Nominations: Wednesday, 2 April 1856, Polling: Wednesday, 16 April 1856
Candidate
Votes
Votes %
Buchanan, William Frederick
0
0.00
Lord, George William (Elected)
28
100.00
Formal Votes
28
Informal Votes
0
0.00
Total Votes / Turnout
28
9.52
Persons Voting / Turnout
28
9.52
Notes: Sitting Legislative Councillor for this district Charles Wray Finch did not contest the election. The 1857 Blue Book records 28 votes being cast, but no record of the election has been found. The newspapers listed W F Buchanan as a candidate, even after the unreported close of nominations on 2 April. Buchanan was running advertisements in the SMH, 9 April, p.8 col.4, appealing to the voters of Wellington and Bligh, as was Lord 7 April, p.2 col.3, which suggests nominations had taken place. Yet by polling day on 16 April, the SMH was already listing Lord as elected, and in the SMH election summary 30 April, p.5 col.1, Lord was listed as elected unopposed. Given this background, it has been assumed that two nominations were received and an election took place and all 28 votes were cast for Lord.