1958 Victorian state election

Elections were held in the Australian state of Victoria on Saturday 31 May 1958 to elect the 66 members of the state's Legislative Assembly. This was the last time Assembly elections were held separately from those for the Legislative Council.

1958 Victorian state election

← 1955 31 May 1958 (1958-05-31) 1961 →
All 66 seats in the Victorian Legislative Assembly 34 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Henry Bolte Ernie Shepherd Herbert Hyland Party Liberal and Country Labor Country Leader since 3 June 1953 9 August 1957 20 April 1955 Leader's seat Hampden Footscray Gippsland South Last election 33 seats 20 seats 11 seats Seats won 39 seats 18 seats 9 seats Seat change 6 2 2 Popular vote 508,678 515,638 127,228 Percentage 37.18% 37.69% 9.30% Swing 0.60 5.12 0.24 TPP 57.76% 42.24% TPP swing 0.16 0.16
Premier before election Henry Bolte Liberal and Country Elected Premier Henry Bolte Liberal and Country

The Liberal and Country Party (LCP) government of Premier Henry Bolte won a second term in office.

Results

Legislative Assembly

See also: Results of the 1958 Victorian state election (Legislative Assembly)

Victorian state election, 31 May 1958[1] Legislative Assembly << 1955–1961 >>
Enrolled voters		1,478,065
Votes cast		1,392,813		Turnout	94.23	+0.21
Informal votes		24,760		Informal	1.78	-0.42
Summary of votes by party
Party		Primary votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Labor	515,638	37.69	+5.12	18	−2
	Liberal and Country	508,678	37.18	-0.60	39	+6
	Democratic Labor	197,380	14.43	+1.82	0	−1
	Country	127,228	9.30	-0.24	9	−2
	Independent	17,770	1.30	-2.23	0	−1
	Other	1,359	0.10	-0.40	0	±0
Total		1,368,053			66
Two-party-preferred
	Liberal and Country	790,149	57.8	–0.1
	Labor	577,904	42.2	+0.1

Seats changing party representation

There was a redistribution across Victoria prior to this election. The seat changes are as follows.

Abolished seats

Seat	Incumbent member	Party
Ascot Vale	Ernie Shepherd		Labor
Carlton	Denis Lovegrove		Labor
Caulfield East	Alexander Fraser		Liberal and Country
Collingwood	Bill Towers		Labor
Pascoe Vale	Arthur Drakeford		Labor
Port Melbourne	Archie Todd		Labor

New seats

Seat	Party		Elected member
Essendon		Liberal and Country	Kenneth Wheeler
Fitzroy		Labor	Denis Lovegrove
Mulgrave		Liberal and Country	Ray Wiltshire
Ormond		Liberal and Country	Joe Rafferty
Ringwood		Liberal and Country	Jim Manson
Yarraville		Labor	Roy Schintler

Seats changing hands

Seat	Incumbent member	Party		New member	Party
Bendigo	John Stanistreet		Liberal and Country	Bill Galvin		Labor
Coburg	Charlie Mutton		Independent	Charlie Mutton		Labor
Evelyn	Phillip Connell		Labor	Russell Stokes		Liberal and Country
Geelong West	Colin MacDonald		Labor	Max Gillett		Liberal and Country
Richmond	Frank Scully		Democratic Labor	Bill Towers		Labor

See also

• Candidates of the 1958 Victorian state election
• 1958 Victorian Legislative Council election