# Results of the 1848 New South Wales colonial election

The 1848 New South Wales colonial election was held between 29 July and 2 August. No candidates were nominated for Port Phillip as a result of the campaign for independence from New South Wales, and a fresh writ was issued for an election on 3 October.

## Results by district
### County of Argyle

1848 New South Wales colonial election, 31 July: County of Argyle :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Charles Nicholson (elected) | Charles Nicholson (elected) | unopposed | |

### County of Bathurst

1848 New South Wales colonial election, 29 July: County of Bathurst :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| John Darvall (elected) | John Darvall (elected) | 87 | 50 |
| Francis Lord | Francis Lord | 87 | 50 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 174 | 100 |
The returning officer gave his casting vote in favour of John Darvall.

### County of Camden

1848 New South Wales colonial election, 31 July: County of Camden :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| James Macarthur (elected) | James Macarthur (elected) | unopposed | |

### Counties of Cook and Westmoreland

1848 New South Wales colonial election, 29 July: Counties of Cook and Westmoreland :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| James Martin (elected) | James Martin (elected) | 103 | 66 |
| Alfred Cheeke | Alfred Cheeke | 54 | 34 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 157 | 100 |
The election of James Martin was declared void on the grounds that he was not qualified to stand; however, he was re-elected unopposed. Martin subsequently sued the Speaker of the Legislative Council, Charles Nicholson and the Sergeant at Arms, William Christie, for trespass for having him removed when there had been no decision of the Electoral Court in accordance with the Electoral Act 1843. The Full Court of the Supreme Court held that under the Electoral Act 1843 it was only the Electoral Court that could determine there was a vacancy and not the Governor.

### County of Cumberland

Two members to be elected
1848 New South Wales colonial election, 2 August: County of Cumberland :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Charles Cowper (elected 1) | Charles Cowper (elected 1) | 637 | 38 |
| Nelson Lawson (elected 2) | Nelson Lawson (elected 2) | 556 | 33 |
| Henry Gilbert Smith | Henry Gilbert Smith | 490 | 29 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 1,683 | 100 |

### Cumberland Boroughs

1848 New South Wales colonial election, 1 August: Cumberland Boroughs :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| William Bowman (elected) | William Bowman (elected) | 165 | 89 |
| Robert Fitzgerald | Robert Fitzgerald | 20 | 11 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 185 | 100 |

### County of Durham

1848 New South Wales colonial election, 26 July: County of Durham :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Stuart Donaldson (elected) | Stuart Donaldson (elected) | Show of Hands | |
| Andrew Lang | Andrew Lang | | |
On 26 July 1848, the day prescribed for nominations, Stuart Donaldson and Andrew Lang were nominated. A show of hands was in favour of Donaldson and Lang demanded a poll. The returning officer had neglected to make any preparations for a poll and so declared Donaldson elected. Donaldson attempted to resign on 16 August. The election was declared void by the court of disputed returns and a new writ issued.

### Counties of Gloucester, Macquarie, and Stanley

1848 New South Wales colonial election, 2 August: Counties of Gloucester, Macquarie, and Stanley :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Kenneth Snodgrass (elected) | Kenneth Snodgrass (elected) | 98 | 68 |
| Archibald Boyd | Archibald Boyd | 47 | 32 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 145 | 100 |
| Voter turnout | Voter turnout | 48% | 48% |
The writ was not returned in time and the Governor issued a proclamation declaring the election was valid despite the delay.

### Counties of Hunter, Brisbane and Bligh

1848 New South Wales colonial election, 29 July: Counties of Hunter, Brisbane and Bligh :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Donald McIntyre (elected) | Donald McIntyre (elected) | 19 | 70 |
| William Dumaresq | William Dumaresq | 6 | 22 |
| John Lang | John Lang | 2 | 7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 27 | 100 |

### City of Melbourne

1848 New South Wales colonial election, 26 July: City of Melbourne :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Earl Grey (elected) | Earl Grey (elected) | 295 | 74 |
| John Foster | John Foster | 102 | 26 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 397 | 100 |
Earl Grey, the Colonial Secretary in London, had never set foot in the colony and there was no suggestion he met the property requirement for election. He was nominated and elected as part of the campaign for independence, protesting against government by New South Wales.

### Counties of Murray, King and Georgiana

1848 New South Wales colonial election, 31 July: Counties of Murray, King and Georgiana :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Terence Murray (elected) | Terence Murray (elected) | unopposed | |

### County of Northumberland

1848 New South Wales colonial election, 31 July: County of Northumberland :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Henry Dangar (elected) | Henry Dangar (elected) | 127 | 64 |
| Charles Salmon Vallack | Charles Salmon Vallack | 73 | 36 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 200 | 100 |

### Northumberland Boroughs

1848 New South Wales colonial election, 29 July: Northumberland Boroughs :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Bob Nichols (elected) | Bob Nichols (elected) | 185 | 70 |
| William Moir | William Moir | 80 | 30 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 265 | 100 |

### Town of Parramatta

1848 New South Wales colonial election, 28 July: Town of Parramatta :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| George Oakes (elected) | George Oakes (elected) | 101 | 53 |
| William Macarthur | William Macarthur | 89 | 47 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 190 | 100 |

### Port Phillip

Five members to be elected
1848 New South Wales colonial election, 3 October: Port Phillip :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Lauchlan Mackinnon (elected 1) | Lauchlan Mackinnon (elected 1) | 239 | 17 |
| James Williamson (elected 2) | James Williamson (elected 2) | 234 | 16 |
| John Dickson (elected 3) | John Dickson (elected 3) | 232 | 16 |
| James Palmer (elected 4) | James Palmer (elected 4) | 226 | 16 |
| Edward Curr (elected 5) | Edward Curr (elected 5) | 189 | 13 |
| The Duke of Wellington, Lord Palmerston, Lord Brougham, Lord John Russell, Sir Robert Peel | The Duke of Wellington, Lord Palmerston, Lord Brougham, Lord John Russell, Sir Robert Peel | 58 | 4 |
| William Macarthur | William Macarthur | 25 | 1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 1,435 | 100 |
The original polling day was 27 July; however, no candidates were nominated for Port Phillip as a result of the campaign for independence from New South Wales. A further writ was issued on 25 August.

### Counties of Roxburgh, Phillip and Wellington

1848 New South Wales colonial election, 31 July: Counties of Roxburgh, Phillip and Wellington :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| William Suttor Sr. (elected) | William Suttor Sr. (elected) | unopposed | |

### Counties of St Vincent and Auckland

1848 New South Wales colonial election, 31 July: Counties of St Vincent and Auckland :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| George Hill (elected) | George Hill (elected) | 14 | 56 |
| Robert Lowe | Robert Lowe | 11 | 44 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 25 | 100 |
The writ was not returned in time and the Governor issued a proclamation declaring the election was valid despite the delay.

### City of Sydney

Two members to be elected
1848 New South Wales colonial election, 28 July: City of Sydney :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| William Wentworth (elected 1) | William Wentworth (elected 1) | 1,168 | 29 |
| Robert Lowe (elected 2) | Robert Lowe (elected 2) | 1,012 | 25 |
| John Lamb | John Lamb | 950 | 24 |
| William Bland | William Bland | 874 | 22 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 4,004 | 100 |