Graham Berry Liberal James Service Constitutionalist The February 1880 Victorian colonial election was held on 28 February 1880 to elect the 10th Parliament of Victoria.

[1] The liberal (or protectionist) government of Graham Berry was narrowly defeated by the Constitutionalist (moderate liberal) opposition led by James Service, who formed a new government on March 5.

[1][2] Although James Service won the February 1880 election with a workable majority, he remained Premier for only six months after an unsuccessful attempt to reform the Legislative Council.

The Service Reform Bill provided for a wider Legislative Council franchise and a double dissolution if the Council twice rejected a bill passed by the Assembly in two consecutive sessions (followed by a joint sitting of the Houses).

[3] In June 1880 a motion for the second reading of the reform bill in the Legislative Assembly was lost by two votes, after which Service was granted a dissolution in the full confidence he would win the subsequent election.