Electoral results for the district of Clarence

Clarence, an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, has had two incarnations, the first from 1859 to 1920, the second from 1927 to the present.^[1][2][3][4]

Members for Clarence

First incarnation (1859–1920)
Election	Member		Party
1859		Clark Irving	None
1860
1863 by
1864		John Laycock	None
1866 by		John Robertson	None
1869		Thomas Bawden	None
1872
1874
1877
1880 by		Charles Fawcett	None
1880		John Purves	None
1882
1885
1887		John McFarlane	Protectionist
1889
1891
1894
1898
1901			Progressive
1904
1907			Liberal Reform
1910
1913
1915 by		William Zuill	Liberal Reform
1917			Nationalist
Second incarnation (1927–present)
Election	Member		Party
1927		Alfred Pollack	Country
1930
1931 by		Alfred Henry	Country
1932
1935
1938		Cecil Wingfield	Country
1941
1944
1947
1950
1953
1955 by		Bill Weiley	Country
1956
1959
1962
1965
1968
1971		Matt Singleton	Country
1973
1976
1978
1981		Don Day	Labor
1984		Ian Causley	National
1988
1991
1995
1996 by		Harry Woods	Labor
1999
2003		Steve Cansdell	National
2007
2011
2011 by		Chris Gulaptis	National
2015
2019
2023		Richie Williamson

Election results

Elections in the 2020s

2023

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2023 New South Wales state election (Legislative Assembly) § Clarence.[edit]

2023 New South Wales state election: Clarence^[5][6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	National	Richie Williamson	24,247	49.6	+3.0
	Labor	Leon Ankersmit	10,700	21.9	+0.9
	Greens	Greg Clancy	3,739	7.6	−0.3
	Legalise Cannabis	Mark Rayner	3,708	7.6	+7.6
	Independent	Debrah Novak	3,433	7.0	+7.0
	Independent	Nicki Levi	1,320	2.7	+2.7
	Sustainable Australia	George Keller	1,061	2.2	+0.6
	Independent Indigenous	Brett Duroux	725	1.5	+1.5
Total formal votes			48,933	96.2	−0.5
Informal votes			1,911	3.8	+0.5
Turnout			50,844	88.8	−0.7
Two-party-preferred result
	National	Richie Williamson	26,475	64.3	−0.2
	Labor	Leon Ankersmit	14,731	35.7	+0.2
	National hold		Swing	−0.2

Elections in the 2010s

2019

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2019 New South Wales state election (Legislative Assembly) § Clarence.[edit]

2019 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[7][8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	National	Chris Gulaptis	22,965	46.53	−3.91
	Labor	Trent Gilbert	10,342	20.95	−7.51
	Shooters, Fishers, Farmers	Steve Cansdell	8,308	16.83	+16.83
	Greens	Gregory Clancy	3,914	7.93	−1.20
	Independent	Debrah Novak	3,038	6.16	+1.49
	Sustainable Australia	Thom Kotis	788	1.60	+1.60
Total formal votes			49,355	96.75	−0.13
Informal votes			1,657	3.25	+0.13
Turnout			51,012	89.72	+0.03
Two-party-preferred result
	National	Chris Gulaptis	25,985	64.47	+4.79
	Labor	Trent Gilbert	14,322	35.53	−4.79
	National hold		Swing	+4.79

2015

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2015 New South Wales state election (Legislative Assembly) § Clarence.[edit]

2015 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[9][10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	National	Chris Gulaptis	23,799	50.4	−13.0
	Labor	Trent Gilbert	13,431	28.5	+18.5
	Greens	Janet Cavanaugh	4,308	9.1	+2.4
	Independent	Debrah Novak	2,202	4.7	+4.7
	Christian Democrats	Carol Ordish	1,143	2.4	+0.6
	Independent	Bryan Robins	1,041	2.2	+2.2
	Independent	Christine Robinson	833	1.8	+1.8
	No Land Tax	Joe Lopreiato	427	0.9	+0.9
Total formal votes			47,184	96.9	−0.7
Informal votes			1,520	3.1	+0.7
Turnout			48,704	89.7	+0.4
Two-party-preferred result
	National	Chris Gulaptis	25,082	59.7	−22.2
	Labor	Trent Gilbert	16,947	40.3	+22.2
	National hold		Swing	−22.2

2011 by-election

This section is an excerpt from 2011 Clarence state by-election § Results.[edit]

2011 Clarence by-election
Saturday 19 November^[11][12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	National	Chris Gulaptis	24,555	56.7	−6.1
	Labor	Peter Ellem	12,098	28.0	+17.8
	Greens	Janet Cavanaugh	3,099	7.2	+0.3
	Outdoor Recreation	Clinton Mead	1,066	2.5	+2.5
	Independent	Wade Walker	979	2.3	+2.3
	Christian Democrats	Bethany Camac	832	1.9	+0.1
	Independent	Kolo Toure	372	0.9	+0.9
	Democrats	David Robinson	272	0.6	+0.6
Total formal votes			43,273	97.4	−0.5
Informal votes			1,139	2.6	+0.5
Turnout			44,412	85.0
Two-party-preferred result
	National	Chris Gulaptis	25,512	65.1	−16.3
	Labor	Peter Ellem	13,657	34.9	+16.3
	National hold		Swing	−16.3

Steve Cansdell (National) resigned.

The Nationals suffered a 16-point two-party-preferred swing, but since Clarence was already a very safe National seat, Gulaptis retained the seat for the Nationals with a majority of 15 percentage points.^[11][13]

2011

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2011 New South Wales state election (Legislative Assembly) § Clarence.[edit]

2011 New South Wales state election: Clarence^[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	National	Steve Cansdell	28,717	62.8	+9.9
	Independent	Richie Williamson	7,789	17.0	+17.0
	Labor	Colin Clague	4,683	10.2	−19.8
	Greens	Janet Cavanaugh	3,147	6.9	−0.2
	Christian Democrats	Bethany Camac	822	1.8	+1.8
	Family First	Kristen Bromell	598	1.3	+1.3
Total formal votes			45,756	97.9	−0.1
Informal votes			961	2.1	+0.1
Turnout			46,717	92.8	−0.3
Notional two-party-preferred count
	National	Steve Cansdell	31,625	81.4	+19.8
	Labor	Colin Clague	7,237	18.6	−19.8
Two-candidate-preferred result
	National	Steve Cansdell	30,120	73.3	+11.8
	Independent	Richie Williamson	10,963	26.7	+26.7
	National hold		Swing	+11.8

Elections in the 2000s

2007

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2007 New South Wales state election (Legislative Assembly) § Clarence.[edit]

2007 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	National	Steve Cansdell	23,181	52.9	+4.0
	Labor	Mark Kingsley	13,148	30.0	−6.9
	Independent	Craig Howe	3,274	7.5	+7.5
	Greens	Theo Jongen	3,081	7.0	+1.2
	Independent	Doug Behn	1,147	2.6	+0.8
Total formal votes			43,831	98.1	−0.2
Informal votes			870	1.9	+0.2
Turnout			44,701	93.1
Two-party-preferred result
	National	Steve Cansdell	24,470	61.6	+6.3
	Labor	Mark Kingsley	15,285	38.4	−6.3
	National hold		Swing	+6.3

2003

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2003 New South Wales state election (Legislative Assembly) § Clarence.[edit]

2003 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	National	Steve Cansdell	17,683	44.6	+19.2
	Labor	Terry Flanagan	15,613	39.3	+2.4
	Greens	Mark Purcell	2,627	6.6	+3.2
	Independent	Marie Mathew	1,047	2.6	+2.6
	Christian Democrats	Brian Hughes	891	2.2	+0.2
	Independent	Doug Behn	856	2.2	+0.8
	One Nation	Marjorie Burston	711	1.8	−9.0
	Democrats	Alec York	257	0.6	−0.7
Total formal votes			39,685	98.2	−0.3
Informal votes			715	1.8	+0.3
Turnout			40,400	92.1
Two-party-preferred result
	National	Steve Cansdell	18,817	51.6	+1.8
	Labor	Terry Flanagan	17,644	48.4	−1.8
	National gain from Labor		Swing	+1.8

Elections in the 1990s

1999

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1999 New South Wales state election (Legislative Assembly) § Clarence.[edit]

1999 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Harry Woods	14,524	36.9	+2.7
	National	Steve Cansdell	10,019	25.4	−24.9
	Liberal	Bill Day	7,004	17.8	+17.8
	One Nation	Marie Mathew	4,263	10.8	+10.8
	Greens	Karen Rooke	1,339	3.4	−0.2
	Christian Democrats	John Stanmore	780	2.0	+2.0
	Independent	Doug Behn	551	1.4	+1.4
	Democrats	Alec York	518	1.3	−1.7
	Timbarra Clean Water	Rebecca Tiffen	152	0.4	+0.4
	Earthsave	Jeff Milner	151	0.4	+0.4
	Independent	Mark McMurtrie	101	0.3	+0.3
Total formal votes			39,402	98.5
Informal votes			594	1.5
Turnout			39,996	94.4
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Harry Woods	16,467	50.2	+8.5
	National	Steve Cansdell	16,324	49.8	−8.5
	Labor hold		Swing	+8.5

1996 by-election

This section is an excerpt from 1996 Clarence state by-election § Results.[edit]

1996 Clarence by-election
Saturday 25 May ^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Harry Woods	18,030	51.29	+17.11
	National	Geoff Knight	14,662	41.71	−11.32
	Democrats	Peter Wrightson	1,415	4.02	+1.00
	Greens	Christina Sharman	1,049	2.98	−0.57
Total formal votes			35,156	98.73	+1.78
Informal votes			451	1.27	−1.78
Turnout			35,607	89.20	−5.18
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Harry Woods	19,280	55.67	+13.96
	National	Geoff Knight	15,352	44.33	−13.96
	Labor gain from National		Swing	+13.96

Ian Causley (National) resigned to successfully contest federal seat of Page, defeating Harry Woods.^[18]

1995

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1995 New South Wales state election (Legislative Assembly) § Clarence.[edit]

1995 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	National	Ian Causley	18,649	53.0	−0.5
	Labor	John Lester	12,022	34.2	+5.3
	Greens	Daryl Thompson	1,250	3.6	+3.6
	Independent	Sally Haig	1,234	3.5	+3.5
	Democrats	Peter Wrightson	1,062	3.0	−9.0
	The Country Party	Jacqueline Godfrey	952	2.7	+2.7
Total formal votes			35,169	97.0	+2.0
Informal votes			1,105	3.0	−2.0
Turnout			36,274	94.4
Two-party-preferred result
	National	Ian Causley	19,726	58.3	−2.3
	Labor	John Lester	14,113	41.7	+2.3
	National hold		Swing	−2.3

1991

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1991 New South Wales state election (Legislative Assembly) § Clarence.[edit]

1991 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[20]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	National	Ian Causley	16,991	53.5	−11.9
	Labor	Olive Boundy	9,173	28.9	−4.6
	Democrats	Martin Frohlich	3,828	12.0	+11.2
	Independent	John Stanmore	992	3.1	+3.1
	Call to Australia	Doug Williams	784	2.5	+2.5
Total formal votes			31,768	95.0	−2.9
Informal votes			1,678	5.0	+2.9
Turnout			33,446	94.1
Two-party-preferred result
	National	Ian Causley	18,304	60.6	−5.4
	Labor	Olive Boundy	11,923	39.4	+5.4
	National hold		Swing	−5.4

Elections in the 1980s

1988

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1988 New South Wales state election (Legislative Assembly) § Clarence.[edit]

1988 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[21]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	National	Ian Causley	19,842	65.0	+13.8
	Labor	William Day	10,681	35.0	−8.3
Total formal votes			30,523	97.8	−1.1
Informal votes			687	2.2	+1.1
Turnout			31,210	94.0
	National hold		Swing	+11.3

1984

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1984 New South Wales state election (Legislative Assembly) § Clarence.[edit]

1984 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	National	Ian Causley	17,765	52.1	+8.7
	Labor	Bill Day	14,630	42.9	−13.7
	Independent	Denis O'Keeffe	1,703	5.0	+5.0
Total formal votes			34,098	99.0	+0.3
Informal votes			348	1.0	−0.3
Turnout			34,446	93.5	+0.6
Two-party-preferred result
	National	Ian Causley		54.3	+10.9
	Labor	Bill Day		45.7	−10.9
	National gain from Labor		Swing	+10.9

1981

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1981 New South Wales state election (Legislative Assembly) § Clarence.[edit]

1981 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Don Day	18,035	56.6
	National Country	William Ralston	13,807	43.4
Total formal votes			31,842	98.7
Informal votes			412	1.3
Turnout			32,254	92.9
	Labor notional hold		Swing	+3.8

Clarence had become notionally held by Labor due to the redistribution and the sitting member Matt Singleton (National Country), successfully contested Coffs Harbour.^[24][23]

Elections in the 1970s

1978

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1978 New South Wales state election (Legislative Assembly) § Clarence.[edit]

1978 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	National Country	Matt Singleton	15,061	52.5	−11.2
	Labor	Danny Signor	8,821	30.7	−5.6
	Independent	John Kelly	4,819	16.8	+16.8
Total formal votes			28,701	98.6	−0.1
Informal votes			418	1.4	+0.1
Turnout			29,119	93.3	−0.7
Two-party-preferred result
	National Country	Matt Singleton	17,471	60.9	−2.8
	Labor	Danny Signor	11,230	39.1	+2.8
	National Country hold		Swing	−2.8

1976

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1976 New South Wales state election (Legislative Assembly) § Clarence.[edit]

1976 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Matt Singleton	16,905	63.7	−0.2
	Labor	Colin Clague	9,613	36.3	+7.4
Total formal votes			26,518	98.7	+0.1
Informal votes			346	1.3	−0.1
Turnout			26,864	94.0	−0.4
	Country hold		Swing	−4.4

1973

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1973 New South Wales state election (Legislative Assembly) § Clarence.[edit]

1973 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[27]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Matt Singleton	15,236	63.9	+28.8
	Labor	Patricia Oakman	6,877	28.9	−7.2
	Democratic Labor	William Eckersley	994	4.2	+4.2
	Australia	Terrence Hancock	727	3.1	+3.1
Total formal votes			23,834	98.6
Informal votes			345	1.4
Turnout			24,179	94.4
Two-party-preferred result
	Country	Matt Singleton	16,230	68.1	+13.0
	Labor	Patricia Oakman	7,604	31.9	−13.0
	Country hold		Swing	+13.0

1971

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1971 New South Wales state election (Legislative Assembly) § Clarence.[edit]

1971 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Thomas Cronin	7,298	36.1	+36.1
	Country	Matt Singleton	7,092	35.1	−29.2
	Independent	Neville Weiley	2,732	13.5	+13.5
	Independent	Clarice McClymont	1,947	9.6	+9.6
	Country	Francis Clark	1,127	5.6	+5.6
Total formal votes			20,196	98.0
Informal votes			408	2.0
Turnout			20,604	95.3
Two-party-preferred result
	Country	Matt Singleton	11,131	55.1	−9.2
	Labor	Thomas Cronin	9,065	44.9	+44.9
	Country hold		Swing	−9.2

Elections in the 1960s

1968

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1968 New South Wales state election § Clarence.[edit]

1968 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Bill Weiley	13,470	64.3	−6.2
	New Staters	Garry Nehl	7,484	35.7	+35.7
Total formal votes			20,954	98.2
Informal votes			385	1.8
Turnout			21,339	96.2
	Country hold		Swing	−6.2

1965

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1965 New South Wales state election § Clarence.[edit]

1965 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[30]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Bill Weiley	14,502	70.5	+16.7
	Labor	Philip Parsonage	6,078	29.5	−13.1
Total formal votes			20,580	98.8	−0.4
Informal votes			250	1.2	+0.4
Turnout			20,830	95.4	−0.1
	Country hold		Swing	+14.9

1962

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1962 New South Wales state election § Clarence.[edit]

1962 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[31]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Bill Weiley	11,121	53.8	−46.2
	Labor	William Bailey	8,799	42.6	+42.6
	Independent	Garth Munro	758	3.7	+3.7
Total formal votes			20,678	99.2
Informal votes			175	0.8
Turnout			20,853	95.5
Two-party-preferred result
	Country	Bill Weiley	11,500	55.6	−44.4
	Labor	William Bailey	9,178	44.4	+44.4
	Country hold		Swing	N/A

Elections in the 1950s

1959

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1959 New South Wales state election § Clarence.[edit]

1959 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[32]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Bill Weiley	unopposed
	Country hold

1956

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1956 New South Wales state election § Clarence.[edit]

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

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

1955 by-election

This section is an excerpt from 1955 Clarence state by-election § Results.[edit]

1955 Clarence by-election
Saturday 26 March ^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Bill Weiley	8,805	53.03
	Country	John Moorhead	6,153	37.06
	Country	Garth Munro	1,645	9.91
Total formal votes			16,603	98.63
Informal votes			231	1.37
Turnout			16,834	89.18
	Country hold		Swing	N/A

Cecil Wingfield (Country) died.^[34]

1953

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1953 New South Wales state election § Clarence.[edit]

1953 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[35]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Cecil Wingfield	11,672	66.3
	Labor	George Russell	5,269	30.0
	Communist	Kenneth Harding	650	3.7
Total formal votes			17,591	97.9
Informal votes			378	2.1
Turnout			17,969	95.2
Two-party-preferred result
	Country	Cecil Wingfield	11,962	68.0
	Labor	George Russell	5,629	32.0
	Country hold		Swing

1950

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1950 New South Wales state election § Clarence.[edit]

1950 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[36]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Cecil Wingfield	unopposed
	Country hold

Elections in the 1940s

1947

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1947 New South Wales state election § Clarence.[edit]

1947 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[37]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Cecil Wingfield	unopposed
	Country hold

1944

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1944 New South Wales state election § Clarence.[edit]

1944 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Cecil Wingfield	unopposed
	Country hold

1941

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1941 New South Wales state election § Clarence.[edit]

1941 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Cecil Wingfield	10,712	75.3
	Independent	John Cain	3,509	24.7
Total formal votes			14,221	98.2
Informal votes			266	1.8
Turnout			14,487	93.7
	Country hold		Swing

Elections in the 1930s

1938

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1938 New South Wales state election § Clarence.[edit]

1938 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Cecil Wingfield	7,754	51.9	+51.9
	Country	Alfred Henry	7,194	48.1	−13.2
Total formal votes			14,948	98.3	+1.9
Informal votes			254	1.7	−1.9
Turnout			15,202	95.9	−0.1
	Country hold		Swing	N/A

1935

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1935 New South Wales state election § Clarence.[edit]

1935 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[41]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Alfred Henry	8,641	61.4	−38.6
	Country	Bertie Eggins	3,296	23.4	+23.4
	Independent	William Robinson	2,147	15.2	+15.2
Total formal votes			14,084	96.4
Informal votes			528	3.6
Turnout			14,612	96.0
	Country hold		Swing	N/A

• Preferences were not distributed.

1932

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1932 New South Wales state election § Clarence.[edit]

1932 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[42]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Alfred Henry	unopposed
	Country hold

1931 by-election

This section is an excerpt from 1931 Clarence state by-election § Results.[edit]

1931 Clarence by-election
Saturday 7 March ^[43]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Alfred Henry	5,594	44.99
	Country	William Robinson	3,308	26.60
	Independent Country	John Flaherty	1,196	9.62
	Country	Joseph Reid	1,072	8.62
	Independent Country	Frederick Sargant	814	6.55
	Communist	William Laidlaw	330	2.65
	Independent	Edward Wesala	81	0.65
	Independent Country	Stanley Jones	40	0.32
Total formal votes			12,435	96.65
Informal votes			431	3.35
Turnout			12,866	95.16 [a]
After distribution of preferences
	Country	Alfred Henry	6,536	52.56
	Country	William Robinson	3,910	31.44
	Independent Country	John Flaherty	1,989	16.00
	Country hold		Swing	N/A

Alfred Pollack (Country) died.^[43]

1930

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 1930 New South Wales state election § Clarence.[edit]

1930 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[44]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Alfred Pollack	8,322	64.2
	Labor	Thomas Ledsam	4,638	35.8
Total formal votes			12,960	98.8
Informal votes			161	1.2
Turnout			13,121	97.0
	Country hold		Swing

Elections in the 1920s

1927

This section is an excerpt from 1927 New South Wales state election § Clarence

1927 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[45]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Alfred Pollack	6,563	58.6
	Ind. Nationalist	William Zuill	4,634	41.4
Total formal votes			11,197	98.7
Informal votes			144	1.3
Turnout			11,341	73.0
	Country win		(new seat)

1920–1927

District abolished

Elections in the 1910s

1917

This section is an excerpt from 1917 New South Wales state election § Clarence

1917 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[46]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Nationalist	William Zuill	unopposed
	Nationalist hold

1915 by-election

This section is an excerpt from 1915 Clarence state by-election § Results.[edit]

1915 Clarence state by-election^[47][48]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent Liberal	William Zuill	2,904	56.69	+56.69
	Farmers and Settlers	George Morrison	2,212	43.18	+43.18
	Liberal Reform	Thomas Henry (withdrawn)	7	0.14	−72.06
Total formal votes			5,123	98.67	+2.11
Informal votes			69	1.33	−2.11
Turnout			5,192	53.15[b]	−8.40
	Independent Liberal gain from Liberal Reform		Swing	N/A

1913

This section is an excerpt from 1913 New South Wales state election § Clarence

1913 New South Wales state election: Clarence ^[50]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Reform	John McFarlane	4,193	72.2
	Labor	Clem Johnson	1,612	27.8
Total formal votes			5,805	96.6
Informal votes			207	3.4
Turnout			6,012	61.6
	Liberal Reform hold

1910

This section is an excerpt from 1910 New South Wales state election § The Clarence

1910 New South Wales state election: The Clarence ^[51]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Reform	John McFarlane	3,586	66.0
	Labour	William Cahill	1,850	34.0
Total formal votes			5,436	98.2
Informal votes			100	1.8
Turnout			5,536	63.5
	Liberal Reform hold

Elections in the 1900s

1907

This section is an excerpt from 1907 New South Wales state election § The Clarence

1907 New South Wales state election: The Clarence ^[52]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Reform	John McFarlane	2,305	73.0
	Independent	Thomas Willan	852	27.0
Total formal votes			3,157	96.4
Informal votes			117	3.6
Turnout			3,274	46.0
	Member changed to Liberal Reform from Progressive

1904

This section is an excerpt from 1904 New South Wales state election § The Clarence

1904 New South Wales state election: The Clarence ^[53]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive	John McFarlane	2,033	67.7
	Independent Liberal	Duncan Beatson	968	32.3
Total formal votes			3,001	99.4
Informal votes			17	0.6
Turnout			3,018	43.7
	Progressive hold

The Clarence lost much of the district to Raleigh and absorbed all of Grafton and a part of Raleigh. The Premier Sir John See (Progressive) was the member for Grafton while John McFarlane (Progressive) was the member for The Clarence.^[54] The question of the Progressive candidate was resolved when Sir John See decided to retire due to ill health and accepted an appointment to the Legislative Council.^[55]

1901

This section is an excerpt from 1901 New South Wales state election § The Clarence

1901 New South Wales state election: The Clarence ^[56]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive	John McFarlane	unopposed
	Progressive hold

Elections in the 1890s

1898

This section is an excerpt from 1898 New South Wales colonial election § The Clarence

1898 New South Wales colonial election: The Clarence ^[57]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	National Federal	John McFarlane	unopposed
	National Federal hold

1895

This section is an excerpt from 1895 New South Wales colonial election § The Clarence

1895 New South Wales colonial election: The Clarence ^[58]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Protectionist	John McFarlane	851	65.5
	Ind. Protectionist	Frederick McGuren	449	34.5
Total formal votes			1,300	99.3
Informal votes			9	0.7
Turnout			1,309	71.1
	Protectionist hold

1894

This section is an excerpt from 1894 New South Wales colonial election § The Clarence

1894 New South Wales colonial election: The Clarence ^[59]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Protectionist	John McFarlane	1,036	71.2
	Ind. Protectionist	Nathaniel Collins	419	28.8
Total formal votes			1,455	99.0
Informal votes			15	1.0
Turnout			1,470	73.5
	Protectionist hold

1891

This section is an excerpt from 1891 New South Wales colonial election § The Clarence

1891 New South Wales colonial election: The Clarence
Friday 19 June ^[60]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Protectionist	John McFarlane (re-elected)	unopposed
	Protectionist hold

Elections in the 1880s

1889

This section is an excerpt from 1889 New South Wales colonial election § The Clarence

1889 New South Wales colonial election: The Clarence
Monday 28 January ^[61]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Protectionist	John McFarlane (elected)	unopposed
	Protectionist hold

1887

This section is an excerpt from 1887 New South Wales colonial election § The Clarence

1887 New South Wales colonial election: The Clarence
Friday 11 February ^[62]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Protectionist	John McFarlane (elected)	646	55.7
	Free Trade	John Purves (defeated)	513	44.3
Total formal votes			1,159	98.9
Informal votes			13	1.1
Turnout			1,172	60.1

1885

This section is an excerpt from 1885 New South Wales colonial election § The Clarence

1885 New South Wales colonial election: The Clarence
Tuesday 20 October ^[63]

Candidate		Votes	%
John Purves (re-elected)		719	63.1
Richard Stevenson		254	22.3
Allen Cameron		167	14.7
Total formal votes		1,140	98.3
Informal votes		20	1.7
Turnout		1,160	63.3

1882

This section is an excerpt from 1882 New South Wales colonial election § The Clarence

1882 New South Wales colonial election: The Clarence
Tuesday 12 December ^[64]

Candidate		Votes	%
John Purves (re-elected)		689	70.0
Richard Stevenson		295	30.0
Total formal votes		984	98.9
Informal votes		11	1.1
Turnout		995	60.7

1880

This section is an excerpt from 1880 New South Wales colonial election § The Clarence

1880 New South Wales colonial election: The Clarence
Tuesday 23 November ^[65]

Candidate		Votes	%
John Purves (elected)		unopposed

The Clarence lost part of the district to Grafton and part to The Richmond. The sitting member Charles Fawcett successfully contested The Richmond.

1880 by-election

This section is an excerpt from 1880 Clarence colonial by-election § Results.[edit]

1880 The Clarence by-election
Wednesday 7 April ^[66]

Candidate		Votes	%
Charles Fawcett (elected)		1,362	42.7
John Purves		1,246	39.1
Samuel Davison		679	18.2
Total formal votes		3,187	98.5
Informal votes		50	1.5
Turnout		3,237	58.3

Thomas Bawden resigned.^[66]

Elections in the 1870s

1877

This section is an excerpt from 1877 New South Wales colonial election § The Clarence

1877 New South Wales colonial election: The Clarence
Saturday 3 November ^[67]

Candidate		Votes	%
Thomas Bawden (re-elected)		1,161	42.2
Charles Fawcett		1,126	41.0
Edward Madgwick		286	10.4
Sir John Robertson		176	6.4
Total formal votes		2,749	98.4
Informal votes		46	1.7
Turnout		2,795	59.7

1874-75

This section is an excerpt from 1874-75 New South Wales colonial election § The Clarence

1874–75 New South Wales colonial election: The Clarence
Tuesday 22 December 1874 ^[68]

Candidate		Votes	%
Thomas Bawden (re-elected)		1,090	50.3
Charles Fawcett		833	38.4
Edward Madgwick		245	11.3
Total formal votes		2,168	97.8
Informal votes		50	2.3
Turnout		2,218	51.1

1872

This section is an excerpt from 1872 New South Wales colonial election § The Clarence

1872 New South Wales colonial election: The Clarence
Tuesday 5 March ^[69]

Candidate		Votes	%
Thomas Bawden (re-elected)		835	72.2
Edward Madgwick		322	27.8
Total formal votes		1,157	96.1
Informal votes		47	3.9
Turnout		1,203	31.0

Elections in the 1860s

1869–70

This section is an excerpt from 1869-70 New South Wales colonial election § The Clarence

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: The Clarence
Tuesday 14 December 1869 ^[70]

Candidate		Votes	%
Thomas Bawden (elected)		unopposed

1866 by-election

This section is an excerpt from 1866 Clarence colonial by-election § Results.[edit]

1866 The Clarence by-election
Monday 27 August ^[71]

Candidate		Votes	%
John Robertson (elected)		219	57.2
Alexander MacKellar		164	42.8
Total formal votes		383	98.2
Informal votes		7	1.8
Turnout		390	18.3

John Laycock resigned.^[71]

1864–65

This section is an excerpt from 1864–65 New South Wales colonial election § The Clarence

1864–65 New South Wales colonial election: The Clarence
Thursday 29 December 1864 ^[72]

Candidate		Votes	%
John Laycock (elected)		549	58.7
Richard Bligh		386	41.3
Total formal votes		935	97.4
Informal votes		25	2.6
Turnout		986	48.8

1863 by-election

This section is an excerpt from 1863 Clarence colonial by-election § Results.[edit]

1863 The Clarence by-election
Thursday 23 July ^[73]

Candidate		Votes	%
Clark Irving (elected)		399	73.3
William Campbell		145	26.7
Total formal votes		544	96.6
Informal votes		19	3.4
Turnout		563	33.4

Clark Irving had been absent for an entire session without leave and was in England at the time of his nomination and the election.^[74]

1860

This section is an excerpt from 1860 New South Wales colonial election § The Clarence

1860 New South Wales colonial election: The Clarence
Friday 14 December ^[75]

Candidate		Votes	%
Clark Irving (re-elected)		unopposed

Elections in the 1850s

1859

This section is an excerpt from 1859 New South Wales colonial election § The Clarence

1859 New South Wales colonial election: The Clarence
Tuesday 21 June ^[76]

Candidate		Votes	%
Clark Irving (elected)		228	45.5
Alexander MacKellar		152	30.3
Edward Ryan		121	24.2
Total formal votes		501	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		501	53.4

Notes

1. Estimate based on a roll of 13,521 at the 1930 election.^[44]
2. Estimate based on a roll of 9,768 at the 1913 election.^[49]