1876 University of Sydney colonial by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of University of Sydney on 5 October 1876 because of creation of the district. The Electoral Act 1858 (NSW) provided that the district would be established once there were 100 people who had graduated from the University of Sydney with a Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Medicine or Master of Arts. ^[1] In June 1876 the University an additional graduate with a Doctor of Law and 10 with a Master of Arts, ^[2] bringing the total to 111. ^[3] Voting was restricted to members of the university senate, professors, public teachers and examiners, the principals of incorporated colleges within the university, masters of arts, doctors of laws or medicine and members of the University who were entitled to vote for the university senate. ^[1]

While there was no qualification for candidates, William Windeyer graduated with a Master of Arts in 1859, ^[4] and Edmund Barton had graduated with a Master of Arts in 1870. ^[5]

Dates

Date	Event
24 July 1876	Writ of election issued by the Governor. [6]
7 September 1876	Nominations at the Great Hall of the University
8 September 1876	Polling day
12 September 1876	Return of writ

Result

1876 University of Sydney by-election
Friday 8 September  ^[3]

Candidate		Votes	%
William Windeyer (elected)		49	53
Edmund Barton		43	47
Total formal votes		92	100
Informal votes		0	0
Turnout		92	83

See also

• Electoral results for the district of University of Sydney
• List of New South Wales state by-elections

References

1. Electoral Act 1858 (NSW).
2. "Sydney University". The Sydney Morning Herald . 30 June 1876. p. 9. Retrieved 31 October 2020– via Trove.
3. Green, Antony. "1876 University of Sydney by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 31 October 2020.
4. "Sir William Charles Windeyer (1834–1897)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 13 May 2019.
5. "Sir Edmund Barton GCMG (1849–1920)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 16 April 2019.
6. "Writ of election: University of Sydney". New South Wales Government Gazette . No. 249. 26 July 1876. p. 2857. Retrieved 31 October 2020– via Trove.