title: 1879 Mudgee colonial by-election
text: # 1879 Mudgee colonial by-election
  
  A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Mudgee on 6 January 1879 because of the resignation of Sir John Robertson who was then appointed to the Legislative Council, to facilitate the coalition of his supporters and those of Sir Henry Parkes to form an effective government.
  
  ## Dates
  
  | Date | Event |
  | - | - |
  | 14 December 1878 | Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and close of electoral rolls. |
  | 30 December 1878 | Nominations |
  | 6 January 1879 | Polling day |
  | 21 January 1879 | Return of writ |
  
  ## Candidates
  
  * Richard Rouse was a former member for Mudgee, winning the 1876 by-election, before being defeated by Robertson at the 1877 election.
  * David Buchanan was a former member for Goldfields West, who had been defeated at the 1877 election.
  
  ## Results
  
  1879 Mudgee by-election Monday 6 January :
  
  | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | Richard Rouse (elected) | Richard Rouse (elected) | 895 | 50.03 |
  | David Buchanan | David Buchanan | 894 | 49.97 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 1,789 | 100.0 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | 1,789 | 43.6 |
  
  ## Aftermath
  
  In March 1879 the Committee of Elections and Qualifications overturned the election of Richard Rouse and declared that David Buchanan was elected as the member for Mudgee.
  
  