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

Waratah, an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, had two incarnations, the first from 1894 to 1913, the second from 1930 to 1999.
| Election | Member | Member | Party |
| 1894 | | Arthur Griffith | Labour |
| 1895 | | Arthur Griffith | Labour |
| 1898 | | Arthur Griffith | Labour |
| 1901 | | Arthur Griffith | Labour |
| 1903 by | | Matthew Charlton | Labour |
| 1904 | | John Estell | Labour |
| 1907 | | John Estell | Labour |
| 1910 | | John Estell | Labour |
| Election | Member | Member | Party |
| 1930 | | Robert Cameron | Labor |
| 1932 | | Robert Cameron | Labor |
| 1935 | | Robert Cameron | Labor |
| 1938 | | Robert Cameron | Labor |
| 1941 | | Robert Cameron | Labor |
| 1944 | | Robert Cameron | Labor |
| 1947 | | Robert Cameron | Labor |
| 1950 | | Robert Cameron | Labor |
| 1953 | | Robert Cameron | Labor |
| 1956 | | Frank Purdue | Independent |
| 1959 | | Frank Purdue | Independent |
| 1962 | | Edward Greaves | Labor |
| 1964 by | | Frank Purdue | Independent |
| 1965 | | Sam Jones | Labor |
| 1968 | | Sam Jones | Labor |
| 1971 | | Sam Jones | Labor |
| 1973 | | Sam Jones | Labor |
| 1976 | | Sam Jones | Labor |
| 1978 | | Sam Jones | Labor |
| 1981 | | Sam Jones | Labor |
| 1984 | | John Price | Labor |
| 1988 | | John Price | Labor |
| 1991 | | John Price | Labor |
| 1995 | | John Price | Labor |

## Election results
### Elections in the 1990s
#### 1995

1995 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John Price | 20,975 | 65.7 | +0.6 |
| | Liberal | Wayne Shoobridge | 7,222 | 22.6 | -1.9 |
| | Greens | Liz Rene | 3,743 | 11.7 | +11.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 31,940 | 93.6 | +5.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,166 | 6.4 | −5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,106 | 95.4 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | John Price | 22,801 | 74.1 | +3.1 |
| | Liberal | Wayne Shoobridge | 7,972 | 25.9 | -3.1 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +3.1 | |

#### 1991

1991 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John Price | 19,401 | 65.1 | +6.1 |
| | Liberal | Mark Booth | 7,299 | 24.5 | -8.2 |
| | Independent | Milton Caine | 2,105 | 7.1 | +7.1 |
| | Call to Australia | Stuart Edser | 1,008 | 3.4 | +3.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 29,813 | 88.3 | −7.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3,968 | 11.7 | +7.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,781 | 95.5 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | John Price | 20,258 | 71.0 | +9.3 |
| | Liberal | Mark Booth | 8,293 | 29.0 | -9.3 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -9.3 | |

### Elections in the 1970s
#### 1988

1988 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John Price | 17,294 | 61.4 | +7.7 |
| | Liberal | Milton Caine | 10,863 | 38.6 | +10.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 28,157 | 95.8 | −2.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,245 | 4.2 | +2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,402 | 95.6 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -3.0 | |

#### 1984

1984 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John Price | 13,641 | 46.8 | -23.4 |
| | Liberal | Ashley Saunders | 7,314 | 25.1 | -0.6 |
| | Independent | Sam Jones | 6,926 | 23.8 | +23.8 |
| | Democrats | Wayne Jarman | 1,078 | 3.7 | +3.7 |
| | Independent | John Cain | 205 | 0.7 | +0.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 29,164 | 97.7 | +0.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 677 | 2.3 | −0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,841 | 94.5 | +1.0 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | John Price | 15,816 | 63.2 | -10.4 |
| | Liberal | Ashley Saunders | 9,220 | 36.8 | +10.4 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -10.4 | |

#### 1981

1981 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Sam Jones | 20,407 | 70.2 | -2.4 |
| | Liberal | Pauline Graham | 7,484 | 25.7 | +1.6 |
| | Communist | Christopher Dodds | 1,199 | 4.1 | +0.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 29,047 | 97.7 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 687 | 2.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,734 | 94.8 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Sam Jones | 21,107 | 73.6 | -2.0 |
| | Liberal | Pauline Graham | 7,574 | 26.4 | +2.0 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -2.0 | |

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

1978 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Sam Jones | 21,100 | 72.6 | +5.2 |
| | Liberal | Beryl Humble | 7,006 | 24.1 | -8.5 |
| | Communist | Christopher Dodds | 941 | 3.2 | +3.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 29,047 | 97.7 | −0.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 687 | 2.3 | +0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,734 | 94.8 | +0.3 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Sam Jones | 21,947 | 75.6 | +8.2 |
| | Liberal | Beryl Humble | 7,100 | 24.4 | -8.2 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +8.2 | |

#### 1976

1976 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Sam Jones | 20,201 | 67.4 | -5.0 |
| | Liberal | Richard Bevan | 9,786 | 32.6 | +32.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 29,987 | 98.3 | +1.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 513 | 1.7 | −1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,500 | 94.5 | −0.4 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -9.2 | |

#### 1973

1973 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Sam Jones | 21,158 | 72.4 | +3.8 |
| | Democratic Labor | Anne McCosker | 5,600 | 19.2 | +19.2 |
| | Independent | George Wawryck | 2,453 | 8.4 | +8.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 29,211 | 97.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 910 | 3.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,121 | 94.9 | |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Sam Jones | 22,385 | 76.6 | +8.0 |
| | Democratic Labor | Anne McCosker | 6,826 | 23.4 | +23.4 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +8.0 | |

#### 1971

1971 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Sam Jones | 18,687 | 68.6 | +10.7 |
| | Liberal | Malcolm Blackshaw | 8,547 | 31.4 | +31.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 27,234 | 98.4 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 455 | 1.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,689 | 94.9 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +10.7 | |

### Elections in the 1960s
#### 1968

1968 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Sam Jones | 12,642 | 57.9 | +9.7 |
| | Independent | Frank Purdue | 9,206 | 42.1 | -2.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 21,848 | 98.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 449 | 2.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,297 | 95.4 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +7.1 | |

#### 1965

1965 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Sam Jones | 8,748 | 48.2 | −4.5 |
| | Independent | Frank Purdue (defeated) | 8,173 | 45.0 | −2.3 |
| | Democratic Labor | Herbert Collins | 824 | 4.5 | +4.5 |
| | Independent | Brian Morgan | 403 | 2.2 | +2.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 18,148 | 98.0 | −0.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 363 | 2.0 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,511 | 95.7 | +0.1 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Sam Jones | 9,217 | 50.8 | −1.9 |
| | Independent | Frank Purdue | 8,931 | 49.2 | +1.9 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | −1.9 | |

#### 1964 by-election

1964 Waratah by-election Saturday 8 August :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Frank Purdue | 8,847 | 51.7 | +4.4 |
| | Labor | Reg Allen | 8,256 | 48.3 | +4.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 17,103 | 98.5 | −0.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 265 | 1.5 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,368 | 88.5 | −7.1 |
| | Independent gain from Labor | Independent gain from Labor | Swing | +4.4 | |

#### 1962

1962 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Edward Greaves | 10,024 | 52.7 | +6.0 |
| | Independent | Frank Purdue | 8,998 | 47.3 | −6.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 19,022 | 98.8 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 224 | 1.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,246 | 95.6 | |
| | Labor gain from Independent | Labor gain from Independent | Swing | +6.0 | |

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

1959 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Frank Purdue | 9,472 | 53.3 |
| | Labor | Edward Greaves | 8,292 | 46.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 17,764 | 98.9 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 197 | 1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,961 | 96.1 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |

#### 1956

1956 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Frank Purdue | 8,829 | 48.8 | +48.8 |
| | Labor | Harry Sheedy | 6,608 | 36.6 | −31.3 |
| | Independent | Harry Edwards | 2,201 | 12.2 | +12.2 |
| | Communist | Thomas Graham | 434 | 2.4 | +2.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 18,072 | 98.7 | +1.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 235 | 1.3 | −1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,307 | 95.7 | −0.2 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Independent | Frank Purdue | 10,129 | 56.0 | +56.0 |
| | Labor | Harry Sheedy | 7,943 | 44.0 | −23.9 |
| | Independent gain from Labor | Independent gain from Labor | Swing | N/A | |

#### 1953

1953 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Robert Cameron | 12,187 | 67.9 |
| | Independent | Alfred Hodge | 5,760 | 32.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 17,947 | 97.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 527 | 2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,474 | 95.9 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

#### 1950

1950 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Robert Cameron | 12,114 | 66.4 |
| | Liberal | Harold Hollis | 6,140 | 33.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 18,254 | 98.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 262 | 1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,516 | 95.5 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

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

1947 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Robert Cameron | 21,551 | 87.9 | +22.1 |
| | Independent | Stan Deacon | 2,960 | 12.1 | +12.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 24,511 | 94.7 | −2.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,373 | 5.3 | +2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 25,884 | 95.5 | +2.6 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | N/A | |

#### 1944

1944 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Robert Cameron | 15,121 | 65.8 | -20.7 |
| | Communist | Stan Deacon | 5,102 | 22.2 | +22.2 |
| | Lang Labor | Leonard Sweeney | 2,760 | 12.0 | +12.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 22,983 | 97.4 | +0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 618 | 2.6 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,601 | 92.9 | −2.2 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Preferences were not distributed.

#### 1941

1941 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Robert Cameron | 19,075 | 86.5 |
| | Independent | Robert Cram | 2,970 | 13.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 22,045 | 97.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 612 | 2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,657 | 95.1 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

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

1938 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Robert Cameron | 16,442 | 77.8 | +19.0 |
| | Communist | Robert Cram | 4,693 | 22.2 | +13.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 21.135 | 94.4 | −2.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,249 | 5.6 | +2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,384 | 95.9 | −0.9 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | N/A | |

#### 1935

1935 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor (NSW) | Robert Cameron | 11,451 | 58.8 | +9.9 |
| | Federal Labor | Roy McIlveen | 6,390 | 32.8 | +22.5 |
| | Communist | Douglas Gillies | 1,625 | 8.4 | +6.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 19,466 | 96.5 | −1.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 712 | 3.5 | +1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,178 | 96.8 | −1.0 |
| | Labor (NSW) hold | Labor (NSW) hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Preferences were not distributed.

#### 1932

1932 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor (NSW) | Robert Cameron | 8,975 | 48.9 | -28.2 |
| | United Australia | Arthur Griffiths | 7,183 | 39.1 | +17.2 |
| | Federal Labor | Arthur Griffith | 1,892 | 10.3 | +10.3 |
| | Communist | Sidney Bethune | 313 | 1.7 | +0.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 18,363 | 97.9 | −0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 394 | 2.1 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,757 | 97.8 | +2.3 |
| After distribution of preferences ||||||
| | Labor (NSW) | Robert Cameron | 9,234 | 50.3 | |
| | United Australia | Arthur Griffiths | 7,208 | 39.2 | |
| | Federal Labor | Arthur Griffith | 1,921 | 10.5 | |
| | Labor (NSW) hold | Labor (NSW) hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Preferences were not distributed to completion.
* Arthur Griffiths was jointly endorsed by the UAP and Country Party.

#### 1930

1930 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Robert Cameron | 13,890 | 77.1 | |
| | Nationalist | Harold Sharp | 3,936 | 21.9 | |
| | Communist | David Martin | 183 | 1.0 | |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 18,009 | 98.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 369 | 2.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,378 | 95.5 | |
| | Labor win | Labor win | (new seat) | (new seat) | (new seat) |
District re-created

#### 1913 - 1930

District abolished
District abolished

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

1910 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | John Estell | 3,957 | 85.0 |
| | Liberal Reform | Thomas Collins | 697 | 15.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 4,654 | 96.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 178 | 3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,832 | 61.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | | |

### Elections in the 1900s
#### 1907

1907 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | John Estell | 3,214 | 84.6 |
| | Independent | David Renfrew | 585 | 15.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,799 | 93.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 256 | 6.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,055 | 54.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | | |

#### 1904

1904 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | John Estell | 2,112 | 80.6 |
| | Liberal Reform | Charles Turner | 508 | 19.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 2,620 | 99.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 23 | 0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,643 | 37.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | | |

#### 1903 by-election

1903 Waratah by-election Saturday 5 December :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Matthew Charlton | 1,085 | 67.6 | +8.7 |
| | Independent | John Gilbert | 519 | 32.4 | |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 4,604 | 99.4 | +0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 9 | 0.6 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,613 | 61.9 | −10.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

#### 1901

1901 New South Wales state election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Griffith | 1,099 | 58.9 | +8.6 |
| | Ind. Progressive | William Sharp | 766 | 41.1 | |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 1,865 | 99.3 | −0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 13 | 0.7 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,878 | 72.0 | +3.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | | | |

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

1898 New South Wales colonial election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Arthur Griffith | 817 | 50.4 |
| | National Federal | John Gilbert | 805 | 49.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 817 | 100.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,622 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9 | 0.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | | |

#### 1895

1895 New South Wales colonial election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Arthur Griffith | 854 | 53.3 |
| | Protectionist | Ninian Melville | 661 | 41.3 |
| | Ind. Free Trade | William Conn | 83 | 5.2 |
| | Independent Labour | James McWilliams | 4 | 0.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 1,602 | 98.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 33 | 2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,635 | 78.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | | |

#### 1894

1894 New South Wales colonial election: Waratah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Griffith | 820 | 44.2 | |
| | Protectionist | Ninian Melville | 680 | 36.6 | |
| | Free Trade | Alfred Clapin | 356 | 19.2 | |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 1,856 | 99.3 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 13 | 0.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,869 | 87.9 | |
| | Labour win | Labour win | (new seat) | (new seat) | (new seat) |