Northern District (South Australian Legislative Council)

The Northern District was an electoral district of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1851 to 1902. It was one of the original electoral districts established for the Council when it became partly elected. It covered the northern regions of South Australia, reflecting the significant agricultural and pastoral activities in those areas.

The boundaries of the district evolved over time as the population shifted and new districts were created. Originally, it encompassed a vast territory, but this was gradually reduced with the establishment of smaller, more localized districts such as the Central District and North-Eastern District.

Members elected to the Northern District represented the interests of landowners, farmers, and pastoralists in the region. The Legislative Council at the time primarily served as a check on the popularly elected House of Assembly, and members from rural districts like the Northern District often held conservative views.

The district ceased to exist in 1902 when the Legislative Council was reformed and the multi-member geographical districts were replaced by a single statewide electorate.