title: 1866 Illawarra colonial by-election
text: # 1866 Illawarra colonial by-election
  
  A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Illawarra on 10 September 1866 following the resignation of Patrick Osborne.
  
  ## Dates
  
  | Date | Event |
  | - | - |
  | 24 August 1866 | Patrick Osborne resigned. |
  | 28 August 1860 | Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. |
  | 6 September 1866 | Nominations |
  | 10 September 1866 | Polling day |
  | 18 September 1866 | Return of writ |
  
  ## Candidates
  
  John Stewart had been the unsuccessful candidate at the 1860 election, receiving 46.% of the vote, and again at the 1864 election receiving 43.3% of the vote.
  
  ## Result
  
  1866 Illawarra by-election Monday 10 September :
  
  | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | John Stewart (elected) | John Stewart (elected) | 460 | 56.7 |
  | Joseph Wilshire | Joseph Wilshire | 352 | 43.3 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 812 | 100.0 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | 812 | 63.1 |
  