[1] Part 1 (section 13) of the Electoral Act of 1880 had awarded the right to vote to 'every male subject of Her Majesty of the full age of twenty-one years and absolutely free being a natural born or naturalized'.

[2] The previous parliament of New South Wales was dissolved on 19 January 1889 by the Governor, Lord Carrington, on the advice of the Premier, George Dibbs.

[1][3][4] Dibbs had assumed office shortly before the election after the previous Premier, Sir Henry Parkes, lost a vote on the floor of the Assembly.

Dibbs' Protectionists never commanded a majority on the floor of the Assembly in this period.

New South Wales colonial election, 1 – 16 February 1889 [1]Legislative Assembly << 1887–1891 >>