# Electoral results for the district of Sturt (New South Wales)

Sturt, an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, had two incarnations, from 1889 until 1968 and from 1971 until 1981.
| Election | Member | Member | Party |
| 1889 | | Wyman Brown | Protectionist |
| 1891 | | John Cann | Labor |
| 1894 | | William Ferguson | Labour |
| 1895 | | William Ferguson | Labour |
| 1898 | | William Ferguson | Labour |
| 1901 | | William Ferguson | Independent Labour / Liberal Reform |
| 1904 | | Arthur Griffith | Labour |
| 1907 | | Arthur Griffith | Labour |
| 1908 by | | Arthur Griffith | Labour |
| 1910 | | Arthur Griffith | Labour |
| 1913 | | John Cann | Labor |
| 1917 by | | Percy Brookfield | Labor / Ind. Socialist Labor |
| 1917 | | Percy Brookfield | Labor / Ind. Socialist Labor | Member | Member | Party | Member | Member | Party |
| 1920 | | Percy Brookfield | Socialist Labor | | Mat Davidson | Labor | | Brian Doe | Nationalist |
| 1921 Appt | | Jabez Wright | Labor | | Mat Davidson | Labor | | Brian Doe | Nationalist |
| 1922 | | Jabez Wright | Labor | | Mat Davidson | Labor | | Brian Doe | Nationalist |
| 1922 Appt | | Ted Horsington | Labor | | Mat Davidson | Labor | | Brian Doe | Nationalist |
| 1925 | | Ted Horsington | Labor | | Mat Davidson | Labor | | Brian Doe | Nationalist |
| 1927 | | Ted Horsington | Labor |
| 1930 | | Ted Horsington | Labor |
| 1932 | | Ted Horsington | Labor |
| 1935 | | Ted Horsington | Labor |
| 1938 | | Ted Horsington | Labor / Industrial Labor / Labor |
| 1941 | | Ted Horsington | Labor |
| 1944 | | Ted Horsington | Labor |
| 1947 | | William Wattison | Labor |
| 1950 | | William Wattison | Labor |
| 1953 | | William Wattison | Labor |
| 1956 | | William Wattison | Labor |
| 1959 | | William Wattison | Labor |
| 1962 | | William Wattison | Labor |
| 1965 | | William Wattison | Labor |
| Election | Member | Member | Party |
| 1971 | | Tim Fischer | National |
| 1973 | | Tim Fischer | National |
| 1976 | | Tim Fischer | National |
| 1978 | | Tim Fischer | National |
| 1981 by | | John Sullivan | National |

## Election results
### Elections in the 1980s
#### 1981 by-election

1981 Sturt by-election Saturday 21 February :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Country | John Sullivan | 11,614 | 63.1 | -3.0 |
| | Labor | Michael Anthony | 6,805 | 37.0 | +3.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 18,419 | 99.1 | +0.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 165 | 0.9 | −0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,584 | 82.6 | −11.2 |
| | National Country hold | National Country hold | Swing | -3.0 | |

### Elections in the 1970s
#### 1978

1978 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Country | Tim Fischer | 13,603 | 66.0 | -2.8 |
| | Labor | Michael Anthony | 6,995 | 34.0 | +2.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 20,598 | 98.7 | −0.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 280 | 1.3 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,878 | 93.8 | −0.6 |
| | National Country hold | National Country hold | Swing | -2.8 | |

#### 1976

1976 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country | Tim Fischer | 13,803 | 68.8 | +1.2 |
| | Labor | Cuthbert Richardson | 6,266 | 31.2 | +3.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 20,069 | 99.1 | +0.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 182 | 0.9 | −0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,251 | 94.4 | +0.7 |
| | Country hold | Country hold | Swing | -3.4 | |

#### 1973

1973 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country | Tim Fischer | 13,012 | 67.6 | +28.1 |
| | Labor | John Foley | 5,259 | 27.3 | +27.3 |
| | Democratic Labor | Joseph Lenehan | 962 | 5.0 | -3.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 19,233 | 98.8 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 240 | 1.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,473 | 93.7 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Country | Tim Fischer | 13,782 | 71.7 | +7.4 |
| | Labor | John Foley | 5,454 | 28.3 | +28.3 |
| | Country hold | Country hold | Swing | +7.4 | |

#### 1971

1971 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Country | Tim Fischer | 6,657 | 39.5 |
| | Independent | Ernest Mitchell | 5,484 | 32.5 |
| | Liberal | William Dixon | 3,226 | 19.1 |
| | Democratic Labor | Bernard O'Keeffe | 1,488 | 8.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 16,855 | 98.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 262 | 1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,117 | 93.9 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Country | Tim Fischer | 10,838 | 64.3 |
| | Independent | Ernest Mitchell | 6,017 | 35.7 |
| | Country notional hold | Country notional hold | Swing | N/A |
District re-created

#### 1968 - 1971

District abolished
District abolished

### Elections in the 1960s
#### 1965

1965 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | William Wattison | 9,487 | 71.2 | −3.8 |
| | Country | Edward Brown | 3,831 | 28.8 | +3.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 13,318 | 98.5 | −0.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 196 | 1.5 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,514 | 88.6 | +0.7 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | −3.8 | |

#### 1962

1962 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | William Wattison | 10,284 | 75.0 | +7.0 |
| | Country | Edward Brown | 3,424 | 25.0 | +4.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 13,708 | 99.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 143 | 1.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,851 | 87.9 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +2.9 | |

### Elections in the 1950s
#### 1959

1959 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | William Wattison | 10,034 | 68.0 |
| | Country | Edward Brown | 3,016 | 20.4 |
| | Democratic Labor | George Mailath | 1,277 | 8.6 |
| | Communist | Edward Craill | 435 | 3.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 14,762 | 98.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 262 | 1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,024 | 88.3 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | William Wattison | 10,637 | 72.1 |
| | Country | Edward Brown | 4,125 | 27.9 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

#### 1956

1956 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | 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 | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 14,433 | 98.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 287 | 2.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | 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 | Labor hold | Swing | N/A | |

#### 1953

1953 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | William Wattison | unopposed | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | | | |

#### 1950

1950 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | William Wattison | unopposed | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | | | |

### Elections in the 1940s
#### 1947

1947 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | William Wattison | unopposed | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | | | |

#### 1944

1944 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Ted Horsington | unopposed | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | | | |

#### 1941

1941 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Ted Horsington | 8,188 | 70.8 |
| | State Labor | Arthur Campbell | 3,372 | 29.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 11,560 | 96.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 383 | 3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,943 | 85.6 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1930s
#### 1938

1938 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Ted Horsington | unopposed | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | | | |

#### 1935

1935 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor (NSW) | Ted Horsington | 8,924 | 88.0 | -5.2 |
| | Independent | Stuart Coombe | 1,213 | 12.0 | +12.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 10,137 | 90.4 | +7.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,070 | 9.6 | −7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,207 | 92.5 | −2.1 |
| | Labor (NSW) hold | Labor (NSW) hold | Swing | N/A | |

#### 1932

1932 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor (NSW) | Ted Horsington | 8,945 | 93.2 | 0.0 |
| | Communist | Frederick Miller | 656 | 6.8 | 0.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,601 | 83.4 | −4.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,907 | 16.6 | +4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,508 | 94.6 | +0.2 |
| | Labor (NSW) hold | Labor (NSW) hold | Swing | 0.0 | |

#### 1930

1930 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Ted Horsington | 9,349 | 93.2 |
| | Communist | Leslie King | 685 | 6.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 10,034 | 87.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,394 | 12.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,428 | 94.4 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1920s
#### 1927

1927 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Ted Horsington | 7,218 | 70.0 | |
| | Nationalist | Alfred Gorrie | 3,088 | 30.0 | |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 10,306 | 98.6 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 151 | 1.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,457 | 74.8 | |
| | Labor win | Labor win | (new seat) | (new seat) | (new seat) |

#### 1925

1925 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 4,423 | | |
| | Labor | Mat Davidson (elected 1) | 7,237 | 40.9 | +9.6 |
| | Labor | Ted Horsington (elected 2) | 4,493 | 25.4 | +21.3 |
| | Labor | Thomas Griffiths | 1,046 | 5.9 | +5.9 |
| | Nationalist | Brian Doe (elected 3) | 4,355 | 24.6 | +5.1 |
| | Nationalist | William Shoobridge | 378 | 2.1 | +2.1 |
| | Nationalist | Francis Harvey | 96 | 0.5 | +0.5 |
| | Independent | Charles Dooley | 85 | 0.5 | +0.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 17,690 | 95.0 | +0.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 934 | 5.0 | −0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,624 | 60.3 | +0.9 |
| Party total votes ||||||
| | Labor | | 12,776 | 72.2 | +25.8 |
| | Nationalist | | 4,829 | 27.3 | -5.7 |
| | Independent | Charles Dooley | 85 | 0.5 | +0.5 |

#### 1922 appointment

Jabez Wright died on 10 September 1922. Ted Horsington was the only unsuccessful Labor candidate at the 1922 election and took his seat on 20 September 1922.

#### 1922

1922 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 4,371 | | |
| | Labor | Mat Davidson (elected 1) | 5,472 | 31.3 | +7.1 |
| | Labor | Jabez Wright (elected 3) | 1,922 | 11.0 | -7.4 |
| | Labor | Ted Horsington | 708 | 4.1 | +4.1 |
| | Nationalist | Brian Doe (elected 2) | 3,401 | 19.5 | -5.1 |
| | Nationalist | William Daish | 1,670 | 9.5 | +9.5 |
| | Nationalist | John Wicks | 707 | 4.0 | +4.0 |
| | Industrial Labor | Donald Grant | 1,378 | 7.9 | +7.9 |
| | Independent | Ernest Wetherell | 856 | 4.9 | +4.9 |
| | Independent | William Couch | 785 | 4.5 | +4.5 |
| | Progressive | Walter O'Grady | 505 | 2.9 | +2.9 |
| | Independent | Charles Dooley | 76 | 0.4 | +0.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 17,480 | 94.5 | +2.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,013 | 5.5 | −2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,493 | 59.4 | +9.7 |
| Party total votes ||||||
| | Labor | | 8,102 | 46.4 | +0.7 |
| | Nationalist | | 5,778 | 33.0 | +6.8 |
| | Industrial Labor | | 1,378 | 7.9 | +7.9 |
| | Independent | Ernest Wetherell | 856 | 4.9 | +4.9 |
| | Independent | William Couch | 785 | 4.5 | +4.5 |
| | Progressive | | 505 | 2.9 | +2.9 |
| | Independent | Charles Dooley | 76 | 0.4 | +0.4 |

#### 1921 appointment

On 22 March 1921 Percy Brookfield was murdered while trying to disarm a deranged man at Riverton. Between 1920 and 1927 the Legislative Assembly was elected using a form of proportional representation with multi-member seats and a single transferable vote (modified Hare-Clark). The Parliamentary Elections (Casual Vacancies) Act, provided that casual vacancies were filled by the next unsuccessful candidate "who represents the same party interest as the late member". Which party interest Brookfield represented was not straightforward. He had been the Labor member for Sturt since the 1917 by-election, however he resigned from the Labor Party in August 1919, and joined the Industrial Socialist Labor Party, which in January 1920 merged with the Socialist Labor Party, retaining the later name. Under this banner Brookfield was the first candidate elected at the 1920 election for Sturt. He was however dissatisfied with the manner in which the affairs of that party have been carried on" and formed a new Industrial Labor Party in February 1921, shortly before his death. There was debate concerning who should be appointed. The Industrial Labor Party said that John O'Reilly should be appointed, while The Sydney Morning Herald stated that Thomas Hynes had the greater number of primary votes and thus he should be appointed. The nomination had to come from the recognised party leader according to votes on any censure motion and Labor leader John Storey nominated Jabez Wright.

#### 1920

1920 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 3,958 | |
| | Labor | Mat Davidson (elected 3) | 3,824 | 24.2 |
| | Labor | Jabez Wright (defeated) | 2,917 | 18.4 |
| | Labor | Walter Webb | 492 | 3.1 |
| | Socialist Labor | Percy Brookfield  (elected 1) | 4,357 | 27.5 |
| | Socialist Labor | Thomas Hynes | 55 | 0.4 |
| | Socialist Labor | John O'Reilly | 34 | 0.2 |
| | Nationalist | Brian Doe (elected 2) | 3,890 | 24.6 |
| | Nationalist | Frank Wilkinson | 207 | 1.3 |
| | Nationalist | John Thorn | 53 | 0.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 15,829 | 92.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,358 | 7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,187 | 49.7 |
| Party total votes ||||||
| | Labor | | 7,233 | 45.7 |
| | Socialist Labor | | 4,446 | 28.1 |
| | Nationalist | | 4,150 | 26.2 |

### Elections in the 1910s
#### 1917

1917 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Percy Brookfield | 4,013 | 57.1 |
| | Ind. Nationalist | Francis Harvey | 3,020 | 42.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 7,033 | 99.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 36 | 0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,069 | 62.3 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | | |

#### 1917 by-election

1917 Sturt by-election Saturday 3 February :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Percy Brookfield | 3,301 | 54.4 |
| | Independent Labor | Brian Doe | 2,739 | 45.2 |
| | Independent | John Evans | 26 | 0.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,066 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,066 | 57.4 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

#### 1913

1913 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John Cann | unopposed | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | | | |

#### 1910

1910 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Arthur Griffith | 5,450 | 89.2 |
| | Liberal Reform | Henry Kelly | 658 | 10.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,108 | 99.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 59 | 1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,167 | 72.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | | |

### Elections in the 1900s
#### 1908 by-election

1908 Sturt by-election Friday 13 November :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Arthur Griffith (re-elected) | unopposed | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | | | |

#### 1907

1907 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Griffith | Unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | | | |

#### 1904

1904 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Arthur Griffith | 2,658 | 67.1 |
| | Independent | William Williams | 1,304 | 32.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,962 | 98.9 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 43 | 1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,005 | 58.0 |
| | Labour gain from Independent Labour | Labour gain from Independent Labour | | |

#### 1901

1901 New South Wales state election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Labor | William Ferguson | 716 | 64.6 | |
| | Labour | Charles Maley | 392 | 35.4 | |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 1,108 | 98.7 | −0.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 15 | 1.3 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,123 | 53.9 | +16.9 |
| | Member changed to Independent Labour from Labour | Member changed to Independent Labour from Labour | | | |

### Elections in the 1890s
#### 1898

1898 New South Wales colonial election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | William Ferguson | 655 | 86.5 |
| | National Federal | Thomas Walker | 92 | 12.2 |
| | Independent | Alexander Hendry | 10 | 1.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 757 | 99.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 8 | 1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 765 | 37.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | | |

#### 1895

1895 New South Wales colonial election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Ferguson | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | | | |

#### 1894

1894 New South Wales colonial election: Sturt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | William Ferguson | 1,065 | 73.1 |
| | Ind. Protectionist | John Souter | 393 | 27.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 1,458 | 98.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 23 | 1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,481 | 85.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | | |

#### 1891

1891 New South Wales colonial election: Sturt Saturday 20 June :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Cann (elected) | unopposed | | |
| | Labour gain from Protectionist | Labour gain from Protectionist | | | |

### Elections in the 1880s
#### 1889

1889 New South Wales colonial election: Sturt Wednesday 13 February :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Protectionist | Wyman Brown (elected) | 654 | 72.7 | |
| | Protectionist | Charles O'Neill | 246 | 27.3 | |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 900 | 97.9 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 19 | 2.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 919 | 31.4 | |
| | Protectionist win | Protectionist win | (new seat) | (new seat) | (new seat) |