In the 1865 electoral redistribution, the House of Representatives focussed its review of electorates to South Island electorates only, as the Central Otago Gold Rush had caused significant population growth, and a redistribution of the existing population.
Roslyn began as quite a large electorate, covering areas on the northern half of the Otago Peninsula as far east as St Leonards, Leith Valley, and western Dunedin suburbs including Roslyn.