MLAMinister for Conservation Minister for Soldier Settlement Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey President of the Board of Land and Works Thomas Darcy, MLAMinister for Water Supply Minister of Mines John Rossiter, MLA Minister without portfolio (until 2 December 1965) Minister for Immigration (from 2 December 1965) Vernon Wilcox, MLAMinister for Immigration (until 2 December 1965) Minister for Labour and Industry (from 2 December 1965) Pat Dickie, MLC(from 16 July 1964)Minister for State Development (until 2 December 1965) Minister for Health (from 22 September 1965) Jim Manson, MLA(from 22 September 1965)Minister without portfolio (until 2 December 1965) Minister for State Development (from 2 December 1965)
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