[1][2] After the election, with none of the political groupings having an outright majority, a government was formed on 8 March 1883 by a coalition led by James Service (taking the positions of Premier, Treasurer and Minister of Public Instruction), and Graham Berry (as Chief Secretary and Postmaster-General).

[5] O'Loghlen's tenure as Premier prior to the 1883 election had been, as later described in the Adelaide Observer, a period of "muddle and confusion".

[5] During its term the parliament also passed the Factories and Shops Act, legalised trade unions and the eight hours' day and introduced important land legislation, as well as clearing a backlog of long-delayed bills.

[5] Towards the end of the term of the Service-Berry coalition government, Melbourne's The Age newspaper commented that "no Parliament can show a more imposing record of measures of great public utility".

[5] Berry, the Liberal leader in the coalition, also resigned before the 1886 election, after which he was appointed as the Victorian Agent-General in London.