1857 South Australian colonial election

No parties or solid groupings would be formed until after the 1890 election, which resulted in frequent changes of the Premier of South Australia. If for any reason the incumbent Premier lost sufficient support through a successful motion of no confidence at any time on the floor of the house, he would tender his resignation to the Governor of South Australia, which would result in interested members declaring their intent to run for the vacant position. A parliamentary ballot would then take place, resulting in the member with the most votes being sworn in by the Governor as the next Premier.

Informal groupings began and increased government stability occurred from the 1887 election. The United Labor Party would be formed in 1891, while the National Defence League would be formed later in the same year.

The first six Governors of South Australia oversaw governance from proclamation in 1836 until self-government and an elected bicameral Parliament of South Australia was enacted in the year prior to the inaugural 1857 election. The pre-1857 unicameral Legislative Council was partially represented from earlier 1851 and 1855 elections.

• Members of the South Australian House of Assembly, 1857–1860
• Members of the South Australian Legislative Council, 1857–1861

• History of South Australian elections 1857-2006, volume 1: ECSA
• Statistical Record of the Legislature 1836-2007: SA Parliament