This was the first-ever election for Sydney after it was established on 20 July 1842. 49 candidates contested the elections, with polling open from 9 am until 4 pm.[2][3]
In Brisbane Ward, The Sydney Morning Herald observed that some electors chose not to vote "because they had promised their votes to five or six candidates," and after finding out they could only vote for four, chose not to vote at all.[5]
Electoral system
Franchise was given to those who occupied and payed rates on a property − however, if they owned property in multiple wards, they could only vote in one of them. Women were not eligible to vote.[1]
Six wards − Bourke, Brisbane, Cook, Gipps, Macquarie and Phillip − were established, each with four councillors, covering a total of 3,202 electors.[1]
One councillor from each ward had to resign their seat annually, meaning elections were held every year.[1]
^ a b c dGolder, Hilary. "A short electoral history of the Sydney City Council" (PDF). City of Sydney. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 March 2024.
^"City of Sydney - Election of Councillors". Sydney Morning Herald.
^"ELECTION OF ALDERMEN AND MAYOR". The Australian.
^"ELECTION OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN". The Teetotaller and General Newspaper.
^"The Election". Australasian Chronicle. 3 November 1842. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
^ a b c d e f"The Election". Sydney Morning Herald. 3 November 1842.
