The existing Police Magistrates were re-appointed (as both Justices of the Peace and Police Magistrates) on 29 December 1868 (published in the Victoria Government Gazette on 5 January 1869). The Gazette list is somewhat misleading as Bull (not listed) and Fetherstonhaugh (listed) had been required to retire at the end of December 1868. Both were subsequently appointed Justices of the Peace in March 1869. Fetherstonhaugh had already been replaced by Hamilton as Police Magistrate at the town of Hamilton in January 1869. Pasco was transferred to Smythesdale to succeed Hamilton. Bonsey had been in England on leave and Strutt had been filling in for him at Geelong. Bonsey chose not to return from England and retired from the Public Service in February 1869, though there is some suggestion in the contemporary media that he had heard that he was to have been dismissed.

Panton was transferred to Geelong in February and Strutt replaced Panton in Heidelberg. This changed again in March when Panton was transferred to Melbourne and replaced at Geelong by Dowling. Clissold (not listed) resigned in early December 1868. Gaunt, listed at Sandhurst, had already been assigned to Ballarat to replace Clissold. Sherard (listed) was summarily dismissed in January 1869.