During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the Legislative Council was appointed by the Governor (on the advice of the Premier) and members served for life. There was no limit to the number of members and these generally grew as successive governments appointed more members.

The Legislative Council or upper house was designed as a safe, conservative element between the lower house and the Governor.

During the 1920's the Labor Premier Jack Lang advocated the abolition of the Legislative Council so that there would be less resistance to his legislative programme.

By the 1930's the non-Labor side of politics led By Sir Thomas Bavin also decided that the Legislative Council was in need of reform to remove the threat of stacking. A reform referendum was held in 1933 with the yes vote just winning.

Under this 1933 reconstitution there were 60 members composed of 15 elected every 3 years for fixed terms of 12 years by the combined members of both houses by proportional representation. That indirect method of election lasted until 1978 when it was replaced by popular election.

Members of the Legislative Council are currently elected by proportional representation with the whole state voting as one electorate. There were transitional stages to popular election with some members continuing from the old system.

However at each of the 1978,1981 and 1984 general elections 15 Council members were elected by proportional representation which meant a total of 45 MLCs [members of the Legislative Council] with a tenure of 3 Legislative Assembly terms.

Excerpt from Australian Political Facts Second Edition Ian McAllister, Malcolm Mackerras and Carolyn Brown Boldiston Melbourne: Macmillan. 1997.