Electoral district of Counties of Cook and Westmoreland

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StateNew South Wales
Created1843
Abolished1856
NamesakeCook & Westmoreland counties
Counties of Cook and Westmoreland
New South Wales—Legislative Council
Cook county in the 1840s
StateNew South Wales
Created1843
Abolished1856
NamesakeCook & Westmoreland counties
Coordinates33°32′S 150°7′E / 33.533°S 150.117°E / -33.533; 150.117
Westmoreland county in the 1840s

The Electoral district of Counties of Cook and Westmoreland, also known as the United Midland Counties of Cook and Westmoreland,[1] 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.[2]

It was created by the Electoral Act 1843 and returned one member.[2] named after Cook and Westmoreland counties two of the original Nineteen Counties in New South Wales, covering the Blue Mountains, Lithgow and Oberon areas, including the towns of Hartley, Penrith and Wilberforce. Polling also took place at nearby towns such as Bathurst and North Richmond,[3] however they were not in the district.

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 two member Legislative Assembly electorate of Cook and Westmoreland and James Martin,[4] was re-elected along with Robert Jamison.[5]

MemberTerm
John Panton [6] Jun 1843 – Jun 1848
James Martin [4] Jul 1848 – Feb 1856

Election results

There were three elections held in the district.

1843

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1843 New South Wales colonial election § Counties of Cook and Westmoreland.[edit]
1843 New South Wales colonial election, 16 June:
Counties of Cook and Westmoreland [7]
Candidate Votes %
John Panton 112 65.12
George Bowman 60 34.88
Total votes 172 100.00

1848

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1848 New South Wales colonial election § Counties of Cook and Westmoreland.[edit]
1848 New South Wales colonial election, 29 July:
Counties of Cook and Westmoreland [8]
Candidate Votes %
James Martin (elected) 103 66
Alfred Cheeke 54 34
Total votes 157 100
The election of James Martin was declared void on the grounds that he was not qualified to stand;[1][9] however, he was re-elected unopposed.[10] Martin subsequently sued the Speaker of the Legislative Council, Charles Nicholson and the Sergeant at Arms, William Christie, for trespass for having him removed when there had been no decision of the Electoral Court in accordance with the Electoral Act 1843.[2] The Full Court of the Supreme Court held that under the Electoral Act 1843 it was only the Electoral Court that could determine there was a vacancy and not the Governor.[11]

1851

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1851 New South Wales colonial election § Cook and Westmoreland.[edit]
1851 New South Wales colonial election, 23 September:
Counties of Cook and Westmoreland [12][3]
Candidate Votes %
James Martin 94 57.32
Alexander Longmore 70 42.68
Total votes 164 100

See also

External links

References

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