▁for ▁at ▁least ▁three ▁significant ▁and ▁end uring ▁contributions ▁to ▁the ▁parliament ary ▁system ▁of ▁Victoria : ▁draft ing ▁the ▁first ▁Constitution ▁of ▁Victoria , ▁ens uring ▁a ▁secret ▁ball ot ▁within ▁elections ▁( a ▁novel ty ▁within ▁the ▁British ▁Empire ▁at ▁the ▁time ), ▁and ▁ordering ▁the ▁construction ▁of ▁Victor ian ▁Parliament ▁House ▁in ▁Melbourne . ▁ ▁The ▁Victor ian ▁Constitution ▁was ▁approved ▁by ▁the ▁Legisl ative ▁Council ▁in ▁March ▁ 1 8 5 4 , ▁was ▁sent ▁to ▁Britain ▁where ▁it ▁was ▁passed ▁by ▁the ▁United ▁Kingdom ▁Parliament ▁as ▁the ▁Victoria ▁Constitution ▁Act ▁ 1 8 5 5 , ▁was ▁granted ▁Royal ▁Ass ent ▁on ▁ 1 6 ▁July ▁ 1 8 5 5 ▁and ▁was ▁proc laimed ▁in ▁Victoria ▁on ▁ 2 3 ▁November ▁ 1 8 5 5 . ▁The ▁constitution ▁established ▁the ▁West min ster - style ▁system ▁of ▁responsible ▁government ▁that ▁continues ▁in ▁Victoria ▁today . ▁It ▁further ▁st ip ulated ▁several ▁pre cond itions ▁on ▁voting ▁that ▁have ▁since ▁been ▁res c ind ed ▁such ▁as ▁restrict ing ▁voting ▁to ▁only ▁men ▁of ▁at ▁least ▁ 2 1 ▁years ▁of ▁age ▁who ▁met ▁minimum ▁wealth ▁standards . ▁R ural ▁districts ▁were ▁also ▁very ▁over - re present ed ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁favour ▁large ▁land own ers . ▁ ▁The ▁election ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁Victor ian ▁Parliament ▁was ▁held ▁during ▁the ▁spring ▁of ▁ 1 8 5 6 , ▁the ▁first ▁Victor ian ▁M embers ▁of ▁Parliament ▁met ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁November ▁ 1 8 5