Nominations: Wednesday, 28 February 1872, Polling: Monday, 11 March 1872
Candidate
Votes
Votes %
Bennett, Hanley (Elected)
532
45.08
Bowman, Alexander
13
1.10
Gordon, William Henry
152
12.88
Rusden, Francis Townsend
207
17.54
Wallace, George
125
10.59
Wilson, John Bowie
151
12.80
Formal Votes
1,180
Informal Votes
0
0.00
Total Votes / Turnout
1,180
41.33
Persons Voting / Turnout
1,230
43.08
Notes: Sitting MP Lewis Wolfe Levy did not re-contest. In the Maitland Mercury's report of the nominations, it states that Bowman did not have a seconder and also that P J Coghlan was nominated, though other reports have Coghlan nominating Wilson, so perhaps the Mercury report was confused. Rusden is always referred to as 'F T', but his notices refer to him wanting to return to public life, which suggests strongly this is former MLC Francis Townsend Rusden.
Source: SMH 18 March 1872, p.7 col.2. There was a summarised report of nominations in the Australian Town and Country Journal 9 March 1872, p.295 col.2 and in the Maitland Mercury 5 March, p.3 col.4. Maitland Mercury results 19 March p.2 col.6 has the same results except Gordon is shown with 155 votes.