Electoral district of Pastoral Districts of New England and Macleay explained

Upper:yes
Pastoral Districts of New England and Macleay
State:nsw
Created:1851
Abolished:1856
Namesake:New England region & Macleay River

The Electoral district of Pastoral Districts of New England and Macleay 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 a new electorate created in 1851 by the expansion of the Legislative Council to 54, 18 to be appointed and 36 elected.[1] The district is located in the north of the state and covered the Northern Tablelands region of New England and part of the Mid North Coast region, including the area to the north of the Macleay River, but excluding the area south of the Macleay River which was included in the Counties of Gloucester and Macquarie. To the north was the Pastoral Districts of Clarence and Darling Downs and to the west the Pastoral Districts of Liverpool Plains and Gwydir. Polling took place in the towns of Wellingrove, Armidale, Tenterfield, Walcha and Kempsey.[1]

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 New England and Macleay.

Members

Member Term
Matthew Marsh[2] Sep 1851 – Mar 1855
Robert Massie[3] May 1855 – Jul 1855
Thomas Rusden[4] Aug 1855 – Feb 1856

Thomas Rusden went on to represent New England and Macleay in the Legislative Assembly from 1856.

Election results

1855 (1)

Matthew Marsh resigned in March 1855.[2]

1855 (2)

The election of Robert Massie was declared void.

Notes and References

  1. An Act to provide for the division of the Colony of New South Wales after the separation of the District of Port Phillip therefrom into Electoral Districts and for the Election of Members to serve in the Legislative Council. . 2 May 1851 . 48 . 10 September 2014 . Australasian Legal Information Institute.
  2. 179 . Mr Matthew Henry Marsh (1801-1881) . Yes . 12 April 2019.
  3. 180 . Mr Robert George Massie (1815-1883) . Yes . 12 April 2019.
  4. 453 . Mr Thomas George Rusden (1817-1882) . Yes . 7 June 2019.