Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1874–1877

This is a list of members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1874 to 1877. Elections for the eighth Legislative Assembly were held between 8 December 1874 and 12 January 1875 with parliament first meeting on 27 January 1875. There were 72 members elected for 52 single member electorates, 6 two member electorates and 2 four member electorates. During this parliament the number of graduates of Sydney University exceeded 100 and the seat of University of Sydney was created. The maximum term of this parliament was 3 years and the assembly was dissolved after 34 months. Premiers during this parliament were John Robertson 9 February 1875 till 22 March 1877 and from 17 August 1877 and Henry Parkes 22 March 1877 till 17 August 1877

¹ Paterson MLA William Arnold died on 1 March 1875. The resulting by-election was won by Herbert Brown on 18 March 1875.² Upper Hunter MLA Francis White died on 4 May 1875. The resulting by-election was won by Thomas Hungerford on 7 June 1875.³ Central Cumberland MLA Joseph Wearne resigned due to financial difficulties in June 1875. The resulting by-election on 28 June 1875 was won by William Long.⁴ Upper Hunter MLA Thomas Hungerford's election was declared void in July 1875. The resulting by-election was won by John McElhone on 5 August 1875.⁵ Murrumbidgee MLA William Forster resigned to accept the position of assistant to the Agent-General Charles Cowper in February 1876. The resulting by-election was won by Joseph Leary on 6 March 1876.⁶ Parramatta MLA Hugh Taylor resigned as he believed he had a position of profit under the crown. Having resolved this he was re-elected at the resulting by-election on 20 April 1876.⁷ Hartley MLA Thomas Brown's election was declared void as he held a position of profit under the crown in March 1876. The resulting by-election was won by John Hurley (b.1844) on 21 April 1876.⁸ Liverpool Plains MLA Hanley Bennett resigned due to financial difficulties in May 1876. Having resolved this he successfully contested the resulting by-election on 5 June 1876.⁹ Carcoar MLA Solomon Meyer resigned in May 1876. The resulting by-election on 21 June 1876 was won by Andrew Lynch.¹⁰ Having passed the threshold of 100 graduates the seat of University of Sydney was created. William Windeyer won the resulting by-election on 8 September 1876.¹¹ Mudgee MLA Stephen Goold died on 28 August1876. The resulting by-election was won by Richard Rouse on 5 October 1876.¹² Williams MLA William Watson resigned in January 1877. The resulting by-election on 12 February 1877 was won by William Johnston.¹³ Orange MLA Harris Nelson resigned in January 1877. The resulting by-election on 22 February 1877 was won by Edward Combes.¹⁴ Northumberland MLA Charles Stevens resigned due to financial difficulties in May 1877. The resulting by-election on 20 July 1877 was won by William Turner .

There was no party system in New South Wales politics until 1887. Under the constitution, ministers were required to resign to recontest their seats in a by-election when appointed. These by-elections are only noted when the minister was defeated; in general, he was elected unopposed.