New South Wales state election, 3 March 1956 Legislative Assembly << 1953– 1959 >>
Enrolled voters		2,011,258 [a]
Votes cast		1,722,628		Turnout	93.27	−0.59
Informal votes		28,805		Informal	1.67	−0.81
Summary of votes by party
Party		Primary votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Labor	800,410	47.25	−8.05	50	−7
	Liberal	611,342	36.09	+8.15	27	+5
	Country	172,020	10.16	−1.44	15	+1
	Independent	53,019	3.13	+0.62	1	+1
	Communist	29,534	1.74	+0.36	0	−
	Independent Labor	14,950	1.88	−0.19	1	−
	Lang Labor	11,028	0.65	+0.17	0	−
	All others	1,502	0.09	+0.09	0	−
Total		1,693,823			94

This is a list of electoral district results for the 1956 New South Wales state election. ^[2]

Results by electoral district

Albury

1956 New South Wales state election: Albury  ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Doug Padman	11,205	58.4	+6.6
	Labor	Robert White	7,988	41.6	−6.6
Total formal votes			19,193	99.1	+0.2
Informal votes			173	0.9	−0.2
Turnout			19,366	92.9	−1.0
	Liberal hold		Swing	+6.6

Armidale

1956 New South Wales state election: Armidale  ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Davis Hughes	9,107	52.3	+2.3
	Labor	Jim Cahill	8,312	47.7	−2.3
Total formal votes			17,419	98.8	+0.2
Informal votes			218	1.2	−0.2
Turnout			17,637	93.7	−1.4
	Country gain from Labor		Swing	+2.3

Ashfield

1956 New South Wales state election: Ashfield  ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Richard Murden	12,134	60.3	+10.0
	Labor	James Brady	7,985	39.7	−10.0
Total formal votes			20,119	98.8	+0.4
Informal votes			253	1.2	−0.4
Turnout			20,372	94.1	−0.6
	Liberal hold		Swing	+10.0

Auburn

1956 New South Wales state election: Auburn  ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Thomas Ryan	8,430	42.0	−20.0
	Liberal	John Steel	5,904	29.4	+29.4
	Lang Labor	Chris Lang	5,263	26.2	−11.8
	Independent	Edward Spensley	461	2.3	+2.3
Total formal votes			20,058	98.2	+2.1
Informal votes			365	1.8	−2.1
Turnout			20,423	94.3	−0.1
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Thomas Ryan	13,177	65.7	+3.7
	Liberal	John Steel	6,881	34.3	+34.3
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

Balmain

1956 New South Wales state election: Balmain  ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	John McMahon	14,613	67.3	−11.8
	Liberal	Elton Lewis	5,643	26.0	+26.0
	Communist	Stanley Moran	1,461	6.7	+0.2
Total formal votes			21,717	98.3	+2.1
Informal votes			384	1.7	−2.1
Turnout			22,101	92.9	0.0
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	John McMahon	15,928	75.3	−7.0
	Liberal	Elton Lewis	5,789	24.7	+24.7
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

Bankstown

1956 New South Wales state election: Bankstown  ^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Spence Powell	14,268	59.4	−30.0
	Liberal	Reginald Allsop	8,767	36.5	+36.5
	Communist	Roy Boyd	981	4.1	−6.5
Total formal votes			24,016	98.2	+5.7
Informal votes			444	1.8	−5.7
Turnout			24,460	94.5	+0.9
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Spence Powell	18,181	63.1	−26.3
	Liberal	Reginald Allsop	8,865	36.9	+36.9
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

Barwon

1956 New South Wales state election: Barwon  ^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Geoff Crawford	8,733	59.0	+5.2
	Labor	Gerard McInerney	6,061	41.0	−5.2
Total formal votes			14,794	99.1	+0.6
Informal votes			140	0.9	−0.6
Turnout			14,934	85.7	−7.3
	Country hold		Swing	+5.2

Bathurst

1956 New South Wales state election: Bathurst  ^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Gus Kelly	10,340	63.2	−36.8
	Liberal	Jack Toole	6,028	36.8	+36.8
Total formal votes			16,368	99.1
Informal votes			147	0.9
Turnout			16,515	95.5
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

Blacktown

1956 New South Wales state election: Blacktown  ^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	John Freeman	15,188	55.5	−5.7
	Liberal	Graham Cullis	12,189	44.5	+8.9
Total formal votes			27,377	98.4	+0.4
Informal votes			451	1.6	−0.4
Turnout			27,828	93.7	−0.4
	Labor hold		Swing	−8.5

Bondi

1956 New South Wales state election: Bondi  ^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Abe Landa	11,263	54.6	−5.0
	Liberal	Daniel Sutherland	9,360	45.4	+5.0
Total formal votes			20,623	98.3	+0.3
Informal votes			353	1.7	−0.3
Turnout			20,976	92.9	−0.4
	Labor hold		Swing	−5.0

Bulli

1956 New South Wales state election: Bulli  ^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Rex Jackson	11,812	60.8	−27.1
	Liberal	Donald Heggie	6,508	33.5	+33.5
	Communist	Bill McDougall	1,101	5.7	−6.4
Total formal votes			19,421	98.8	+4.8
Informal votes			227	1.2	−4.8
Turnout			19,648	93.7	−0.6
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Rex Jackson	12,803	65.9	−22.0
	Liberal	Donald Heggie	6,618	34.1	+34.1
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

Burrinjuck

1956 New South Wales state election: Burrinjuck  ^[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Bill Sheahan	10,124	55.0	−4.5
	Country	Allan Johnson	8,278	45.0	+13.0
Total formal votes			18,402	99.2	+0.3
Informal votes			153	0.8	−0.3
Turnout			18,555	95.6	0.0
	Labor hold		Swing	+1.2

Burwood

1956 New South Wales state election: Burwood  ^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Leslie Parr	unopposed
	Liberal hold

Byron

1956 New South Wales state election: Byron  ^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Stanley Stephens	11,394	70.3	−29.7
	Independent	Archibald Johnston	4,805	29.7	+29.7
Total formal votes			16,199	98.8
Informal votes			198	1.2
Turnout			16,397	92.1
	Country hold		Swing	N/A

Canterbury

1956 New South Wales state election: Canterbury  ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Arthur Tonge	12,032	59.4	−7.1
	Liberal	Cecil Ford	8,241	40.6	+11.5
Total formal votes			20,273	98.7	+0.6
Informal votes			275	1.3	−0.6
Turnout			20,548	94.0	0.0
	Labor hold		Swing	−10.7

Casino

1956 New South Wales state election: Casino  ^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Ian Robinson	unopposed
	Country hold

Castlereagh

1956 New South Wales state election: Castlereagh  ^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Jack Renshaw	9,388	58.7	−4.1
	Country	Norman Brown	6,599	41.3	+4.1
Total formal votes			15,987	99.2	+0.5
Informal votes			134	0.8	−0.5
Turnout			16,121	84.8	−6.0
	Labor hold		Swing	−4.1

Cessnock

1956 New South Wales state election: Cessnock  ^[20]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	John Crook	13,374	69.5	−16.1
	Liberal	Harold Hawkes	3,760	19.5	+19.5
	Communist	David Stevenson	2,121	11.0	−3.4
Total formal votes			19,255	98.5	+3.4
Informal votes			295	1.5	−3.4
Turnout			19,550	96.5	+1.8
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	John Crook	15,283	79.4	−6.2
	Liberal	Harold Hawkes	3,972	20.6	+20.6
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

Clarence

1956 New South Wales state election: Clarence  ^[21]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Bill Weiley	11,202	64.7	−1.7
	Country	Garth Munro	6,124	35.3	+35.3
Total formal votes			17,326	98.2	+0.3
Informal votes			313	1.8	−0.3
Turnout			17,639	93.5	−1.7
	Country hold		Swing	N/A

Cobar

1956 New South Wales state election: Cobar  ^[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Ernest Wetherell	unopposed
	Labor hold

Collaroy

1956 New South Wales state election: Collaroy  ^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Robert Askin	18,038	70.1	+6.8
	Independent	Gordon Jones	6,334	24.6	+24.6
	Communist	Elfrida Morcom	1,345	5.2	+5.2
Total formal votes			25,717	97.9	−0.1
Informal votes			557	2.1	+0.1
Turnout			26,274	93.5	+1.2
Two-candidate-preferred result
	Liberal	Robert Askin	18,374	71.4	+8.1
	Independent	Gordon Jones	7,343	28.6	+28.6
	Liberal hold		Swing	N/A

Concord

1956 New South Wales state election: Concord  ^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Lerryn Mutton	10,231	49.2	+3.9
	Labor	Thomas Murphy	9,833	47.2	−7.5
	Communist	Leslie Greenfield	749	3.6	+3.6
Total formal votes			20,813	98.2	+0.1
Informal votes			375	1.8	−0.1
Turnout			21,188	94.1	−0.2
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Thomas Murphy	10,450	50.2	−4.5
	Liberal	Lerryn Mutton	10,363	49.8	+4.5
	Labor hold		Swing	−4.5

Coogee

1956 New South Wales state election: Coogee  ^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Kevin Ellis	10,072	51.1	+4.3
	Labor	Lou Walsh	9,250	47.0	−6.2
	Independent	Tasman Crocker	375	1.9	+1.9
Total formal votes			19,697	98.3	+0.1
Informal votes			334	1.7	−0.1
Turnout			20,031	92.6	−0.6
Two-party-preferred result
	Liberal	Kevin Ellis	10,260	52.1	+5.3
	Labor	Lou Walsh	9,437	47.9	−5.3
	Liberal gain from Labor		Swing	+5.3

Cook's River

1956 New South Wales state election: Cook's River  ^[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Joseph Cahill	13,591	65.2	−34.8
	Independent	William Kendrick	4,135	19.8	+19.8
	Liberal	James Skehan	2,302	11.0	+11.0
	Communist	Edward Rowe	830	4.0	+4.0
Total formal votes			20,858	97.6
Informal votes			516	2.4
Turnout			21,374	94.6
Two-candidate-preferred result
	Labor	Joseph Cahill	14,751	70.7	−29.3
	Independent	William Kendrick	6,107	29.3	+29.3
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

Croydon

1956 New South Wales state election: Croydon  ^[27]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	David Hunter	11,545	61.6	+6.7
	Labor	Frank Zions	7,185	38.4	−6.7
Total formal votes			18,730	98.8	+0.5
Informal votes			234	1.2	−0.5
Turnout			18,964	93.0	−0.7
	Liberal hold		Swing	+6.7

Drummoyne

1956 New South Wales state election: Drummoyne  ^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Walter Lawrence	10,881	51.3	+3.4
	Labor	Roy Jackson	10,316	48.7	−3.4
Total formal votes			21,197	98.3	+0.3
Informal votes			360	1.7	−0.3
Turnout			21,557	95.0	0.0
	Liberal gain from Labor		Swing	+3.4

Dubbo

1956 New South Wales state election: Dubbo  ^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Clarrie Robertson	8,241	46.8	−5.2
	Country	Keith Sullivan	4,887	27.8	−20.2
	Liberal	Neville Magin	4,472	25.4	+25.4
Total formal votes			17,600	98.9	+0.7
Informal votes			200	1.1	−0.7
Turnout			17,800	93.2	−1.6
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Clarrie Robertson	9,018	51.2	−0.8
	Country	Keith Sullivan	8,582	48.8	+0.8
	Labor hold		Swing	−0.8

Dulwich Hill

1956 New South Wales state election: Dulwich Hill  ^[30]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Cliff Mallam	10,507	52.7	−9.7
	Liberal	Lionel Corner	9,436	47.3	+9.7
Total formal votes			19,943	98.4	+0.5
Informal votes			326	1.6	−0.5
Turnout			20,269	92.3	−1.3
	Labor hold		Swing	−9.7

Earlwood

1956 New South Wales state election: Earlwood  ^[31]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Eric Willis	14,561	58.0	+7.7
	Labor	David Connors	10,525	42.0	−7.7
Total formal votes			25,086	98.8	+0.5
Informal votes			310	1.2	−0.5
Turnout			25,396	95.4	−0.1
	Liberal hold		Swing	+7.7

East Hills

1956 New South Wales state election: East Hills  ^[32]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Joe Kelly	16,897	56.0	−13.9
	Liberal	Harold Stalker	10,515	34.9	+4.8
	Independent	Douglas Marshall	2,740	9.1	+9.1
Total formal votes			30,152	97.9	0.0
Informal votes			656	2.1	0.0
Turnout			30,808	93.8	−0.2
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Joe Kelly	18,267	60.6	−9.3
	Liberal	Harold Stalker	11,885	39.4	+9.3
	Labor hold		Swing	−9.3

Eastwood

1956 New South Wales state election: Eastwood  ^[33]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Eric Hearnshaw	unopposed
	Liberal hold

Fairfield

1956 New South Wales state election: Fairfield  ^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Clarrie Earl	16,258	62.9	−28.4
	Liberal	Guy Holmes	8,541	33.0	+33.0
	Communist	Edwin Lipscombe	1,057	4.1	−4.6
Total formal votes			25,856	98.3	+8.0
Informal votes			456	1.7	−8.0
Turnout			26,312	93.3	+0.1
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Clarrie Earl	17,209	66.6	−24.7
	Liberal	Guy Holmes	8,647	33.4	+33.4
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

Georges River

1956 New South Wales state election: Georges River  ^[35]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Douglas Cross	12,852	52.4	+11.0
	Labor	Frank O'Neill	10,765	43.9	−14.7
	Communist	Paul Mortier	907	3.7	+3.7
Total formal votes			24,524	98.5	+0.5
Informal votes			365	1.5	−0.5
Turnout			24,889	94.7	+0.1
Two-party-preferred result
	Liberal	Douglas Cross	12,943	52.8	+11.4
	Labor	Frank O'Neill	11,581	47.2	−11.4
	Liberal gain from Labor		Swing	+11.4

Gloucester

1956 New South Wales state election: Gloucester  ^[36]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Ray Fitzgerald	10,307	65.4	+2.4
	Labor	Thomas Breen	5,440	34.6	−2.4
Total formal votes			15,747	98.7	+0.5
Informal votes			206	1.3	−0.5
Turnout			15,953	92.0	−2.8
	Country hold		Swing	+2.4

Gordon

1956 New South Wales state election: Gordon  ^[37]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Stewart Fraser	unopposed
	Liberal hold

Gosford

1956 New South Wales state election: Gosford  ^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Harold Jackson	11,096	56.8	+2.8
	Labor	Rupert Wallace	7,164	36.7	−9.3
	Communist	Alan Brackenreg	626	3.2	+3.2
	Independent	Roy Jackson	463	2.4	+2.4
	Independent	Leslie Moffat	174	0.9	+0.9
Total formal votes			19,523	98.2	+0.2
Informal votes			356	1.8	−0.2
Turnout			19,879	93.4	+0.2
Two-party-preferred result
	Liberal	Harold Jackson	11,478	58.7	+4.7
	Labor	Rupert Wallace	8,045	41.3	−4.7
	Liberal hold		Swing	+4.7

Goulburn

1956 New South Wales state election: Goulburn  ^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Laurie Tully	8,666	52.9	−9.7
	Liberal	Ray Bladwell	7,724	47.1	+9.7
Total formal votes			16,390	99.4	+1.2
Informal votes			97	0.6	−1.2
Turnout			16,487	95.2	−0.7
	Labor hold		Swing	−9.7

Granville

1956 New South Wales state election: Granville  ^[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Bill Lamb	14,613	67.1	−25.8
	Liberal	Robert Mutton	6,314	29.0	+29.0
	Communist	Rupert Lockwood	865	4.0	−3.1
Total formal votes			21,792	98.0	+6.0
Informal votes			440	2.0	−6.0
Turnout			22,232	94.3	−0.4
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Bill Lamb	15,391	70.6	−22.3
	Liberal	Robert Mutton	6,401	29.4	+29.4
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

Hamilton

1956 New South Wales state election: Hamilton  ^[41]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	George Campbell	9,157	55.7	−8.5
	Liberal	Horace Smith	7,281	44.3	+8.5
Total formal votes			16,438	99.0	+0.9
Informal votes			157	1.0	−0.9
Turnout			16,595	94.8	0.0
	Labor hold		Swing	−8.5

Hartley

1956 New South Wales state election: Hartley  ^[42]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Jim Robson	7,595	44.7	+13.0
	Independent Labor	William Black	7,539	44.3	−12.9
	Communist	John King	825	4.9	−6.2
	Independent	Neville Weekes	545	3.2	+3.2
	Independent	Leslie Cant	498	2.9	+2.9
Total formal votes			17,002	96.0	−0.5
Informal votes			709	4.0	+0.5
Turnout			17,711	95.4	+0.3
Two-candidate-preferred result
	Labor	Jim Robson	8,567	50.4	+14.0
	Independent Labor	William Black	8,435	49.6	−14.0
	Labor gain from Independent Labor		Swing	+14.0

The sitting member for Hartley, Jim Chalmers ( Independent Labor), unsuccessfully contested Nepean.

Hawkesbury

1956 New South Wales state election: Hawkesbury  ^[43]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Bernie Deane	11,013	64.3	+7.1
	Labor	John Grinham	6,113	35.7	−7.1
Total formal votes			17,126	98.3	+0.1
Informal votes			298	1.7	−0.1
Turnout			17,424	91.4	−1.2
	Liberal hold		Swing	+7.1

Hornsby

1956 New South Wales state election: Hornsby  ^[44]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Sydney Storey	16,665	69.1	+8.6
	Labor	Francis O'Connell	7,447	30.9	+30.9
Total formal votes			24,112	98.4	+0.6
Informal votes			402	1.6	−0.6
Turnout			24,514	93.1	+0.5
	Liberal hold		Swing	N/A

Hurstville

1956 New South Wales state election: Hurstville  ^[45]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Clive Evatt	11,459	51.4	−7.2
	Liberal	Hedley Mallard	9,982	44.8	+3.4
	Independent	Edward Merryfull	835	3.8	+3.8
Total formal votes			22,276	98.7	+0.5
Informal votes			300	1.3	−0.5
Turnout			22,576	94.8	−0.3
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Clive Evatt	11,876	53.3	−5.3
	Liberal	Hedley Mallard	10,400	46.7	+5.3
	Labor hold		Swing	−5.3

Illawarra

1956 New South Wales state election: Illawarra  ^[46]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Howard Fowles	10,809	59.9	−40.1
	Liberal	Adrian O'Donnell	6,180	34.2	+34.2
	Communist	David Bowen	1,070	5.9	+5.9
Total formal votes			18,059	98.4
Informal votes			299	1.6
Turnout			18,358	94.0
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Howard Fowles	11,772	65.2	−34.8
	Liberal	Adrian O'Donnell	6,287	34.8	+34.8
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

Kahibah

1956 New South Wales state election: Kahibah  ^[47]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Robert McCartney	7,238	39.0	−25.7
	Independent Labor	Tom Armstrong	6,195	33.4	+33.4
	Liberal	Joseph Richley	5,129	27.6	−7.7
Total formal votes			18,562	98.9	+3.1
Informal votes			213	1.1	−3.1
Turnout			18,775	95.9	−0.1
Two-candidate-preferred result
	Independent Labor	Tom Armstrong	10,618	57.2	+57.2
	Labor	Robert McCartney	7,944	42.8	−21.9
	Independent Labor gain from Labor		Swing	N/A

Joshua Arthur ( Labor) resigned as a result of the Royal Commission concerning his relationship with Reginald Doyle. Tom Armstrong ( Independent Labor) won the resulting by-election. ^[48]

King

1956 New South Wales state election: King  ^[49]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Albert Sloss	10,700	56.6	−21.2
	Liberal	Roberta Galagher	4,456	23.6	+1.4
	Lang Labor	Michael Callinan	2,568	13.6	+13.6
	Communist	Ron Maxwell	1,179	6.2	+6.2
Total formal votes			18,903	96.5	+0.3
Informal votes			690	3.5	−0.3
Turnout			19,593	90.0	+0.9
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Albert Sloss	13,610	72.0	−5.8
	Liberal	Roberta Galagher	5,293	28.0	+5.8
	Labor hold		Swing	−5.8

Kogarah

1956 New South Wales state election: Kogarah  ^[50]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Bill Crabtree	12,467	55.0	−0.7
	Liberal	Horace Harper	10,195	45.0	+0.7
Total formal votes			22,662	98.8	+0.6
Informal votes			276	1.2	−0.6
Turnout			22,938	94.1	−0.5
	Labor hold		Swing	−0.7

Kurri Kurri

1956 New South Wales state election: Kurri Kurri  ^[51]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	George Booth	15,610	84.4
	Liberal	Stanley Mettam	2,897	15.6
Total formal votes			18,507	98.5
Informal votes			285	1.5
Turnout			18,792	95.3
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

Lake Macquarie

1956 New South Wales state election: Lake Macquarie  ^[52]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Jim Simpson	14,321	69.2	−30.8
	Liberal	Edward Farrell	4,756	23.0	+23.0
	Communist	William Quinn	1,619	7.8	+7.8
Total formal votes			20,696	98.5
Informal votes			311	1.5
Turnout			21,007	95.3
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Jim Simpson	15,382	74.8	−25.2
	Liberal	Edward Farrell	5,314	25.2	+25.2
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

Lakemba

1956 New South Wales state election: Lakemba  ^[53]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Stan Wyatt	13,874	60.2	−8.6
	Liberal	John Whelan	7,818	33.9	+2.7
	Communist	James Staples	1,365	5.9	+5.9
Total formal votes			23,057	98.2	−0.2
Informal votes			416	1.8	+0.2
Turnout			23,473	94.8	+0.3
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Stan Wyatt	15,102	65.5	−3.3
	Liberal	John Whelan	7,955	34.5	+3.3
	Labor hold		Swing	−3.3

Lane Cove

1956 New South Wales state election: Lane Cove  ^[54]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Ken McCaw	16,066	74.1	+8.7
	Labor	Geoffrey O'Donnell	5,605	25.9	−8.7
Total formal votes			21,671	98.6	+0.5
Informal votes			316	1.4	−0.5
Turnout			21,987	93.1	+0.1
	Liberal hold		Swing	+8.7

Leichhardt

1956 New South Wales state election: Leichhardt  ^[55]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Reg Coady	14,145	68.9	−5.6
	Liberal	Barney Morton	6,386	31.1	+5.6
Total formal votes			20,531	97.8	+0.5
Informal votes			462	2.2	−0.5
Turnout			20,993	91.7	−0.9
	Labor hold		Swing	−5.6

Lismore

1956 New South Wales state election: Lismore  ^[56]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Jack Easter	9,914	61.4	+25.5
	Labor	Archibald McEwan	4,039	25.0	−9.3
	Independent	Constance Wilson	2,190	13.6	+13.6
Total formal votes			16,143	99.3	+0.4
Informal votes			109	0.7	−0.4
Turnout			16,252	92.4	−2.5
Two-party-preferred result
	Country	Jack Easter	11,009	68.2	+5.2
	Labor	Archibald McEwan	5,134	31.8	−5.2
	Country hold		Swing	+5.2

Liverpool

1956 New South Wales state election: Liverpool  ^[57]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Jack Mannix	unopposed
	Labor hold

Liverpool Plains

1956 New South Wales state election: Liverpool Plains  ^[58]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Roger Nott	9,109	54.7	−4.3
	Country	Geoffrey Thomas	4,868	29.2	+0.9
	Liberal	Henry Gregson	2,609	15.7	+2.9
	Independent	John Pender	72	0.4	+0.4
Total formal votes			16,658	99.2	+0.3
Informal votes			139	0.8	−0.3
Turnout			16,797	94.0	−1.9
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Roger Nott	9,406	56.5	−3.5
	Country	Geoffrey Thomas	7,252	43.5	+3.5
	Labor hold		Swing	−3.5

Maitland

1956 New South Wales state election: Maitland  ^[59]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Milton Morris	7,195	45.9	−7.9
	Labor	Cecil Robinson	6,580	42.0	−4.2
	Independent	Leonard Neville	918	5.9	+5.9
	Independent	Edward Fletcher	715	4.6	+4.6
	Independent	Henry Ivins	267	1.7	+1.7
Total formal votes			15,675	98.2	−0.4
Informal votes			289	1.8	+0.4
Turnout			15,964	95.8	−0.8
Two-party-preferred result
	Liberal	Milton Morris	8,778	56.0	+2.1
	Labor	Cecil Robinson	6,897	44.0	−2.1
	Liberal hold		Swing	+2.1

Manly

1956 New South Wales state election: Manly  ^[60]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Douglas Darby	13,646	67.9	+5.3
	Labor	John Wilson	6,462	32.1	−5.3
Total formal votes			20,108	97.1	−1.2
Informal votes			589	2.9	+1.2
Turnout			20,697	94.4	+1.5
	Liberal hold		Swing	+5.3

Maroubra

1956 New South Wales state election: Maroubra  ^[61]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Bob Heffron	14,820	64.9	−35.1
	Liberal	Wallace Peacock	8,018	35.1	+35.1
Total formal votes			22,838	98.4
Informal votes			376	1.6
Turnout			23,214	93.9
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

Marrickville

1956 New South Wales state election: Marrickville  ^[62]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Norm Ryan	12,093	61.4	−19.4
	Liberal	Ian Chisholm	6,352	32.2	+32.2
	Communist	Adam Ogston	652	3.3	+3.3
	Republican	William McCristal	602	3.1	+3.1
Total formal votes			19,699	97.7	+3.6
Informal votes			472	2.3	−3.6
Turnout			20,171	93.6	−0.5
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Norm Ryan	12,981	65.9	−14.9
	Liberal	Ian Chisholm	6,718	34.1	+34.1
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

Monaro

1956 New South Wales state election: Monaro  ^[63]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	John Seiffert	8,709	58.4	−6.3
	Liberal	Ernest Smith	5,604	37.5	+2.2
	Country	Frederick Von Nida	613	4.1	+4.1
Total formal votes			14,926	98.9	+0.8
Informal votes			161	1.1	−0.8
Turnout			15,087	93.0	−1.3
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	John Seiffert	8,770	58.7	−6.0
	Liberal	Ernest Smith	8,156	41.3	+6.0
	Labor hold		Swing	−6.0

Mosman

1956 New South Wales state election: Mosman  ^[64]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Pat Morton	18,396	78.7	+3.1
	Labor	Malcolm Stuart−Robertson	4,968	21.3	−3.1
Total formal votes			23,364	98.3	+0.5
Informal votes			391	1.7	−0.5
Turnout			23,755	93.3	+0.8
	Liberal hold		Swing	+3.1

Mudgee

1956 New South Wales state election: Mudgee  ^[65]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Leo Nott	8,220	50.7	−2.3
	Liberal	Eric Hennessy	4,650	28.7	+28.7
	Country	Kenneth Masters	3,343	20.6	−26.4
Total formal votes			16,213	99.0	+0.6
Informal votes			160	1.0	−0.6
Turnout			16,373	94.2	−0.8
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Leo Nott	8,554	52.8	−0.2
	Liberal	Eric Hennessy	7,659	47.2	+0.2
	Labor hold		Swing	−0.2

Murray

1956 New South Wales state election: Murray  ^[66]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Joe Lawson	12,106	70.1	+11.9
	Labor	Willie Peters	5,164	29.9	−11.9
Total formal votes			17,270	99.3	+0.7
Informal votes			122	0.7	−0.7
Turnout			17,392	86.8	−2.4
	Country hold		Swing	+11.9

Murrumbidgee

1956 New South Wales state election: Murrumbidgee  ^[67]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	George Enticknap	9,644	55.5	−6.8
	Country	Michael Cudmore	7,721	44.5	+6.8
Total formal votes			17,365	98.7	+0.5
Informal votes			223	1.3	−0.5
Turnout			17,588	89.1	−3.5
	Labor hold		Swing	−6.8

Nepean

1956 New South Wales state election: Nepean  ^[68]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Bill Chapman	10,335	54.0	+1.5
	Labor	Alfred Bennett	6,946	36.3	−11.2
	Independent Labor	Jim Chalmers	1,216	6.4	+6.4
	Communist	Mel McCalman	635	3.3	+3.3
Total formal votes			19,132	98.1	0.0
Informal votes			379	1.9	0.0
Turnout			19,511	93.9	+0.9
Two-party-preferred result
	Liberal	Bill Chapman	10,641	55.6	+3.0
	Labor	Alfred Bennett	8,491	44.4	−3.0
	Liberal hold		Swing	+3.0

Neutral Bay

1956 New South Wales state election: Neutral Bay  ^[69]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Ivan Black	15,585	74.9	−25.1
	Labor	Donald Gray	5,228	25.1	+25.1
Total formal votes			20,813	98.4
Informal votes			330	1.6
Turnout			21,143	91.6
	Liberal hold		Swing	N/A

Newcastle

1956 New South Wales state election: Newcastle  ^[70]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Frank Hawkins	10,358	66.5	−26.1
	Liberal	Iris Hyde	4,410	28.3	+28.3
	Communist	Mervyn Copley	819	5.2	−2.2
Total formal votes			15,587	98.5	+3.6
Informal votes			239	1.5	−3.6
Turnout			15,826	93.8	−0.9
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Frank Hawkins	11,095	71.2	−21.4
	Liberal	Iris Hyde	4,492	28.8	+28.8
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

North Sydney

1956 New South Wales state election: North Sydney  ^[71]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Ray Maher	9,827	48.6	+16.2
	Liberal	Peter Murphy	9,771	48.3	+13.4
	Communist	Bill Wood	637	3.1	+3.1
Total formal votes			20,235	98.5	+1.0
Informal votes			302	1.5	−1.0
Turnout			20,537	93.2	−0.5
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Ray Maher	10,281	50.8	−5.2
	Liberal	Peter Murphy	9,954	49.2	+5.2
	Labor hold		Swing	−5.2

Orange

1956 New South Wales state election: Orange  ^[72]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Charles Cutler	10,863	59.7	+5.4
	Labor	Louie Cassey	7,137	39.2	−6.5
	Communist	Cecil Connors	194	1.1	+1.1
Total formal votes			18,194	99.1	+0.5
Informal votes			166	0.9	−0.5
Turnout			18,360	95.4	−0.2
Two-party-preferred result
	Country	Charles Cutler	10,882	59.8	+5.5
	Labor	Louie Cassey	7,312	40.2	−5.5
	Country hold		Swing	+5.5

Oxley

1956 New South Wales state election: Oxley  ^[73]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Les Jordan	10,695	58.6	+3.4
	Labor	William Kennewell	6,769	37.1	+0.8
	Independent	Joe Cordner	780	4.3	+2.5
Total formal votes			18,244	99.1	+0.6
Informal votes			174	0.9	−0.6
Turnout			18,418	93.1	−3.4
Two-party-preferred result
	Country	Les Jordan	11,085	60.8	+0.1
	Labor	William Kennewell	7,159	39.2	−0.1
	Country hold		Swing	+0.1

Paddington

1956 New South Wales state election: Paddington  ^[74]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Maurice O'Sullivan	12,570	66.4	−20.6
	Liberal	Rodney Craigie	4,339	22.9	+22.9
	Communist	Bill Brown	2,035	10.7	−2.3
Total formal votes			18,944	97.1	+4.4
Informal votes			573	2.9	−4.4
Turnout			19,517	91.4	+1.1
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Maurice O'Sullivan	14,401	76.0	−11.0
	Liberal	Rodney Craigie	4,543	24.0	+24.0
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

Parramatta

1956 New South Wales state election: Parramatta  ^[75]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Jim Clough	13,423	52.1	+4.3
	Labor	Kevin Morgan	12,344	47.9	−2.8
Total formal votes			25,767	98.5	+0.3
Informal votes			381	1.5	−0.3
Turnout			26,148	94.1	−0.4
	Liberal gain from Labor		Swing	+3.6

Phillip

1956 New South Wales state election: Phillip  ^[76]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Pat Hills	14,287	75.6	−24.4
	Lang Labor	Francis Mohan	3,197	16.9	+16.9
	Communist	Robert Webster	1,407	7.5	+7.5
Total formal votes			18,791	95.8
Informal votes			832	4.2
Turnout			19,723	92.0
Two-candidate-preferred result
	Labor	Pat Hills	15,342	81.2	−18.8
	Lang Labor	Francis Mohan	3,549	18.8	+18.8
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

Raleigh

1956 New South Wales state election: Raleigh  ^[77]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Radford Gamack	unopposed
	Country hold

Randwick

1956 New South Wales state election: Randwick  ^[78]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	William Gollan	10,281	52.6	−11.1
	Liberal	Charles De Monchaux	8,777	44.9	+8.6
	Communist	Kenneth O'Hara	498	2.5	+2.5
Total formal votes			19,556	98.3	+0.3
Informal votes			411	2.0	−0.3
Turnout			19,903	93.2	−0.1
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	William Gollan	10,729	54.9	−8.8
	Liberal	Charles De Monchaux	8,827	45.1	+8.8
	Labor hold		Swing	−8.8

Redfern

1956 New South Wales state election: Redfern  ^[79]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Fred Green	16,584	90.4	−2.3
	Communist	Arthur Shipton	1,754	9.6	+2.3
Total formal votes			18,338	93.5	−0.4
Informal votes			1,265	6.5	+0.4
Turnout			19,603	93.6	+1.4
	Labor hold		Swing	−2.3

Rockdale

1956 New South Wales state election: Rockdale  ^[80]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	John McGrath	11,469	51.3	−9.2
	Liberal	Harold Heslehurst	10,890	48.7	+9.2
Total formal votes			22,359	98.3	+0.8
Informal votes			387	1.7	−0.8
Turnout			22,746	94.1	−0.4
	Labor hold		Swing	−9.2

Ryde

1956 New South Wales state election: Ryde  ^[81]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Frank Downing	12,001	50.1	−4.4
	Liberal	Francis Collings	11,959	49.9	+4.4
Total formal votes			23,960	98.2	+0.1
Informal votes			436	1.8	−0.1
Turnout			24,396	94.6	−0.6
	Labor hold		Swing	−4.4

South Coast

1956 New South Wales state election: South Coast  ^[82]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Jack Beale	11,795	68.5	+7.7
	Labor	Allan Beaton	5,416	31.5	−7.7
Total formal votes			17,211	99.2	+0.4
Informal votes			132	0.8	−0.4
Turnout			17,343	94.1	+0.2
	Liberal hold		Swing	+7.7

Sturt

1956 New South Wales state election: Sturt  ^[83]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	William Wattison	10,107	70.0	−30.0
	Independent	John Fox	2,858	19.8	+19.8
	Communist	William Flynn	1,468	10.2	+10.2
Total formal votes			14,433	98.0
Informal votes			287	2.0
Turnout			14,720	87.2
Two-candidate-preferred result
	Labor	William Wattison	10,841	75.1	−24.9
	Independent	John Fox	3,592	24.9	+24.9
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

Sutherland

1956 New South Wales state election: Sutherland  ^[84]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Ian Griffith	14,812	52.5	+5.8
	Labor	Tom Dalton	13,388	47.5	−5.8
Total formal votes			28,200	98.7	+0.3
Informal votes			377	1.3	−0.3
Turnout			28,577	94.6	+0.7
	Liberal gain from Labor		Swing	+5.8

Tamworth

1956 New South Wales state election: Tamworth  ^[85]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Bill Chaffey	11,203	61.8	+7.2
	Labor	Arthur Foran	6,921	38.2	−7.2
Total formal votes			18,124	99.1	+0.1
Informal votes			163	0.9	−0.1
Turnout			18,287	92.8	−3.1
	Country hold		Swing	+7.2

Temora

1956 New South Wales state election: Temora  ^[86]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Doug Dickson	10,039	64.4	+3.2
	Labor	Hector Skidmore	5,549	35.6	−3.2
Total formal votes			15,588	99.0	+0.2
Informal votes			152	1.0	−0.2
Turnout			15,740	91.9	−2.2
	Country hold		Swing	+3.2

Tenterfield

1956 New South Wales state election: Tenterfield  ^[87]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Michael Bruxner	unopposed
	Country hold

Upper Hunter

1956 New South Wales state election: Upper Hunter  ^[88]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	D'Arcy Rose	9,166	57.0	+1.7
	Labor	Albert Khan	6,907	43.0	−1.7
Total formal votes			16,073	99.4	+0.3
Informal votes			99	0.6	−0.3
Turnout			16,172	94.6	−1.1
	Country hold		Swing	+1.7

Vaucluse

1956 New South Wales state election: Vaucluse  ^[89]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Murray Robson	14,865	71.4	−28.6
	Independent	Alfred Elboz	5,950	28.6	+28.6
Total formal votes			20,815	97.3
Informal votes			575	2.7
Turnout			21,390	90.3
	Liberal hold		Swing	N/A

Wagga Wagga

1956 New South Wales state election: Wagga Wagga  ^[90]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Eddie Graham	10,250	60.3	−3.9
	Liberal	Wal Fife	6,743	39.7	+3.9
Total formal votes			16,993	99.2	+1.1
Informal votes			144	0.8	−1.1
Turnout			17,137	93.9	−0.4
	Labor hold		Swing	−5.7

Waratah

1956 New South Wales state election: Waratah  ^[91]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Frank Purdue	8,829	48.8	+48.8
	Labor	Harry Sheedy	6,608	36.6	−31.3
	Independent	Harry Edwards	2,201	12.2	+12.2
	Communist	Thomas Graham	434	2.4	+2.4
Total formal votes			18,072	98.7	+1.6
Informal votes			235	1.3	−1.6
Turnout			18,307	95.7	−0.2
Two-candidate-preferred result
	Independent	Frank Purdue	10,129	56.0	+56.0
	Labor	Harry Sheedy	7,943	44.0	−23.9
	Independent gain from Labor		Swing	N/A

Waverley

1956 New South Wales state election: Waverley  ^[92]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	William Ferguson	11,373	58.6	−9.9
	Liberal	John Steinwede	7,145	36.8	+5.3
	Communist	Eddie Maher	900	4.6	+4.6
Total formal votes			19,418	97.9	0.0
Informal votes			425	2.1	0.0
Turnout			19,843	90.8	−0.3
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	William Ferguson	12,183	62.7	−5.8
	Liberal	John Steinwede	7,235	37.3	+5.8
	Labor hold		Swing	−5.8

Willoughby

1956 New South Wales state election: Willoughby  ^[93]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	George Brain	15,682	72.0	+7.4
	Labor	Anthony Coates	6,086	28.0	−7.4
Total formal votes			21,768	98.8	+0.4
Informal votes			271	1.2	−0.4
Turnout			22,039	92.9	−0.9
	Liberal hold		Swing	+7.4

Wollondilly

1956 New South Wales state election: Wollondilly  ^[94]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Blake Pelly	11,675	65.2	+8.3
	Labor	Ernest Seager	6,220	34.8	−8.3
Total formal votes			17,895	98.9	+0.3
Informal votes			204	1.1	−0.3
Turnout			18,099	94.6	+0.4
	Liberal hold		Swing	+8.3

Wollongong−Kembla

1956 New South Wales state election: Wollongong−Kembla

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Rex Connor	9,636	55.2	+0.3
	Liberal	Robert Albert	6,027	34.5	+34.5
	Independent	George Parker	1,785	10.2	−30.4
Total formal votes			17,448	98.3	+1.4
Informal votes			293	1.7	−1.4
Turnout			17,741	93.7	−0.9
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Rex Connor	10,528	60.3	+4.3
	Liberal	Robert Albert	6,920	39.7	+39.7
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

Woollahra

1956 New South Wales state election: Woollahra  ^[95]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Vernon Treatt	14,592	70.8	+3.2
	Independent	George Mason	6,007	29.2	+29.2
Total formal votes			20,599	95.3	−2.3
Informal votes			1,010	4.7	+2.3
Turnout			21,609	87.7	−0.7
	Liberal hold		Swing	N/A

Young

1956 New South Wales state election: Young  ^[96]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Fred Cahill	9,371	49.0	−8.2
	Liberal	Raymond Oliver	4,904	25.6	+25.6
	Country	George Freudenstein	4,858	25.4	−17.4
Total formal votes			19,133	99.2	+0.1
Informal votes			151	0.8	−0.1
Turnout			19,284	95.1	−0.5
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Fred Cahill	9,746	50.9	−6.3
	Liberal	Raymond Oliver	9,387	49.1	+6.3
	Labor hold		Swing	−6.3

See also

• Candidates of the 1956 New South Wales state election
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1956–1959

Notes

References