They were the first elections to be held for the Legislative Assembly, which had been created earlier in the year by a new constitution that granted Western Australia responsible self-government.

[1] The Legislative Assembly had been established by Western Australia's new constitution, which was enacted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom on 21 August 1890 and proclaimed in Perth on 21 October 1890.

[4] In several uncontested electorates, an informal election was held before the official polling day, in which members of local organisations determined their preferred representative.

[1] The Governor of Western Australia, Sir William Robinson, decided that he would not commission a government until the elections had been held.

[1] It had initially been assumed that Stephen Henry Parker would be chosen as Western Australia's first premier, but John Forrest actively sought the position, arguing that he was the only candidate with prior governmental experience (as a former Surveyor-General).