A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Goulburn on 13 June 1861 because of the resignation of Charles Walsh.
[1] Walsh stated that he had been elected to support the Land Bills, which would open up the free selection of Crown land, and the Legislative Council Bill which would replace the nominated council with an elected body.
[3] Walsh stated that as the bills "will be carried through both branches of the legislature, and become the law of the land" he therefore resigned as the tasks had been achieved.
[4] It is unclear when Walsh wrote the letter, because on 10 May 1861, before the new members had been sworn in, Sir William Burton the President of the Legislative Council, announced his resignation and left the chambers, followed by the 13 members of the opposition.
The Robertson Land Acts were ultimately passed by both houses and became law in October 1861.