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1859 New South Wales colonial election

(Redirected from New South Wales state election, 1859)

The 1859 New South Wales colonial election was held between 9 June and 7 July 1859. This election was for all of the 80 seats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and it was conducted in 58 single-member constituencies, seven 2-member constituencies and two 4-member constituencies, all with a first past the post system.[4] Suffrage was limited to adult white males. The previous parliament of New South Wales was dissolved on 11 April 1859 by the Governor, Sir William Denison, on the advice of the Premier, Charles Cowper.

1859 New South Wales colonial election
← 1858 9 June 1859 –
7 July 1859		 1860 →
All 80 seats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
41 Assembly seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Charles Cowper William Forster
Party Government Opposition
Leader's seat East Sydney Queanbeyan
Seats won 34[1][2] 27[1][2]
Results of the election, showing winners in each seat. Seats without member charts indicate the electorate returned one member.
Premier before election

Charles Cowper

 Elected Premier

Charles Cowper[3]

There was no recognisable party structure at this election; instead the government was determined by a loose, shifting factional system. Reporters from the Maitland Mercury recognised 22 members as being part of the government, while 17 members were part of the opposition. Other members were either not sitting, not recognised by the reporters, or a member of the crossbench.[1]

Key dates

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Date Event
11 April 1859 The Legislative Assembly was dissolved, and writs were issued by the Governor to proceed with an election.
7 June to 26 June 1859 Nominations for candidates for the election closed.
9 June to 7 July 1859 Polling days.
30 August 1859 Opening of new Parliament.

Results

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Main article: Results of the 1859 New South Wales colonial election

New South Wales colonial election, 9 June 1859 – 7 July 1859 [4]
Legislative Assembly
<< 1858–1860 >>

Enrolled voters 78,231
Votes cast 52,153 Turnout 52.54 [a] +9.45
Informal votes 26 Informal 0.08 +0.08
Summary of votes by party
Party Primary votes % Swing Seats Change
Total 52,153     80  
  1. ^ There were 15 uncontested districts and turnout is based on the roll of 65,630 for the contested districts.[4]
Parliament structure based on Reporters from the Maitland Mercury.[1]
Government Opposition Crossbench
William Arnold Gilbert Eliott William Cape
James Atkinson William Forster Edward Close
Lyttleton Bayley James Hart Stephen Dark
James Byrnes John Hay Edward Flood
John Campbell Arthur Hodgson William Handcock
Charles Cowper Nicolas Hyeronimus Clark Irving
William Dalley Samuel Lyons Robert Jamison
Daniel Cooper William Macleay Andrew Loder
John Douglas James Martin George Lord
Daniel Egan Augustus Morris Randolph Nott
John Garrett Terence Murray Henry Parkes
John Hargrave William Piddington William Roberts
Richard Jones John Plunkett William Windeyer
John Lang William Russell Robert Wisdom
John Laycock Saul Samuel
Alexander McArthur Edward Sayers
George Oakes William Wild
John Richardson
John Robertson
Henry Rotton
Alexander Scott
Elias Weekes

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "OPENING OF PARLIAMENT". The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser. Vol. XVII, no. 1760. New South Wales, Australia. 1 September 1859. p. 2. Retrieved 27 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b "THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY". Empire. No. 2, 442. New South Wales, Australia. 25 July 1859. p. 4. Retrieved 31 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "The Sydney Morning Herald". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. XL, no. 6623. New South Wales, Australia. 30 August 1859. p. 4. Retrieved 28 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ a b c Green, Antony. "1859 election totals". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 September 2019.

See also

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