# Electoral district of County of Durham

The Electoral district of County of Durham was an electorate of the New South Wales Legislative Council at a time when some of its members were elected and the balance were appointed by the Governor. It was named after Durham County, which lies on the north side of the Hunter River.
It was created by the 1843 Electoral Districts Act and initially returned one member. It returned two members with the expansion of the Council in 1851 to 54, 18 to be appointed and 36 elected. In 1856 the unicameral Legislative Council was abolished and replaced with an elected Legislative Assembly and an appointed Legislative Council. The district was represented by the Legislative Assembly electorate of Durham

## Members

| Election | Member | Term |
| 1843 | Richard Windeyer | Jun 1843 – Dec 1847 |
| 1848 by | Stuart Donaldson | Feb 1848 – Jan 1853 |
| 1848 | Stuart Donaldson | Feb 1848 – Jan 1853 |
| 1849 by | Stuart Donaldson | Feb 1848 – Jan 1853 | Member | Term |
| 1851 | Stuart Donaldson | Feb 1848 – Jan 1853 | Charles Cowper | Sep 1851 – Feb 1856 |
| 1853 by | Alexander Park | Feb 1853 – Feb 1856 | Charles Cowper | Sep 1851 – Feb 1856 |

## Election results
### 1843

1843 New South Wales colonial election, 24 June: County of Durham :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Richard Windeyer | Richard Windeyer | 122 | 49.19 |
| William Ogilvie | William Ogilvie | 71 | 28.63 |
| Andrew Lang | Andrew Lang | 55 | 22.18 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 248 | 100.00 |

### 1848 by-election

Richard Windeyer died in December 1847.
County of Durham by-election 19 February 1848 :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Stuart Donaldson (elected) | Stuart Donaldson (elected) | 113 | 59.47 |
| Alexander Park | Alexander Park | 77 | 40.53 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 190 | 100 |

### 1848

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 | | |

### 1849 by-election

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.
County of Durham by-election 25 June 1849 :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Stuart Donaldson (elected) | Stuart Donaldson (elected) | Unopposed | |

### 1851

1851 New South Wales colonial election, 24 September: County of Durham :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Stuart Donaldson | Stuart Donaldson | 239 | 34.94 |
| Charles Cowper | Charles Cowper | 231 | 33.77 |
| Adolphus Young | Adolphus Young | 169 | 24.71 |
| Edward Hunt | Edward Hunt | 45 | 6.58 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 684 | 100 |

### 1853 by-election

Stuart Donaldson resigned in January 1853.
County of Durham by-election 28 February 1853 :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Alexander Park (elected) | Alexander Park (elected) | unopposed | |