The election was conducted on the basis of a simple majority or first-past-the-post voting system.
[1] The average number of enrolled voters per seat was 1,984, ranging from Boorowa (1,103) to Canterbury (3,161).
The sitting members were Russell Barton and William Sawers, both of whom resigned on 2 December 1886.
[10] A writ was issued for a by-election,[11] which was held on 21 January 1887, with the result Thomas Waddell 1019, William Willis 833 and Alexander Wilson 682.
Three of the sitting members, Mark Hammond, William Judd and Septimus Stephen, did not contest the election.
The two other sitting members Edmund Barton was appointed to the Legislative Council and Henry Copeland successfully contested New England.
The sitting member Walter Targett unsuccessfully contested The Hastings and Manning.