1861 Goulburn colonial by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Goulburn on 13 June 1861 because of the resignation of Charles Walsh.[1] Walsh stated that he had been elected to support the Land Bills, which would open up the free selection of Crown land, and the Legislative Council Bill which would replace the nominated council with an elected body.[2] These bills had not been passed by the Legislative Council and the Premier Charles Cowper had arranged for 21 new members to be appointed to the council.[3] Walsh stated that as the bills "will be carried through both branches of the legislature, and become the law of the land" he therefore resigned as the tasks had been achieved.[4]

It is unclear when Walsh wrote the letter, because on 10 May 1861, before the new members had been sworn in, Sir William Burton the President of the Legislative Council, announced his resignation and left the chambers, followed by the 13 members of the opposition. Under the standing orders of the council in the absence of the President or the Chairman of Committees, George Allen,[5] the council was adjourned until the next sitting day.[6] As there was no further sitting day before the council was prorogued on 13 May 1861 the bills were not passed.

Dates
Date Event
20 May 1861 Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and close of electoral rolls.[7]
10 June 1861 Nominations
13 June 1861 Polling day
24 June 1861 Return of writ

Results
1861 Goulburn by-election [8]
Candidate Votes %
Maurice Alexander 207 76.63
Peter Faucett 78 27.37
Informal votes 13 4.36
Turnout 298 42.94

Aftermath

The Robertson Land Acts were ultimately passed by both houses and became law in October 1861.[9][10] The Legislative Council Bill was not passed and the Council did not become a directly elected body until after the 1978 referendum.[11]

See also

References
  1. "Mr Charles Hamilton Walsh (1820-1874)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  2. "The Legislative Council Bill". The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser. 27 April 1861. p. 2. Retrieved 16 October 2019 – via Trove.
  3. "Legislative Council". New South Wales Government Gazette (100). 10 May 1861. p. 1003. Retrieved 8 April 2019 – via Trove.
  4. Walsh, Charles H (22 May 1861). "To the electors of Goulburn". Goulburn Herald. p. 3. Retrieved 16 October 2019 – via Trove.
  5. "Mr George Allen (1800-1877)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  6. "Resignation of the President". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 May 1861. p. 5. Retrieved 16 October 2019 – via Trove.
  7. "Writ of election: Goulburn". New South Wales Government Gazette (139). 27 May 1861. p. 1193. Retrieved 16 October 2019 – via Trove.
  8. Green, Antony. "1861 Goulburn by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  9. "Crown Lands Alienation Act of 1861" (PDF). Government of New South Wales. 18 October 1861. Retrieved 28 August 2016 – via AustLII.
  10. "Crown Lands Occupation Act of 1861" (PDF). Government of New South Wales. 18 October 1861. Retrieved 28 August 2016 – via AustLII.
  11. "The New South Wales Legislative Council" (PDF). Parliament of NSW. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
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