Berry's electoral victory in 1877 came as leader of the National Reform and Protection League, which historian Sean Scalmer contends was Australia's first mass political party with a parliamentary caucus, local branches, a policy platform, and an early form of candidate preselection.
[8] The Liberals held government throughout almost the entire 1890s and early 1900s, led at different times by James Munro (1890-1892), William Shiels (1892-1893), George Turner (1894-1899 and 1900-1901), Allan McLean (1899-1900) and Alexander Peacock (1901-1902).
[9] Ahead of the first 1902 state election, the new National Citizens' Reform League was formed, made up of both Liberals and Conservatives, led by Thomas Bent.
[12][13] The party was formed ahead of the 1897 colonial election to settle disputes between several Liberal candidates standing for the same seats.
[3] The Reform League had disbanded shortly after the 1904 state election, leading to the majority of Liberals and Conservatives sitting separately before the ULP's formation.
[29] However, after only a single year, Liberals John Murray and Alexander Peacock successfully moved a no-confidence motion against Bent.
[31] The ULP were able to win more seats, but on 8 January 1909, Murray successfully moved a motion of no-confidence in Bent's government and succeeded him as Premier.
At a state level, the breaking point for the Nationalist government was Premier Alexander Peacock's decision to increase rail fares to rural areas.