The Greens' Lidia Thorpe has become the first Aboriginal woman elected to Victorian parliament following a more than ten per cent swing against Labor in the Northcote by-election.
The minor party claimed a shock victory over the government on Saturday night despite predictions of a narrow Labor win.
"We said we'd make history, and we did," Ms Thorpe told jubilant supporters in Northcote.
"To be the first Aboriginal woman in the Victorian parliament ... I feel so privileged and honoured to have made that, made that history.
"For a kid that grew up in public housing, and a kid that has survived family violence, anything is possible."
With almost 80 per cent of the votes counted, Ms Thorpe has 45 per cent of the primary vote, and a 56-44 two-party preferred lead over Labor candidate Clare Burns.
The government poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into Northcote, focusing on housing affordability and rental reform, and rolling out a "proud environmentalist, vegan" candidate to woo progressive voters.
But the Greens have steadily eaten away at the inner-city vote for years, taking the seat of Melbourne in 2014, and turning many Northcote booths green at the 2016 federal election.
The party now has three seats in state's lower house.
The by-election was prompted by Labor MP Fiona Richardson's sudden death from cancer in August, and was effectively a two-horse race despite the 10 other candidates.
"Labor will not win Northcote tonight," Premier Daniel Andrews said as he conceded defeat.
