Electoral results for the district of Cobar
Cobar, an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales had two incarnations, from 1894 until 1920 and from 1930 until 1968.[1][2][3]
| First incarnation (1894–1920) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Election | Member | Party | |
| 1894 | Thomas Waddell | Protectionist | |
| 1895 | |||
| 1898 | William Spence | Labour | |
| 1901 | Donald Macdonell | Labour | |
| 1904 | |||
| 1907 | |||
| 1910 | |||
| Oct 1911 by | |||
| Dec 1911 by | Charles Fern | Labour | |
| 1913 | |||
| 1917 | |||
| 1918 by | Mat Davidson | Labor | |
| Second incarnation (1930–1968) | |||
| Election | Member | Party | |
| 1930 | Mat Davidson | Labor | |
| 1932 | Labor (NSW) | ||
| 1935 | |||
| 1938 | Labor / Industrial Labor [a] | ||
| 1941 | Labor | ||
| 1944 | |||
| 1947 | |||
| 1949 by | Ernest Wetherell | Labor | |
| 1950 | |||
| 1953 | |||
| 1956 | |||
| 1959 | |||
| 1962 | |||
| 1965 | Lew Johnstone | Labor | |
Election results
Elections in the 1960s
1965
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Lew Johnstone | 6,200 | 45.0 | −55.0 | |
| Liberal | Allan Connell | 5,174 | 37.5 | +37.5 | |
| Independent | Douglas McFarlane | 1,416 | 10.3 | +10.3 | |
| Independent | William Edwards | 997 | 7.2 | +7.2 | |
| Total formal votes | 13,787 | 97.8 | |||
| Informal votes | 315 | 2.2 | |||
| Turnout | 14,102 | 89.6 | |||
| Two-party-preferred result | |||||
| Labor | Lew Johnstone | 7,636 | 55.4 | −44.6 | |
| Liberal | Allan Connell | 6,151 | 44.6 | +44.6 | |
| Labor hold | Swing | N/A | |||
1962
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Ernest Wetherell | unopposed | |||
| Labor hold | |||||
Elections in the 1950s
1959
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Ernest Wetherell | unopposed | |||
| Labor hold | |||||
1956
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Ernest Wetherell | unopposed | |||
| Labor hold | |||||
1953
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Ernest Wetherell | unopposed | |||
| Labor hold | |||||
1950
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Ernest Wetherell | 8,717 | 66.4 | ||
| Country | Frederick Harding | 4,419 | 33.6 | ||
| Total formal votes | 13,136 | 98.5 | |||
| Informal votes | 203 | 1.5 | |||
| Turnout | 13,339 | 87.0 | |||
| Labor hold | Swing | ||||
Cobar absorbed the entire district of Sturt, but lost the towns of Bourke and Nyngan to Castlereagh and South Broken Hill and Menindee to the re-constituted Sturt.
Elections in the 1940s
1949 by-election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Ernest Wetherell | 6,107 | 65.3 | ||
| Liberal | Harold Campbell | 2,235 | 23.9 | ||
| Communist | Hadley McMeekin | 1,007 | 10.8 | ||
| Total formal votes | 9,349 | 98.1 | |||
| Informal votes | 177 | 1.9 | |||
| Turnout | 9,526 | 73.9 | |||
| Labor hold | Swing | N/A | |||
The by-election was caused by the death of Mat Davidson (Labor).[12]
1947
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Mat Davidson | unopposed | |||
| Labor hold | |||||
1944
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Mat Davidson | 8,352 | 78.3 | −6.1 | |
| Lang Labor | William Burgess | 2,313 | 21.7 | +21.7 | |
| Total formal votes | 10,665 | 97.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Informal votes | 330 | 3.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Turnout | 10,995 | 81.1 | −3.3 | ||
| Labor hold | Swing | N/A | |||
1941
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Mat Davidson | 10,003 | 84.4 | ||
| State Labor | David Wight | 1,843 | 15.6 | ||
| Total formal votes | 11,846 | 97.0 | |||
| Informal votes | 366 | 3.0 | |||
| Turnout | 12,212 | 84.4 | |||
| Labor hold | Swing | ||||
Elections in the 1930s
1938
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Mat Davidson | unopposed | |||
| Labor hold | |||||
1935
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor (NSW) | Mat Davidson | 7,978 | 70.3 | +10.1 | |
| Federal Labor | Joseph Bowe | 3,370 | 29.7 | +18.0 | |
| Total formal votes | 11,348 | 96.5 | −1.8 | ||
| Informal votes | 408 | 3.5 | +1.8 | ||
| Turnout | 11,756 | 91.9 | −1.0 | ||
| Labor (NSW) hold | Swing | N/A | |||
1932
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor (NSW) | Mat Davidson | 6,729 | 60.2 | −12.2 | |
| Country | Eric Killen | 3,137 | 28.1 | +28.1 | |
| Federal Labor | Samuel Bailey | 1,306 | 11.7 | +11.7 | |
| Total formal votes | 11,172 | 98.3 | +1.0 | ||
| Informal votes | 197 | 1.7 | −1.0 | ||
| Turnout | 11,369 | 92.9 | +2.0 | ||
| Labor (NSW) hold | Swing | N/A | |||
- Preferences were not distributed.
1930
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Mat Davidson | 7,645 | 72.4 | ||
| Nationalist | John Lawson | 2,750 | 26.0 | ||
| Communist | Edmund Rees | 172 | 1.6 | ||
| Total formal votes | 10,567 | 97.3 | |||
| Informal votes | 288 | 2.7 | |||
| Turnout | 10,855 | 90.9 | |||
| Labor win | (new seat) | ||||
Cobar was a re-created seat, and comprised part of the districts of Sturt, Lachlan and Namoi. Mat Davidson (Labor) was the member for Murray.
District recreated
1920 - 1930
District abolished
Elections in the 1910s
1918 by-election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Mat Davidson | unopposed | |||
| Registered electors | 8,088[b] | ||||
| Labor hold | |||||
1917
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Charles Fern | unopposed | |||
| Labor hold | |||||
1913
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Charles Fern | 3,529 | 76.0 | ||
| Liberal Reform | Maxwell Pahlow | 1,114 | 24.0 | ||
| Total formal votes | 4,643 | 97.2 | |||
| Informal votes | 134 | 2.8 | |||
| Turnout | 4,777 | 47.4 | |||
| Labor hold | |||||
Cobar was significantly expanded, absorbing most of the abolished district of The Darling, including the town of Bourke.
December 1911 by-election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Charles Fern | unopposed | |||
| Registered electors | 7,806[c] | ||||
| Labour hold | |||||
The by-election caused by the death of Donald Macdonell (Labour).[26]
October 1911 by-election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Donald Macdonell (re-elected) | unopposed | |||
| Registered electors | 7,806[d] | ||||
| Labour hold | |||||
1910
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Donald Macdonell | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | |||||
Elections in the 1900s
1907
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Donald Macdonell | Unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | |||||
1904
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Donald Macdonell | 1,982 | 68.8 | ||
| Liberal Reform | Richard McNeice | 899 | 31.2 | ||
| Total formal votes | 2,881 | 99.3 | |||
| Informal votes | 19 | 0.7 | |||
| Turnout | 2,900 | 44.7 | |||
| Labour hold | |||||
Cobar absorbed parts of The Lachlan and parts of the abolished seats of The Barwon, Condoublin and Wilcannia. The member for The Barwon was William Willis (Progressive) who unsuccessfully contested The Darling. The member for Condoublin was Patrick Clara (Labour) who unsuccessfully contested Ashburnum. The member for The Lachlan was James Carroll (Progressive) who unsuccessfully contested that seat. The member for Wilcannia was Richard Sleath (Independent Labour) who also unsuccessfully contested The Darling.
1901
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Donald Macdonell | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | |||||
Elections in the 1890s
1898
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | William Spence | 777 | 50.1 | ||
| National Federal | Michael O'Halloran | 396 | 25.5 | ||
| Independent Federalist | Richard Machattie | 339 | 21.9 | ||
| Independent | Samuel Wood | 39 | 2.5 | ||
| Total formal votes | 1,551 | 98.0 | |||
| Informal votes | 31 | 2.0 | |||
| Turnout | 1,582 | 52.0 | |||
| Labour gain from National Federal | |||||
The sitting member Thomas Waddell (National Federal) successfully contested Cowra.
1895
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protectionist | Thomas Waddell | 538 | 59.5 | ||
| Labour | Michael O'Halloran | 357 | 39.5 | ||
| Ind. Free Trade | McA Lamrock | 9 | 1.0 | ||
| Total formal votes | 904 | 99.1 | |||
| Informal votes | 8 | 0.9 | |||
| Turnout | 912 | 55.3 | |||
| Protectionist hold | |||||
1894
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protectionist | Thomas Waddell | 615 | 50.1 | ||
| Labour | A Murphy | 514 | 41.9 | ||
| Free Trade | Neil Morrison | 98 | 8.0 | ||
| Total formal votes | 1,227 | 99.0 | |||
| Informal votes | 13 | 1.1 | |||
| Turnout | 1,240 | 75.3 | |||
| Protectionist win | (new seat) | ||||
Cobar consisted of part of Bourke and parts of the abolished districts of The Bogan and Forbes.[36][37] Thomas Waddell (Protectionist) was one of the members for Bourke.
Notes
- ^ Mat Davidson joined the Industrial Labor Party in April 1939,[4] The Industrial Labor Party was readmitted into Labor at the unity conference on 26 August 1939.
- ^ Estimate based on a roll of 8,088 at the 1917 election.[21]
- ^ Estimate based on a roll of 7,806 at the 1910 election.[25]
- ^ Estimate based on a roll of 7,806 at the 1910 election.[28]
References
- ^ Green, Antony. "Elections for the District of Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
- ^ "Part 5B alphabetical list of all electorates and Members since 1856" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- ^ "Former Members". Members of Parliament. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ^ "M.L.A. joins Heffron Labor". Tweed Daily. 31 May 1939. p. 5. Retrieved 5 April 2018 – via Trove.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1965 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1962 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1959 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1956 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1953 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1950 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1949 Cobar by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- ^ "Mr Mark Anthony Davidson (1869-1949)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1947 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1944 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1941 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1938 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1935 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1932 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1930 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "Cobar - By-election 1918". Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ Green, Antony. "Cobar - 1917". Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1917 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1913 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "Cobar - By-election December 1911". Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ Green, Antony. "Cobar - 1910". Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ "Mr Donald Macdonell (1862-1911)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ^ Green, Antony. "October 1911 Cobar by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "Cobar - 1910". Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1910 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1907 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1904 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1901 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1898 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1895 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1894 Cobar". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
- ^ "Maps and sketches of proposed Electoral Districts". New South Wales Government Gazette. 23 August 1893. p. 6583. Retrieved 12 April 2020 – via Trove.
- ^ "Proclamation: names and boundaries of electoral districts". New South Wales Government Gazette. 5 October 1893. p. 7751. Retrieved 12 April 2020 – via Trove.