A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of University of Sydney on 15 July 1879 because William Windeyer resigned to accept a temporary appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court.
[1] While there was no qualification for candidates, Edmund Barton had graduated with a Master of Arts in 1870.
[2] and Arthur Renwick was an examiner in medicine and had been elected to the Senate of the University of Sydney in 1877.
[3] Barton was the unsuccessful candidate for the seat at the first election in 1876,[4] while this was Renwick's first attempt at parliament.
Renwick would be elected to parliament 4 months later at the East Sydney by-election.