# Results of the 1897 Western Australian colonial election

Western Australian state election, 1897 Legislative Assembly :
| Enrolled voters | Enrolled voters | 17,114 | | | | |
| Votes cast | Votes cast | 9,016 | | Turnout | 52.68% | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 279 | | Informal | 3.09% | |
| Summary of votes by party |||||||
| Party | Party | Primary votes | % | Swing | Seats | Change |
| | Ministerialist | 4,351 | 49.80% | | 29 | + 10 |
| | Opposition | 2,390 | 27.35% | | 8 | – 5 |
| | Independent | 1,613 | 18.46% | | 6 | + 5 |
| | Labor | 383 | 4.38% | +4.38% | 1 | + 1 |
| Total | Total | 8,737 | | | 44 | |
This is a list of electoral district results of the 1897 Western Australian election.

## Results by Electoral district
### Albany

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Albany :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Opposition | George Leake | unopposed | | |
| | Opposition hold | Opposition hold | Swing | | |

### Ashburton

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Ashburton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | Septimus Burt | unopposed | | |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | | |

### Beverley

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Beverley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Ministerialist | Charles Harper | 90 | 63.4 |
| | Opposition | James Dempster | 52 | 36.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 142 | 96.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 5 | 3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 147 | 54.7 |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | |

### Bunbury

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Bunbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | John Forrest | unopposed | | |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | | |

### Canning

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Opposition | Frank Wilson | 90 | 48.1 |
| | Ministerialist | William Gibbs | 41 | 21.9 |
| | Ministerialist | Edward Rodoreda | 29 | 15.5 |
| | Ind. Ministerialist | William Stubbs | 14 | 7.5 |
| | Opposition | Marinus Canning | 13 | 7.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 187 | 93.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 13 | 6.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 200 | 62.3 |
| | Opposition hold | Opposition hold | Swing | |

### Central Murchison

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Central Murchison :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Opposition | Frederick Illingworth | 182 | 59.7 |
| | Ministerialist | Joseph Thompson | 97 | 31.8 |
| | Independent | Daniel McIntosh | 26 | 8.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 305 | 97.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 7 | 2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 312 | 43.6 |
| | Opposition hold | Opposition hold | Swing | |

### Coolgardie

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Coolgardie :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Ministerialist | Alf Morgans | 595 | 70.8 |
| | Opposition | Alfred Hales | 245 | 29.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 840 | 97.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 19 | 2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 859 | 41.3 |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | |

### De Grey

1897 Western Australian colonial election: De Grey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | Edward Hooley | unopposed | | |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | | |

### Dundas

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Dundas :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Ind. Ministerialist | John Conolly | 85 | 41.7 |
| | Opposition | Edward Harney | 72 | 35.3 |
| | Independent | Arthur Austin | 47 | 23.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 204 | 94.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 12 | 5.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 216 | 74.0 |
| | Ind. Ministerialist hold | Ind. Ministerialist hold | Swing | |

### East Coolgardie

1897 Western Australian colonial election: East Coolgardie :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Ministerialist | Charles Moran | 500 | 56.1 |
| | Independent | James Wilkinson | 309 | 34.7 |
| | Labour | Robert Norman | 82 | 9.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 891 | 95.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 46 | 4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 937 | 63.1 |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | |

### East Fremantle

1897 Western Australian colonial election: East Fremantle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Ministerialist | Joseph Holmes | 182 | 50.8 |
| | Opposition | Matthew Moss | 176 | 49.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 358 | 98.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 6 | 1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 364 | 68.0 |
| | Ministerialist gain from Opposition | Ministerialist gain from Opposition | Swing | |

### East Kimberley

1897 Western Australian colonial election: East Kimberley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | Francis Connor | unopposed | | |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | | |

### East Perth

1897 Western Australian colonial election: East Perth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Opposition | Walter James | 246 | 71.1 |
| | Opposition | Archibald Sanderson | 65 | 18.8 |
| | Independent | Nicholas Raven | 35 | 10.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 346 | 97.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 10 | 2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 356 | 37.5 |
| | Opposition hold | Opposition hold | Swing | |

### Fremantle

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Fremantle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | John Higham | unopposed | | |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | | |

### Gascoyne

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Gascoyne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | George Hubble | unopposed | | |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | | |

### Geraldton

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Geraldton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Opposition | George Simpson | 146 | 55.7 |
| | Opposition | Joseph Thomson | 59 | 22.5 |
| | Ministerialist | Henry Spalding | 54 | 20.6 |
| | Opposition | James Simpson | 3 | 1.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 262 | 97.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 6 | 2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 268 | 50.0 |
| | Opposition hold | Opposition hold | Swing | |

### Greenough

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Greenough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Ind. Ministerialist | Richard Pennefather | 73 | 52.9 |
| | Ministerialist | William Traylen | 41 | 29.7 |
| | Ministerialist | Major Logue | 24 | 17.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 138 | 97.9 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3 | 2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 141 | 78.3 |
| | Ind. Ministerialist gain from Ministerialist | Ind. Ministerialist gain from Ministerialist | Swing | |

### Irwin

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Irwin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | Samuel J. Phillips | unopposed | | |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | | |

### Moore

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Moore :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Ministerialist | Henry Lefroy | 165 | 63.2 |
| | Ministerialist | Jeremiah Clune | 96 | 36.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 261 | 97.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 7 | 2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 268 | 81.5 |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | |

### Murchison

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Murchison :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | Samuel Mitchell | unopposed | | |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | | |

### Murray

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Murray :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | William George | 148 | 57.6 |
| | Ministerialist | William Paterson | 109 | 42.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 257 | 98.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 4 | 1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 261 | 67.1 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |

### Nelson

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Nelson :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | James George Lee-Steere | unopposed | | |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | | |

### North Coolgardie

1897 Western Australian colonial election: North Coolgardie :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Henry Gregory | 288 | 54.6 |
| | Opposition | Hugh Mahon | 228 | 43.3 |
| | Independent | William Kerr | 11 | 2.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 527 | 99.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 4 | 0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 531 | 68.8 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |

### North Fremantle

1897 Western Australian colonial election: North Fremantle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Ministerialist | Denis Doherty | 160 | 51.4 |
| | Opposition | James King | 84 | 27.0 |
| | Independent | Robert Dearle | 47 | 15.1 |
| | Independent | Rowland Rees | 20 | 6.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 311 | 92.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 25 | 7.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 336 | 33.6 |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | |

### North Murchison

1897 Western Australian colonial election: North Murchison :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Opposition | Henry Kenny | 52 | 53.1 |
| | Ministerialist | Frederick Moorhead | 46 | 46.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 98 | 98.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2 | 2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 100 | 52.9 |
| | Opposition hold | Opposition hold | Swing | |

### North Perth

1897 Western Australian colonial election: North Perth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Charles Oldham | 73 | 30.2 |
| | Ministerialist | James Bennett | 69 | 28.5 |
| | Ministerialist | Horace Stirling | 47 | 19.4 |
| | Independent | Michael Cavanagh | 34 | 14.1 |
| | Independent | John Phair | 19 | 7.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 242 | 92.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 19 | 7.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 261 | 62.0 |
| | Labour gain from Ministerialist | Labour gain from Ministerialist | Swing | |

### North-East Coolgardie

1897 Western Australian colonial election: North-East Coolgardie :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Opposition | Frederick Vosper | 236 | 43.0 |
| | Independent | Nathaniel Harper | 177 | 32.2 |
| | Opposition | John Dwyer | 69 | 12.6 |
| | Opposition | Archibald Barclay | 67 | 12.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 549 | 94.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 30 | 5.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 579 | 50.7 |
| | Opposition hold | Opposition hold | Swing | |

### Northam

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Northam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | George Throssell | unopposed | | |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | | |

### Perth

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Perth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Ministerialist | Lyall Hall | 268 | 50.5 |
| | Opposition | Stephen Parker | 263 | 49.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 531 | 98.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 9 | 1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 540 | 45.7 |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | |

### Pilbara

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Pilbara :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Walter Kingsmill | 110 | 68.8 |
| | Independent | Edward Edgecumbe | 50 | 31.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 160 | 98.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3 | 1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 163 | 62.5 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |

### Plantagenet

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Plantagenet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | Albert Hassell | unopposed | | |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | | |

### Roebourne

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Roebourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | Horace Sholl | unopposed | | |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | | |

### South Fremantle

1897 Western Australian colonial election: South Fremantle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Elias Solomon | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### South Murchison

1897 Western Australian colonial election: South Murchison :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Ministerialist | Cornthwaite Rason | 87 | 40.8 |
| | Ministerialist | Frederick Trude | 80 | 37.6 |
| | Independent | Malcolm Reid | 39 | 18.3 |
| | Opposition | John Perryman | 7 | 3.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 213 | 98.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3 | 1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 216 | 54.1 |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | |

### Sussex

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Sussex :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Ministerialist | Ernest Locke | 100 | 43.1 |
| | Ministerialist | Frank Backhouse | 71 | 30.6 |
| | Ministerialist | Joseph Cookworthy | 61 | 26.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 232 | 96.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 9 | 3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 241 | 81.4 |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | |

### Swan

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Swan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Norman Ewing | 116 | 38.4 |
| | Ministerialist | William Johnson | 91 | 30.1 |
| | Ministerialist | James Morrison | 82 | 27.2 |
| | Ministerialist | James Huelin | 13 | 4.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 302 | 97.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 8 | 2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 310 | 51.5 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |

### Toodyay

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Toodyay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Ministerialist | Timothy Quinlan | 201 | 63.6 |
| | Ministerialist | Barnard Clarkson | 115 | 36.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 316 | 98.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 5 | 1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 321 | 82.1 |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | |

### Wellington

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Wellington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | Harry Venn | unopposed | | |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | | |

### West Kimberley

1897 Western Australian colonial election: West Kimberley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | Alexander Forrest | unopposed | | |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | | |

### West Perth

1897 Western Australian colonial election: West Perth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Ministerialist | Barrington Wood | 411 | 53.9 |
| | Ministerialist | Thomas Molloy | 260 | 34.1 |
| | Opposition | Robert Knox-Peden | 91 | 11.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 762 | 98.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 13 | 1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 775 | 44.5 |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | |

### Williams

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Williams :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | Frederick Piesse | unopposed | | |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | | |

### Yalgoo

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Yalgoo :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Frank Wallace | 39 | 50.7 |
| | Opposition | Henry Mills | 35 | 45.4 |
| | Independent | Solomon Lowns | 3 | 3.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 77 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 77 | 56.6 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |

### Yilgarn

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Yilgarn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | William Oats | 115 | 50.9 |
| | Ministerialist | Isidor Cohn | 89 | 39.4 |
| | Opposition | George Leckie | 22 | 9.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 226 | 95.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 11 | 4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 237 | 47.5 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |

### York

1897 Western Australian colonial election: York :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | Frederick Monger | unopposed | | |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | | |