title: 1919 Petersham state by-election
text: # 1919 Petersham state by-election
  
  A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Petersham on 22 March 1919 because of the resignation of John Cohen (Nationalist) who had accepted an appointment as a Judge of the District Court. H. V. Evatt alleges that this was part of a deal between William Holman and the Liberals that had led to the Nationalist government in 1917.
  
  ## Dates
  
  | Date | Event |
  | - | - |
  | 30 January 1919 | John Cohen resigned. |
  | 5 March 1919 | Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. |
  | 8 March 1919 | Nominations |
  | 22 March 1919 | Polling day |
  | 5 April 1919 | Return of writ |
  
  ## Result
  
  1919 Petersham by-election Saturday 22 March 1919 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Nationalist | Sydney Shillington | 2,633 | 51.0 | -10.6 |
  | | Labor | Barney Olde | 2,377 | 46.1 | +14.8 |
  | | Independent | Donald Croal | 150 | 2.9 | |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,160 | 99.3 | 0.0 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 35 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,195 | 45.6 | -18.0 |
  | | Nationalist hold | Nationalist hold | Swing | N/A | |
  