New Greens Member for Melbourne, Ellen Sandell, celebrates with supporters. Credit:Wayne Hawkins "It's clear that under any of the possible arrangements that the government will need the Greens to pass bills in the upper house," he said. The Greens' Melbourne win is a historic victory that has given them their first lower house state seat. Ellen Sandell will be the first Greens representative to sit in the legislative assembly. A 9.8 per cent swing to the Greens delivered Ms Sandell victory over the ALP incumbent Jennifer Kanis, who took the seat in a by-election in 2012.

Successful Greens candidate Ellen Sandell and party leader Greg Barber at the Kensington Primary School polling booth on Saturday. Credit:Paul Jeffers Greens supporters filled an inner-city bar to celebrate the party's long-awaited victory in Melbourne, which came without the help of preferences from the Liberals. Federal leader Christine Milne introduced state counterpart Greg Barber who drew roars when he told the crowd: "We did it, we did it." Mr Barber told party faithful: "We know what we're fighting for and we know what we're up against and we know what we have to do to win". Ms Sandell thanked her campaign team for all their hard work.

"I'm absolutely humbled by all the support I've had thoughtout the community," she said. Ms Sandell said her victory was shared among volunteers and supporters. "It belongs to the people of Melbourne - they want to see a fairer society. They don't want to be stuck in the past." Prahran Greens candidate Sam Hibbins says the party's result in the seat was a "vindication" of the Greens choosing to make it a priority seat, and a vindication of the way they campaigned. "Even though we won't know the result until next week, we are very happy about the result so far."

At about 10.30pm a volunteer announced the VEC had just done their first two-party-preferred count between the Greens and Liberals in at least one booth, Grattan Gardens. ALP member for Richmond, Richard Wynne, says it's "too early too tell" if he'll hang onto the seat, after the Greens snatched a 2.95 per cent swing towards them. Counting is still continuing but the the Greens' Kathleen Maltzahn is slightly behind in the inner-city seat. "We're just marginally in front. Time will tell who will win," Mr Wynne said. Ms Maltzahn said her seat was still too close to call but was hopeful of snatching victory.

"This is excruciating, I'm used to losing," she said "Calling it won, then lost, then too close to call is a bit difficult." Brunswick is also on a knife edge, with Labor member Jane Garrett on the brink of being unseated by Greens challenger Tim Read. Late on Saturday night Ms Garrett was set to hold the seat by a margin of 3.6 per cent. The Liberals ran a distant third, with candidate Giuseppe Vellotti getting a primary vote of just 16 per cent. Mr Barber said the Green vote was up in the city and regional areas and he was not prepared to concede defeat in the other seats where it could win.

He said Labor had a mandate to form government but so did the Greens to fight for its policies. "Now we have another fight on our hands, despite the mini makeover they are still the same old Labor Party," he said He committed to ensuring Labor kept its promise to tear up the contract for the East West Link. "Without the Greens striving with all of our energy and our skill we won't see those changes." With the record number of pre-poll votes still to be counted, Melbourne MP Adam Bandt urged supporters to sign up as scrutineers.

Supporters were told that the Greens were hopeful of upper house gains to complement any lower house victories. "What we know is every vote counts," he said. Loading With official duties done for the night, everyone started dancing to the Pointer Sisters' I'm So Excited. With Lucy Battersby