User:Orderinchaos/Vic BEs

1961-1973 added only - will add 1974-1985 progressively.

General notes:


 * Southport state by-election, 1987 and Redlands state by-election, 1985 were two good examples produced from a process very similar to this some time ago for the Queensland by-elections. Murdoch state by-election, 2008 is a fairly complete article from WA.
 * Each by-election is grouped by parliament. This leaves the option of making nifty navboxes like the ones at the bottom of the Queensland ones above.
 * The "Re-member bio links" are to Re-member (a database of all Victorian MPs since 1851). Parliament of Victoria. You may not need them at all, but they're there in case you do, as it was an easy job mass-hunting them all. This is meant to be a one stop shop rather than "every last little bit here must go in" :)
 * The citations are ready to be used in their current format.

42nd Parliament (1961–1964)
Parties and results are confirmed at

Richmond state by-election, 1962
No change


 * Summary
 * Held on 12 May 1962.
 * Richmond
 * Reason: Bill Towers (Labor) died on 18 March 1962.
 * Winner: Clyde Holding (Labor)
 * Re-member bio links: outgoing incoming


 * Key dates


 * 10 April 1962 - Issue of writs
 * 27 April 1962 - Close of nominations
 * 12 May 1962 - Polling day
 * 23 May 1962 - Return of writs


 * Results

Source:

Clyde Holding (ALP)    9,347 (65.94%) +4.99% Leo Gardner (DLP)      3,802 (26.82%) +1.06% Stirling Davis (Ind Lab) 897 ( 6.33%) +6.33% John Murray (Aust Rep)   129 ( 0.91%) +0.91% | Formal votes          14,175 (96.14%) +1.75% Informal votes           569 ( 3.86%) –1.75% Total votes           14,744 (84.01% of enrolled) –7.48%

(A Communist Party of Australia candidate earned 5.18% in the 1961 general election.)


 * Write-up in PC

''In the Assembly, the depleted ALP ranks were further thinned by the death of Mr. Towers, MLA for over twenty years in the Collingwood and, later, Richmond, seats. His successor, Mr. Clyde Holding, had an easy victory on 12 May in a seat which had been held by the DLP between 1955 and 1958, but is now absolutely safe for the ALP. Mr. Holding became the youngest member of the state parliamentary ALP but had to wait four months for parliament to reassemble before he could take any part in debates.''


 * Notes

Holding later became opposition leader from 1967 to 1977

Broadmeadows state by-election, 1962
Liberal --> Labor; first victory since 1955 split


 * Summary
 * Held on 4 August 1962.
 * Broadmeadows
 * Reason: Harry Kane (Liberal) died on 30 May 1962
 * Winner: John Wilton (Labor)
 * Re-member bio links: outgoing incoming


 * Key dates


 * 28 June 1962 - Issue of writs
 * 17 July 1962 - Close of nominations
 * 4 August 1962 - Polling day
 * 17 August 1962 - Return of writs


 * Results

Source:

John Wilton (ALP)   22,700 (54.26%) +9.05% Frank Robinson (LIB) 11,737 (28.05%) –6.92% John Donnellon (DLP) 7,185 (17.17%) –2.11% John Phillips (REP)    217  (0.52%) +0.52% | Formal votes        41,839 (98.39%) +0.90% Informal votes         686  (1.61%) –0.90% Total votes         42,525 (91.13% of enrolled) +3.81%


 * Write-up in PC

94 - ''The latter half of 1962 was less than satisfactory for Premier Bolte, though his control over the Government of the State remained unimpaired. [...] But in August Mr. Bolte lost the State Electorate of Broadmeadows to the ALP, the first electoral defeat he has suffered since 1955.''

97 - ''The State Government suffered its first by-election defeat on August 4th. Mr. J. T. Wilton, the ALP candidate, took the place of the late Mr. Kane, MLA for Broadmeadows since 1955. Broadmeadows, which contains the largest Housing Commission development on Melbourne’s outskirts, was clearly destined to become Labor at any time. Layoffs at the Ford factory, the increase of Commission tenants, together with such transitory influences as the collapse of King Street Bridge in the previous month, all helped Mr. Wilton substantially. Nevertheless, his vote of 54.6% of the total compared to 45% for Labor in 1961, was a very substantial improvement. The Liberal vote dropped drastically to 27.7%, and the DLP less noticeably to 17%. The Victorian ALP, chalking up its first victory since the split of 1955, was jubilant.''

The King Street Bridge case it refers to (from p.94:)

''In July, the King Street Bridge, an important if structurally unspectacular addition to the southern exit from the City of Melbourne, collapsed under the load of a solitary, early morning semi-trailer. The centre of divided responsibilities between the Country Roads Board, the Public Works Department and the Melbourne City Council, Kings Street Bridge became a symbol of Mr. Bolte’s Utopia for the State Government when it was built, and for the State Opposition when it collapsed.''

In 1961, the Liberal candidate had won on preferences, despite gaining 34.97% to Labor's 45.21%.
 * Notes

Mildura state by-election, 1962
No change


 * Summary
 * Held on 27 October 1962.
 * Mildura
 * Reason: Nathaniel Barclay (Country) died on 11 September 1962.
 * Winner: Milton Whiting (Country)
 * Re-member bio links: outgoing incoming


 * Key dates


 * 24 September 1962 - Issue of writs
 * 10 October 1962 - Close of nominations
 * 27 October 1962 - Polling day
 * 12 November 1962 - Return of writs


 * Results

Source:

(not sure of parties, they weren't marked - will find out this info soon)

Milton Whiting   (CP)  8,723 (45.46%) –13.01% Arthur Lawton    (ALP) 6,030 (31.42%) + 8.16% Geoffrey Harding (LIB) 2,488 (12.97%) + 4.12% William McInerney (DLP) 1,489 ( 7.76%) – 1.67% George Eggleton  (IND)   460 ( 2.40%) + 2.40% | Formal votes 19,190 (98.22%) +0.78% Informal votes 348 ( 1.78%) –0.78% Total votes 19,538 (93.62% of enrolled) –1.73%


 * Notes

Same PC as Broadmeadows, p.97:

''The other State by-election, at Mildura, was in a Country Party stronghold in which the Labor vote has consistently fallen for ten years. Here, too, the swing to the ALP was substantial, nearly equalling the 9% in Broadmeadows. But the Country Party candidate, Mr M. S. Whiting, was comfortably returned on DLP preferences.''

Caulfield state by-election, 1965
No change


 * Summary
 * Held on 18 September 1965.
 * Caulfield
 * Reason: Alexander Fraser (Liberal) died on 9 July 1965.
 * Winner: Ian McLaren (Liberal)
 * Re-member bio links: outgoing incoming


 * Key dates


 * 6 August 1965 - Issue of writs
 * 27 August 1965 - Close of nominations
 * 18 September 1965 - Polling day
 * 1 October 1965 - Return of writs


 * Results

Source:

Seat mainly consisted of the suburbs of Caulfield and Malvern.

Ian McLaren (LIB)   10,686 (64.88%) +7.81% Robert Vernon (ALP)  5,784 (35.12%) +5.48% | Formal votes        16,470 (98.67%) +0.37% Informal votes         222  (1.33%) –0.37% Total votes         16,972 (78.79% of enrolled) –14.00%

(At the 1964 election, a DLP candidate Celia Laird obtained 13.29% of the vote. Labor candidate was the same as in 1964.)


 * Write-up in PC

''In (an) almost unnoticed by-election (20 per cent failed to vote) a Liberal candidate was returned. The only interest was (that) neither the Liberal nor ALP candidate appeared to make any significant gain from the votes of DLP supporters.''

Grant state by-election, 1966
No change


 * Summary
 * Held on 8 October 1966.
 * Grant
 * Reason: Roy Crick (Labor) died on 19 August 1966.
 * Winner: Jack Ginifer (Labor)
 * Re-member bio links: outgoing incoming


 * Key dates


 * 9 September 1966 - Issue of writs
 * 21 September 1966 - Close of nominations
 * 8 October 1966 - Polling day
 * 21 October 1966 - Return of writs


 * Results

Source:

This source also says seat included the suburbs of Albion, Altona, Brooklyn, Deer Park, Laverton, St Albans, Sunshine and Werribee.

Jack Ginifer (ALP)  25,666 (72.42%) +16.38% James Davies (Repub) 9,774 (27.58%) +27.58% | Formal votes        35,440 (94.97%) – 1.22% Informal votes       1,879  (5.03%) + 1.22% Total votes         37,319 (72.36% of enrolled) –22.06%


 * Write-up

There is none.

Swan Hill state by-election, 1968
No change


 * Summary
 * Held on 14 September 1968.
 * Swan Hill
 * Reason: Harold Stirling (Country) died on 23 July 1968.
 * Winner: Henry Broad (Country)
 * Re-member bio links: outgoing incoming


 * Key dates


 * 8 August 1968 - Issue of writs
 * 27 August 1968 - Close of nominations
 * 14 September 1968 - Polling day
 * 4 October 1968 - Return of writs


 * Results

Source:

Henry Broad (CP)     8,080 (47.94%)  –9.23     2pp 9,492 (56.32) Gordon Harrison (LIB) 4,424 (26.25%) +14.72    2pp 7,362 (43.68) Jack McLean (ALP)    4,350 (25.81%) +11.16 | Formal votes        16,854 (94.97%)  +0.94 Informal votes         244  (1.43%)  –0.94 Total votes         17,098 (91.92% of enrolled) –3.72

(DLP got 16.64% in 1967)


 * Write-up in PC

''A by-election held at Swan Hill on 14 September was notable mainly for the opportunity it gave the Labor Party to try out its new policy of no preference support to the Country Party. A wheat and irrigation electorate, Swan Hill district has been regarded as a blue ribbon Country Party seat, and at the last general election held in 1967 that party won the seat outright. Such a victory was unlikely this time however, and the preference issue was therefore vital. The campaign itself was dull, enlivened only by a report quoting the premier [Henry Bolte] as promising a meeting that the law relating to butter and margarine would soon be amended when parliament met, because ‘in 1968 we should be eating bread and butter, and not be back in the depression days of bread and dripping.’ His sentiments met with approval in rural areas, but low income earners in metropolitan areas and pensioners reacted sharply to the suggestion that today butter appeared on all tables. Voting was close, with the CP candidate winning 8085 primary votes, the Liberal Party candidate 4427 and the ALP candidate 4361 votes. Only a 20% drift of Labor’s second preference votes from the Liberal to the Country Party candidate saved the seat for the Country Party, and both the premier and the leader of the opposition agreed gleefully that rural seats were now more ‘fluid’ than they had been. [Clyde] Holding [Opposition leader since 1967] served notice on the Country Party that its ‘hard line’ preference stood, a policy which threatens at least 2 seats in the house of representatives and 4 in the state parliament. It aims at weakening the Country Party and building up the Labor Party’s own rural organisation, with the ultimate objective of creating a two-party system in Victoria, and Labor launched a full scale all-state rural campaign on 5 December to this end.''

Square brackets are my own notes.

Reservoir state by-election, 1969
No change


 * Summary
 * Elected unopposed on close of nominations on 27 October 1969.
 * Reservoir
 * Reason: Harry Jenkins, Sr. (Labor) resigned in September 1969 to contest the seat of Scullin at the 1969 federal election.
 * Winner: Jim Simmonds (Labor)
 * Re-member bio links: outgoing incoming


 * Key dates


 * 7 October 1969 - Issue of writs
 * 27 October 1969 - Close of nominations
 * 15 November 1969 - Polling day (cancelled)
 * 2 December 1969 - Return of writs


 * Results

Source:

Jim Simmonds was elected unopposed at the close of nominations on 27 October 1969.

No write-up. (as expected, as no polling took place)

Dandenong state by-election, 1969
Liberal --> Labor


 * Summary
 * Held on 6 December 1969.
 * Dandenong
 * Reason: Len Reid (Liberal) resigned in September 1969 to contest the seat of Holt at the 1969 federal election.
 * Winner: Alan Lind (Labor)
 * Re-member bio links: outgoing incoming


 * Key dates


 * 11 November 1969 - Issue of writs
 * 24 November 1969 - Close of nominations
 * 6 December 1969 - Polling day
 * 19 December 1969 - Return of writs


 * Results

Source:

Alan Lind (ALP)                 16,149 (56.78%) +13.77 Wallace Werrett (LIB)           11,681 (41.07%) – 0.58 Cornelius Dubbeld (Republican)     613 ( 2.16%) + 2.16 | Formal votes                    28,443 (97.71%) + 0.77 Informal votes                     666 ( 2.29%) – 0.77 Total votes                     29,109 (89.63%) – 5.87

(DLP had gotten 15.34% at 1967 election. Lind had been Labor candidate at 1967 election - 2pp on that occasion 46.77)


 * Write-up in PC

''A by-election for the Dandenong electorate held on 6 December resulted in a heavy swing to Labor, a pointer to the Liberals’ likely fate if Sir Henry persisted in risking an early poll. [...] As the premier said, "Defeat makes you re-think your policies. It makes you pull up your socks a little."''

On page 90:

''It would be impossible to make much of the federal election result as a guide to the state elections due to be held here in May 1970. The premier insisted that his government could be certain of holding forty of its forty-four seats despite the federal swing, and Mr. Holding in turn insisted that there would be a further swing to Labor by then. A by-election held on 6 December for the Dandenong electorate, held previously by the Liberal party, gave a landslide victory to the Labor candidate Mr. Alan Lind, fourteen per cent more than his 1967 election vote. [...] The Liberal share of the poll was much the same as it had scored in the October federal election, but Labor appeared to have captured most of the twelve per cent DLP votes recorded then, to give it the commanding lead. Mr. Lind has topped the primary vote on previous polls, but DLP preferences have always given the seat to his Liberal opponent. It's a pointer for the May results.''

Kew state by-election, 1971
No change


 * Summary
 * Held on 17 April 1971.
 * Kew
 * Reason: Sir Arthur Rylah (Liberal; Deputy Premier) resigned due to ill health on 5 March 1971.
 * Winner: Rupert Hamer (Liberal)
 * Re-member bio links: outgoing incoming

Liberal candidate was former East Yarra Province MLC Rupert Hamer.


 * Key dates


 * 22 March 1971 - Issue of writs
 * 30 March 1971 - Close of nominations
 * 17 April 1971 - Polling day
 * 3 May 1971 - Return of writs


 * Results

Source:

Rupert Hamer (LIB)    13,422 (64.80%) +23.10% Rosslyn Ives (ALP)     6,325 (30.53%) +4.77% Laurence Hull (Cong*)    968 ( 4.67%) +4.67%  (Congress Movement) | Formal votes          20,715 (97.66%) +0.81% Informal votes           497 ( 2.34%) –0.81% Total votes           21,212 (82.76% of enrolled) –10.23%

(In 1970, the DLP got 13.82%, Progressive Reform got 11.29% and an Ind got 7.43%. The Lib 2PP in 1970 was 59.41%.)1


 * Write-up in PC

''"The end of an era" was the phrase that seemed relevant to the announcement of his retirement by Victoria's deputy premier and Sir Henry Bolte's right hand man, Sir Arthur Rylah, on 2 February. [...] Sir Arthur had no sooner announced his decision when he was stricken with a cerebral haemorrhage and on the critically ill list for many weeks, a sad ending to a full political career. He has made a slow recovery and now faces a long convalescence.''

''The deputy premier's retirement was the signal for the minister for local government, Hon. R. J. Hamer, to make his first serious move towards eventual Liberal party leadership by resigning from the upper House to contest the by-election for Sir Arthur's blue ribbon Liberal seat of Kew. Mr Hamer won the by-election decisively, gaining almost 65% of the vote, against an ALP vote of 30.5%, with 4.7% going to an independent candidate. He then went on to defeat other leading ministers in the party for election as deputy leader on 20 April, and as the final accolade to a most successful run was publicly acclaimed as heir apparent by Sir Henry Bolte.''

Gisborne state by-election, 1971
No change


 * Summary
 * Held on 11 December 1971.
 * Gisborne
 * Reason: Julian Doyle (Liberal) resigned in October 1971.
 * Winner: Athol Guy (Liberal)
 * Re-member bio links: outgoing incoming

Liberal candidate was Athol Guy, former member of The Seekers.


 * Key dates


 * 3 November 1971 - Issue of writs
 * 25 November 1971 - Close of nominations
 * 11 December 1971 - Polling day
 * 24 December 1971 - Return of writs


 * Results

Source:

Ernest Jamieson (ALP)  9,386 (41.61%)  +3.52%     2pp 10,192 (45.19%) +5.01% Athol Guy      (Lib)   8,262 (36.63%) –10.54%     2pp 12,363 (54.81%) -5.01% Maurice Flynn  (DLP)   3,367 (14.93%)  +1.94% Peter Holzgrefe (Ind)  1,540 ( 6.83%)  +6.83% | Formal votes          22,555 (97.86%)  +0.74% Informal votes           494 ( 2.14%)  –0.74% Total votes           23,049 (85.29% of enrolled) –9.28%

(In 1970, an Ind got 1.75%.)


 * Write-up

''The Liberals faced a by-election in Gisborne during the period, consequent upon Julian Doyle's retirement. Their candidate was a surprise choice for state politics — Athol Guy, former member of the Seekers pop group, but a favourite performer of the Premier. He scraped in by 2171 votes after the distribution of DLP preferences, a marked change from Mr. Doyle's 47 per cent primary vote in 1970. However it is hard to decide if the by-election is much of a pointer for this year's federal election, for Mr. Doyle had a strong personal following and the rather unorthodox Mr. Guy may have seemed a strange candidate by comparison. The Liberals received 84 per cent of DLP preferences at the by-election.''

Melbourne state by-election, 1972
No change


 * Summary
 * Elected unopposed on close of nominations on 9 June 1972.
 * Melbourne

On 9 May 1972, the Labor member for Melbourne, Arthur Clarey, died. Labor candidate Barry Jones was elected unopposed at the close of nominations for the resulting by-election on 9 June 1972.


 * Reason: Arthur Clarey (Labor) died on 9 May 1972.
 * Winner: Barry Jones (Labor)
 * Re-member bio links: outgoing incoming


 * Key dates


 * 19 May 1972 - Issue of writs
 * 9 June 1972 - Close of nominations
 * 1 July 1972 - Polling day (cancelled)
 * 17 July 1972 - Return of writs


 * Results

Source:

Barry Jones was elected unopposed at the close of nominations on 9 June 1972.

No write-up. (as expected, as no polling took place)

Hampden state by-election, 1972
No change


 * Summary
 * Held on 7 October 1972.
 * Hampden
 * Reason: Sir Henry Bolte (Liberal; Premier of Victoria) resigned on 23 August 1972.
 * Winner: Tom Austin (Liberal)
 * Re-member bio links: outgoing incoming


 * Key dates


 * 4 September 1972 - Issue of writs
 * 19 September 1972 - Close of nominations
 * 7 October 1972 - Polling day
 * 24 October 1972 - Return of writs


 * Results

Source:

Ray Blizzard    (ALP)  5,872 (36.58%)  +5.56%     2pp 6,379 (39.74%) +5.01% Thomas Austin   (LIB)  5,616 (34.99%)  –7.92%     2pp 9,672 (60.26%) -5.01% Alan Plant      (CP)   3,278 (20.42%)  +4.26% Francis O'Brien (DLP)  1,113 ( 6.93%)  –2.89% Ivan Maddern    (Ind)    172 ( 1.07%)  +1.07% | Formal votes          16,051 (98.82%)  +0.53% Informal votes           191 ( 1.18%)  –0.53% Total votes           16,242 (91.58% of enrolled) –4.52%

No write-up.

Greensborough state by-election, 1973
No change


 * Summary
 * Held on 13 October 1973.
 * Greensborough
 * Reason: The result in the electorate of Greensborough was extremely close at the 1973 election, with incumbent Liberal member Monte Vale defeating former Labor member Bob Fell by five votes. Fell appealed to the Court of Disputed Returns, which overturned the result on 11 September 1973.
 * Winner: Monte Vale (Liberal)
 * Re-member bio links: outgoing incoming


 * Key dates


 * 17 September 1973 - Issue of writs
 * 25 September 1973 - Close of nominations
 * 13 October 1973 - Polling day
 * 26 October 1973 - Return of writs


 * Results

Source:

Monte Vale   (LIB)    20,323 (47.29%) +4.90% Bob Fell     (ALP)    17,724 (41.24%) –2.59% Flora Miller (Aust P)  2,533 ( 5.89%) +0.06% Chris Curtis (DLP)     2,395 ( 5.57%) –1.03% | Formal votes          42,975 (98.72%) +1.00% Informal votes           559 ( 1.28%) –1.00% Total votes           43,534 (88.20% of enrolled) –5.99%

Original election result

Bob Fell     (ALP)    19,155 (43.83%)        2pp 21848 Monte Vale   (LIB)    18,524 (42.39%)        2pp 21853 Ernest Dobson (DLP)    2,886 ( 6.60%) Flora Miller (Aust P)  2,546 ( 5.83%) David Close  (SJP)       590 ( 1.35%)        Social Justice Party | Formal votes          43,701 (97.72%) Informal votes         1,018 ( 2.28%) Total votes           44,719 (94.19% of enrolled)

''Hamer consolidated his May election victory by winning a by-election for Greensborough on 13 October, polling 47.3 per cent of the vote. The general election in May had produced a stalemate in this electorate, and the swing since then to the Liberals must put a question mark against the Labor-held federal seat of Diamond Valley extending over similar boundaries, especially since the ALP vote in the by-election declined by 2.5 per cent compared with its May total.''