It was based in north-eastern Victoria, south of the Murray River.[2] Its area was defined in the Victorian Constitution Act of 1855 as: "Bounded on the South and West by the Counties of Evelyn and Anglesea and the River Goulburn to its Junction with the River Murray; on the North and North-east by the River Murray; and on the East by the great dividing Range, excepting the Country comprised in the Electoral Districts of the Murray Boroughs and of Beechworth" (Ovens).[3]
History
The Murray Boroughs was a separate electorate and consisted of the towns of Wodonga, Wangaratta, Benalla, Euroa, Avenal and Seymour.[3]
In August 1861 the electorate was declared for David Reid with 393 votes, a majority of ten, over John Orr.[5] Mr Curtis A. Reid, the returning electoral officer for The Murray and brother of David Reid disallowed the entirety of the Longwood votes as they were made in pencil[6] not pen and ink. John Orr brought a petition against the return of David Reid[7][8] and in May 1862 the Elections and Qualification Committee declared the votes legal and disqualified David Reid as member for The Murray.[9]
Members for The Murray
Initially, two members represented the electorate,[4][10] then only one following the redistribution of 1859.[11]