1879 University of Sydney colonial by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of University of Sydney on 15 July 1879 because William Windeyer resigned to accept a temporary appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court.^[1]

While there was no qualification for candidates, Edmund Barton had graduated with a Master of Arts in 1870.^[2] and Arthur Renwick was an examiner in medicine and had been elected to the Senate of the University of Sydney in 1877.^[3] Barton was the unsuccessful candidate for the seat at the first election in 1876,^[4] while this was Renwick's first attempt at parliament. Renwick would be elected to parliament 4 months later at the East Sydney by-election.^[5]

Dates

Date	Event
10 August 1879	William Windeyer resigned.^[6]
11 August 1879	Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.^[7]
23 August 1879	Nominations at the Great Hall of the University
26 August 1879	Polling day
9 September 1879	Return of writ

Result

1879 University of Sydney by-election
Tuesday 26 August ^[8]

Candidate		Votes	%
Edmund Barton (elected)		58	60
Arthur Renwick		38	40
Total formal votes		96	100
Informal votes		0	0
Turnout		96	57

See also

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

References

1. "Windeyer, Sir William Charles (1834–1897)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
2. "Sir Edmund Barton GCMG (1849–1920)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
3. Rutledge, Martha (1976). "Renwick, Sir Arthur (1837-1908". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 6. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. pp. 20–21. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
4. Green, Antony. "1876 University of Sydney by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
5. Green, Antony. "August 1879 East Sydney by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
6. "Sir William Charles Windeyer (1834–1897)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
7. "Writ of election: University of Sydney". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 290. 11 August 1879. p. 3539. Retrieved 31 October 2020 – via Trove.
8. Green, Antony. "August 1879 University of Sydney by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 31 October 2020.