Prior to the passing of the Constitution Act Further Amendment Act 1881, the Legislative Council was 18 members elected by people from across the entire Province.
At its creation in 1882, the Southern District consisted of seven electoral districts for the South Australian House of Assembly - Onkaparinga, Noarlunga, Mount Barker, Encounter Bay, Albert, Victoria and East Torrens.
All Southern District seats were filled from the 1890 by-election.
The Constitution Act Amendment Act 1901 reduced the size of the parliament, and Southern District then elected four members from the area of new enlarged Assembly districts of Victoria and Albert, Alexandra and Murray which covered roughly the same area, but with variation in the Adelaide Hills.
[2] From the 1902 double dissolution election, most districts only elected 4 members, for staggered terms twice as long as those of the lower house.