# Results of the 1856 New South Wales colonial election

The 1856 New South Wales colonial election was to return 54 members of Legislative Assembly composed of 34 electoral districts with 18 returning 1 member, 13 returning 2 members, two returning 3 members and one returning 4 members, all with a first past the post system. In multi-member districts, because each voter could cast more than one vote, it is not possible to total the votes to show the number of voters and voter turnout in these districts is estimated. 8 members from 6 districts were returned unopposed.

## Results by district
### Argyle

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Argyle :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| John Plunkett (elected) | John Plunkett (elected) | 182 | 52.9 |
| John Chisholm | John Chisholm | 162 | 47.1 |
| Columbus Fitzpatrick | Columbus Fitzpatrick | 0 | 0.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 344 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 344 | 64.4 |
Polling was conducted on 31 March 1856. Plunkett served in the old Legislative Council as an appointed member. After failed attempts to win election for Sydney City and North Eastern Boroughs, Plunkett was elected to represent Bathurst (County) on the same day as winning Argyle. After attending the first sitting of Parliament representing both seats, and even attempting to use both votes in the ballot for Speaker, Plunkett resigned as MP for Bathurst (County) and represented Argyle. Sitting Legislative Councillor for County of Argyle was Charles Nicholson who did not contest the election.

### Bathurst (County)

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Bathurst (County) :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| John Plunkett (elected) | John Plunkett (elected) | 210 | 54.0 |
| James Bligh | James Bligh | 179 | 46.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 389 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 389 | 54.6 |
Polling was conducted on 31 March 1856. Both Bligh and Plunkett had served in the old Legislative Council, Bligh representing County of Bathurst and Plunkett as an appointed member. After failed attempts to win election for Sydney City and North Eastern Boroughs, Plunkett was elected to represent Argyle on the same day as winning Bathurst (County). After signing the attendance book at the first sitting as a representative of both seats, and even attempting to vote twice in the ballot for Speaker, he chose to represent Argyle and resigned as member for Bathurst (County).

### Clarence and Darling Downs

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Clarence and Darling Downs :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Clark Irving (elected) | Clark Irving (elected) | 193 | 65.9 |
| Colin McKenzie | Colin McKenzie | 100 | 34.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 293 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 293 | 46.1 |
Polling was conducted on 15 April 1856. Sitting Legislative Councillor for Pastoral Districts of Clarence and Darling Downs was Thomas Hood who did not contest the election but was appointed to the new Legislative Council.

### Cook and Westmoreland

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Cook and Westmoreland :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| James Martin (elected 1) | James Martin (elected 1) | 321 | 39.5 |
| Robert Jamison (elected 2) | Robert Jamison (elected 2) | 303 | 37.3 |
| John Arkins | John Arkins | 189 | 23.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 813 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 487 | 54.4 |
Polling was conducted on 4 April 1856. Martin represented Counties of Cook and Westmoreland in the old Legislative Council.

### Cumberland Boroughs

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Cumberland Boroughs :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| William Bowman (elected) | William Bowman (elected) | 129 | 28.2 |
| Ralph Robey | Ralph Robey | 124 | 27.1 |
| William Redman | William Redman | 115 | 25.1 |
| Robert Ross | Robert Ross | 90 | 19.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 458 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 458 | 65.9 |
Polling was conducted on 8 April 1856. Bowman represented this seat in the old Legislative Council.

### Cumberland (North Riding)

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Cumberland (North Riding) :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| John Darvall (elected 1) | John Darvall (elected 1) | 442 | 28.7 |
| James Pye (elected 2) | James Pye (elected 2) | 401 | 26.1 |
| William Sherwin | William Sherwin | 376 | 24.4 |
| Patrick Hogan | Patrick Hogan | 319 | 20.7 |
| Robert Fitzgerald | Robert Fitzgerald | 1 | 0.06 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 1,539 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 849 | 45.7 |
Polling was conducted on 4 April 1856. Both Darvall and Fitzgerald represented the County of Cumberland in the old Legislative Council.

### Cumberland (South Riding)

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Cumberland (South Riding) :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| William Manning (elected 1) | William Manning (elected 1) | 833 | 38.7 |
| Elias Weekes (elected 2) | Elias Weekes (elected 2) | 576 | 26.8 |
| Ryan Brenan | Ryan Brenan | 521 | 24.2 |
| William Russell | William Russell | 220 | 10.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 2,150 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 1,242 | 45.2 |
Polling was conducted on 9 April 1856. Manning had served in the old Legislative Council as an appointed member. Unlike other newly appointed Ministers, he did not have to resign and contest a ministerial by-election as he already held the office of Solicitor-General at the time of his election. Weekes was elected, but later won an appeal against his defeat in Northumberland Boroughs, choosing to sit for that seat and resign from this seat. The subsequent by-election was won by Brenan.

### Durham

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Durham :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Richard Jones (elected 1) | Richard Jones (elected 1) | 660 | 30.7 |
| Samuel Gordon (elected 2) | Samuel Gordon (elected 2) | 550 | 25.6 |
| William Arnold (elected 3) | William Arnold (elected 3) | 380 | 17.7 |
| Andrew Lang | Andrew Lang | 349 | 16.3 |
| Alexander Park | Alexander Park | 209 | 9.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 2,148 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 842 | 58.51 |
Polling was conducted on 7 April 1856. Park had represented County of Durham in the old Legislative Council, while another representative in Charles Cowper contested Sydney City.

### Eastern Division of Camden

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Eastern Division of Camden :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Henry Osborne (elected 1) | Henry Osborne (elected 1) | 657 | 33.5 |
| John Marks (elected 2) | John Marks (elected 2) | 502 | 25.6 |
| Charles Jenkins | Charles Jenkins | 398 | 20.3 |
| George Pickering | George Pickering | 176 | 9.0 |
| David L. Waugh | David L. Waugh | 136 | 7.0 |
| James Shoobert | James Shoobert | 91 | 4.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 1,960 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 980 | 66.3 |
Polling was conducted on 31 March 1856. Osborne had represented this district in the old Legislative Council.

### Gloucester and Macquarie

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Gloucester and Macquarie :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Thomas Barker (elected) | Thomas Barker (elected) | 163 | 37.7 |
| James Williamson | James Williamson | 139 | 32.18 |
| Joseph Andrews | Joseph Andrews | 130 | 30.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 432 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 432 | 41.30 |
Polling was conducted on 10 April 1856. Barker served in the old Legislative Council as an appointed member. Sitting Legislative Councillor for Counties of Gloucester and Macquarie was Phillip Parker King who did not contest the election.

### King and Georgiana

1856 New South Wales colonial election: King and Georgiana :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Peter Faucett (elected) | Peter Faucett (elected) | 199 | 71.6 |
| Isaac Shepherd | Isaac Shepherd | 79 | 28.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 278 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 278 | 43.9 |
Polling was conducted on 7 April 1856. James Chisholm, the member of the Legislative Council for Counties of King and Georgiana, did not contest the election.

### Lachlan and Lower Darling

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Lachlan and Lower Darling :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| James Garland (elected 1) | James Garland (elected 1) | 134 | 37.6 |
| William Macleay (elected 2) | William Macleay (elected 2) | 129 | 36.2 |
| John Hardy | John Hardy | 63 | 17.7 |
| Daniel Henry Thorn | Daniel Henry Thorn | 30 | 8.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 356 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 182 | 49.32 |
Polling was conducted on 19 April 1856. Macleay had represented Pastoral Districts of Lachlan and Lower Darling in the old Legislative Council.

### Liverpool Plains and Gwydir

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Liverpool Plains and Gwydir :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Gideon Lang (elected 1) | Gideon Lang (elected 1) | 152 | 45.9 |
| Francis Rusden (elected 2) | Francis Rusden (elected 2) | 108 | 32.6 |
| Augustus Morris | Augustus Morris | 71 | 21.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 331 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 184 | 33.3 |
Polling was conducted on 16 April 1856. Morris had represented Pastoral Districts of Liverpool Plains and Gwydir in the old Legislative Council.

### Maneroo

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Maneroo :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Daniel Egan (elected) | Daniel Egan (elected) | unopposed | |
Polling was scheduled to be conducted on 16 April 1856. Egan had represented Pastoral District of Maneroo in the old Legislative Council.

### Moreton, Wide Bay, Burnett and Maranoa

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Moreton, Wide Bay, Burnett and Maranoa :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Gordon Sandeman (elected) | Gordon Sandeman (elected) | unopposed | |
Polling was scheduled to be conducted on 17 April 1856. Sitting Legislative Councillor for Pastoral Districts of Moreton, Wide Bay, Burnett, and Maranoa was Richard Joseph Smith who did not contest the election.

### Murrumbidgee

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Murrumbidgee :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| George Macleay (elected) | George Macleay (elected) | unopposed | |
| John Hay (elected) | John Hay (elected) | unopposed | |
Polling was scheduled to be conducted on 16 April 1856. Macleay represented Pastoral District of Murrumbidgee in the old Legislative Council.

### New England and Macleay

1856 New South Wales colonial election: New England and Macleay :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Thomas Rusden (elected 1) | Thomas Rusden (elected 1) | 181 | 46.9 |
| Richard Hargrave (elected 2) | Richard Hargrave (elected 2) | 162 | 42.0 |
| John Dickson | John Dickson | 43 | 11.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 386 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 193 | 41.87 |
Polling was conducted on 17 April 1856. Rusden had represented Pastoral Districts of New England and Macleay in the old Legislative Council.

### North Eastern Boroughs

1856 New South Wales colonial election: North Eastern Boroughs :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Edward Flood (elected) | Edward Flood (elected) | 138 | 66.0 |
| John Plunkett | John Plunkett | 71 | 34.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 209 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 209 | 58.7 |
Polling was conducted on 29 March 1856. Both Flood and Plunkett had served in the old Legislative Council, Flood representing this district and Plunkett as an appointed member. Plunkett had earlier contested Sydney City and was unsuccessful. After his defeat in this seat, Plunkett contested both Argyle and Bathurst (County).

### Northumberland and Hunter

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Northumberland and Hunter :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Alexander Walker Scott (elected 1) | Alexander Walker Scott (elected 1) | 821 | 27.1 |
| William Piddington (elected 2) | William Piddington (elected 2) | 706 | 23.3 |
| Hovenden Hely (elected 3) | Hovenden Hely (elected 3) | 574 | 19.0 |
| Henry Douglass | Henry Douglass | 389 | 12.8 |
| George Bowman | George Bowman | 289 | 9.5 |
| Walter Rotton | Walter Rotton | 250 | 8.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,029 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 1,180 | 50.7 |
Polling was conducted on 17 April 1856. Both Bowman and Douglass had represented Counties of Northumberland and Hunter in the old Legislative Council. John Plunkett was nominated to stand in this seat but after being elected to both Argyle and Bathurst (County) on 31 March, he withdrew his nomination.

### Northumberland Boroughs

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Northumberland Boroughs :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Bob Nichols (elected 1) | Bob Nichols (elected 1) | 660 | 39.0 |
| Bourn Russell (elected 2) | Bourn Russell (elected 2) | 521 | 30.8 |
| Elias Weekes | Elias Weekes | 513 | 30.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 1,694 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 1,034 | 62.4 |
Polling was conducted on 28 March 1856. Nichols represented this district in the old Legislative Council. Committee of Elections and Qualifications conducted a re-count and overturned the election of Bourn Russell and declared that Elias Weekes had been elected.

### Parramatta

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Parramatta :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Henry Parker (elected 1) | Henry Parker (elected 1) | 310 | 30.2 |
| George Oakes (elected 2) | George Oakes (elected 2) | 303 | 29.5 |
| James Byrnes | James Byrnes | 222 | 21.6 |
| Andrew Murray | Andrew Murray | 191 | 18.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 1,026 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 550 | 72.7 |
Polling was conducted on 29 March 1856. Both Parker and Oakes had served in the old Legislative Council, Oakes representing Town of Parramatta and Parker as an appointed member.

### Phillip, Brisbane and Bligh

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Phillip, Brisbane and Bligh :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| John Robertson (elected) | John Robertson (elected) | 169 | 74.1 |
| Joseph Docker | Joseph Docker | 59 | 25.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 228 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 228 | 53.3 |
Polling was conducted on 11 April 1856. William Dumaresq, the sitting Legislative Councillor for Counties of Phillip, Brisbane and Bligh, did not contest the election.

### Roxburgh

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Roxburgh :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| William Lee (elected) | William Lee (elected) | 136 | 44.2 |
| William Suttor | William Suttor | 114 | 37.0 |
| William Cummings | William Cummings | 58 | 18.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 308 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 308 | 43.8 |
Polling was conducted on 8 April 1856. Suttor had served in the old Legislative Council as the elected member for Counties of Roxburgh, Phillip and Wellington from 1843 to 1851, then as the elected member for Counties of Roxburgh and Wellington from 1851 to 1854. The sitting Legislative Councillor, Saul Samuel contested Wellington (County).

### St Vincent

1856 New South Wales colonial election: St Vincent :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| James Thompson (elected) | James Thompson (elected) | 158 | 35.8 |
| Richard Sadleir | Richard Sadleir | 149 | 33.7 |
| William Roberts | William Roberts | 135 | 30.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 442 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 442 | 74.9 |
Polling was conducted on 10 April 1856. Sitting Legislative Councillor for Counties of Murray and St Vincent, Daniel Cooper contested Sydney Hamlets.

### Southern Boroughs

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Southern Boroughs :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Terence Murray (elected) | Terence Murray (elected) | unopposed | |
Polling was scheduled to be conducted on 4 April 1856. Murray had represented this district in the old Legislative Council.

### Stanley Boroughs

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Stanley Boroughs :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Thomas Holt (elected 1) | Thomas Holt (elected 1) | 320 | 32.6 |
| John Richardson (elected 2) | John Richardson (elected 2) | 316 | 32.2 |
| Arthur Macalister | Arthur Macalister | 179 | 18.2 |
| Frederick Forbes | Frederick Forbes | 167 | 17.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 983 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 627 | 50.4 |
Polling was conducted on 7 April 1856. Richardson had represented this district in the old Legislative Council.

### Stanley County

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Stanley County :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Henry Buckley (elected) | Henry Buckley (elected) | 304 | 74.3 |
| William Dorsey | William Dorsey | 105 | 25.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 409 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 409 | 52.3 |
Polling was conducted on 9 April 1856. Sitting Legislative Councillor for County of Stanley was John Dunmore Lang who did not contest the election.

### Sydney City

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Sydney City :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Charles Cowper (elected 1) | Charles Cowper (elected 1) | 3,073 | 20.5 |
| Henry Parkes (elected 2) | Henry Parkes (elected 2) | 3,057 | 20.4 |
| Robert Campbell (elected 3) | Robert Campbell (elected 3) | 3,041 | 20.33 |
| James Wilshire (elected 4) | James Wilshire (elected 4) | 2,901 | 19.4 |
| John Plunkett | John Plunkett | 2,800 | 18.7 |
| Thomas Duigan | Thomas Duigan | 89 | 0.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 14,961 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 6,007 | 43.3 |
Cowper, Parkes, Campbell and Wilshire had been endorsed as a group by a public meeting to be elected to the four vacancies. Parkes, Campbell and Wilshire all represented City of Sydney in the Legislative Council while Cowper represented County of Durham. There were no political parties at the time and the combination of candidates, pejoratively referred to by Plunkett as "The Bunch", was controversial. Plunket, who had been an appointed member of the Council, campaigned on the slogan "plump for Plunket", a reference to the voting practice of voting for a single candidate rather than the four candidates an elector was entitled to vote for.
After his defeat in this seat, Plunkett unsuccessfully contested North Eastern Boroughs, before being elected for both Argyle and Bathurst (County). Plunket chose to represent Argyle and resigned as member for Bathurst (County).

### Sydney Hamlets

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Sydney Hamlets :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Daniel Cooper (elected 1) | Daniel Cooper (elected 1) | 867 | 40.9 |
| Stuart Donaldson (elected 2) | Stuart Donaldson (elected 2) | 688 | 32.5 |
| Richard Driver | Richard Driver | 415 | 19.6 |
| Merion Moriarty | Merion Moriarty | 150 | 7.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 2,120 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 2,120 | 39.8 |
Polling was conducted on 11 March 1856. Both Donaldson and Cooper served in the old Legislative Council, Donaldson representing Sydney Hamlets and Cooper Murray and St Vincent.

### United Counties of Murray and St Vincent

1856 New South Wales colonial election: United Counties of Murray and St Vincent :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| William Forster (elected) | William Forster (elected) | unopposed | |
Polling was scheduled to be conducted on 5 April 1856. Sitting Legislative Councillor for Counties of Murray and St Vincent, Daniel Cooper contested Sydney Hamlets.

### Wellington and Bligh

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Wellington and Bligh :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| George Lord (elected) | George Lord (elected) | 28 | 100.0 |
| William Buchanan | William Buchanan | 0 | 0.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 28 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 28 | 9.5 |
Polling was conducted on 16 April 1856. Sitting Legislative Councillor for this district Charles Wray Finch did not contest the election.

### Wellington (County)

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Wellington (County) :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| George Cox (elected) | George Cox (elected) | 191 | 63.2 |
| Saul Samuel | Saul Samuel | 111 | 36.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 302 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 302 | 50.9 |
Polling was conducted on 10 April 1856. Samuel represented Counties of Roxburgh and Wellington in the old Legislative Council.

### Western Boroughs

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Western Boroughs :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Arthur Holroyd (elected) | Arthur Holroyd (elected) | 283 | 66.0 |
| James Byrnes | James Byrnes | 146 | 34.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 429 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 429 | 55.7 |
Polling was conducted on 29 March 1856. Holroyd had represented this district in the old Legislative Council.

### Western Division of Camden

1856 New South Wales colonial election: Western Division of Camden :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| John Oxley (elected) | John Oxley (elected) | unopposed | |
| James Macarthur (elected) | James Macarthur (elected) | unopposed | |
Polling was scheduled to be conducted on 31 March 1856. Macarthur had represented this district in the old Legislative Council.