1899 Ashfield colonial by-election
# 1899 Ashfield colonial by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Ashfield on 26 September 1899 because Bernhard Wise (Protectionist) had been appointed Attorney General. Until 1904, members appointed to a ministerial position were required to face a by-election. These were generally uncontested. Of the nine ministers appointed with the formation of Lyne ministry, Ashfield and Hume (William Lyne) were the only electorates in which the by-election was contested.

## Dates

| Date | Event |
| - | - |
| 14 September 1899 | Bernhard Wise appointed Attorney General. |
| 15 September 1899 | Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. |
| 22 September 1899 | Nominations |
| 26 September 1899 | Polling day |
| 4 October 1899 | Return of writ |

## Result

1899 Ashfield by-election Tuesday 26 September :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Protectionist | Bernhard Wise (re-elected) | 831 | 50.6 | +0.5 |
| | Free Trade | Thomas Bavister | 810 | 49.4 | -0.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 1,641 | 99.5 | -0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 8 | 0.5 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,649 | 51.0 | -14.9 |
| | Protectionist hold | Protectionist hold | Swing | +0.5 | |
