# Results of the 1953 South Australian state election (House of Assembly)

South Australian state election, 7 March 1953 House of Assembly
<< 1950–1956 >> :
| Enrolled voters | Enrolled voters | 354,273 | | | | |
| Votes cast | Votes cast | 336,592 | | Turnout | 95.01% | +1.86% |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 9,871 | | Informal | 2.93% | –0.40% |
| Summary of votes by party |||||||
| Party | Party | Primary votes | % | Swing | Seats | Change |
| | Labor | 166,517 | 50.97% | +2.88% | 14 | + 2 |
| | Liberal and Country | 119,106 | 36.45% | –4.05% | 21 | – 2 |
| | Communist | 4,827 | 1.48% | +0.14% | 0 | ± 0 |
| | Independent | 36,271 | 11.10% | +1.03% | 4 | ± 0 |
| Total | Total | 326,721 | | | 39 | |
| Two-party-preferred |||||||
| | Liberal and Country | | 47.00% | –4.30% | | |
| | Labor | | 53.00% | +4.30% | | |
This is a list of House of Assembly results for the 1953 South Australian state election.

## Results by electoral district
### Adelaide

1953 South Australian state election: Adelaide :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Sam Lawn | 9,271 | 89.5 | +51.2 |
| | Communist | Edward Robertson | 1,093 | 10.5 | +10.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 10,364 | 93.1 | +0.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 770 | 6.9 | −0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,134 | 92.4 | +1.7 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Albert

1953 South Australian state election: Albert :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Malcolm McIntosh | 4,225 | 74.6 | −25.4 |
| | Independent | Robert Upton | 999 | 17.7 | +17.7 |
| | Independent | Carl Muller | 436 | 7.7 | +7.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,660 | 96.6 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 200 | 3.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,860 | 95.7 | |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Preferences were not distributed.

### Alexandra

1953 South Australian state election: Alexandra :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | David Brookman | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | | |

### Angas

1953 South Australian state election: Angas :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Berthold Teusner | 4,088 | 68.1 | −7.8 |
| | Independent | Henry Schneider | 1,914 | 31.9 | +7.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,002 | 97.1 | −0.9 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 176 | 2.9 | +0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,178 | 96.7 | +0.4 |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | −7.8 | |

### Burnside

1953 South Australian state election: Burnside :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Geoffrey Clarke | 11,791 | 61.5 | −38.5 |
| | Labor | Frederick Hansford | 5,601 | 29.2 | +29.2 |
| | Independent | John Parkinson | 1,770 | 9.2 | +9.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 19,162 | 97.6 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 475 | 2.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,637 | 94.5 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal and Country | Geoffrey Clarke | | 66.1 | −33.9 |
| | Labor | Frederick Hansford | | 33.9 | +33.9 |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Burra

1953 South Australian state election: Burra :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | George Hawker | 2,478 | 59.4 | −1.9 |
| | Labor | Even George | 1,697 | 40.6 | +1.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 4,175 | 99.0 | 0.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 41 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,216 | 97.2 | +2.5 |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | −1.9 | |

### Chaffey

1953 South Australian state election: Chaffey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Macgillivray | 4,731 | 69.1 | +28.8 |
| | Liberal and Country | Ross Story | 2,111 | 30.9 | −4.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,842 | 97.5 | +0.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 174 | 2.5 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,016 | 95.3 | −0.1 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | +8.4 | |

### Eyre

1953 South Australian state election: Eyre :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Arthur Christian | 3,194 | 67.8 | −32.2 |
| | Independent | Herbert Hogan | 1,519 | 32.2 | +32.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 4,713 | 97.9 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 102 | 2.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,815 | 94.7 | |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Flinders

1953 South Australian state election: Flinders :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Glen Pearson | 4,129 | 58.4 | −41.6 |
| | Labor | Percy Baillie | 2,936 | 41.6 | +41.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 7,065 | 98.7 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 94 | 1.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,159 | 96.2 | |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Frome

1953 South Australian state election: Frome :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Mick O'Halloran | unopposed | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | | |

### Gawler

1953 South Australian state election: Gawler :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John Clark | 4,432 | 77.1 | +22.9 |
| | Independent | Frank Rieck | 1,320 | 22.9 | +22.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,752 | 96.2 | −2.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 230 | 3.8 | +2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,982 | 96.1 | +0.7 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Glenelg

1953 South Australian state election: Glenelg :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Baden Pattinson | 12,927 | 50.7 | −11.6 |
| | Labor | Loftus Fenwick | 12,562 | 49.3 | +11.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 25,489 | 97.5 | +0.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 617 | 2.5 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,128 | 95.6 | +1.7 |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | −11.6 | |

### Goodwood

1953 South Australian state election: Goodwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Frank Walsh | 15,057 | 63.1 | +8.6 |
| | Liberal and Country | Howard Zelling | 8,795 | 36.9 | −8.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 23,852 | 97.6 | −0.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 577 | 2.4 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,429 | 94.7 | +1.8 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +8.6 | |

### Gouger

1953 South Australian state election: Gouger :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Rufus Goldney | 3,560 | 56.1 | −14.4 |
| | Labor | Bernard McEwen | 2,784 | 43.9 | +14.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,344 | 98.6 | +0.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 89 | 1.4 | −0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,433 | 96.9 | |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | −14.4 | |

### Gumeracha

1953 South Australian state election: Gumeracha :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Thomas Playford | 5,315 | 90.4 | −9.6 |
| | Communist | Alan Finger | 566 | 9.6 | +9.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,881 | 95.1 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 302 | 4.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,183 | 96.2 | |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Hindmarsh

1953 South Australian state election: Hindmarsh :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Cyril Hutchens | unopposed | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | | |

### Light

1953 South Australian state election: Light :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Herbert Michael | 3,079 | 59.5 | −40.5 |
| | Labor | Donald MacLeod | 2,092 | 40.5 | +40.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,171 | 98.5 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 80 | 1.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,251 | 96.7 | |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Mitcham

1953 South Australian state election: Mitcham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Henry Dunks | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | | |

### Mount Gambier

1953 South Australian state election: Mount Gambier :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Fletcher | 4,577 | 54.3 | −10.1 |
| | Labor | Raphael Mahony | 3,848 | 45.7 | +10.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 8,425 | 98.8 | +0.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 101 | 1.2 | −0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,526 | 96.0 | +2.3 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | −10.1 | |

### Murray

1953 South Australian state election: Murray :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Hector White | 3,026 | 45.1 | −4.1 |
| | Labor | Robert Moroney | 2,220 | 33.1 | −17.7 |
| | Independent | Lawrence McKenzie | 773 | 11.5 | +11.5 |
| | Independent | Albert Denman | 685 | 10.2 | +10.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,704 | 97.2 | −1.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 194 | 2.8 | +1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,898 | 96.8 | +1.4 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal and Country | Hector White | 3,385 | 50.5 | +1.3 |
| | Labor | Robert Moroney | 3,319 | 49.5 | −1.3 |
| | Liberal and Country gain from Labor | Liberal and Country gain from Labor | Swing | +1.3 | |

### Newcastle

1953 South Australian state election: Newcastle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | George Jenkins | 2,275 | 63.7 | −7.6 |
| | Labor | Gerald Travers | 1,298 | 36.3 | +7.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,573 | 97.4 | −1.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 96 | 2.6 | +1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,669 | 92.0 | +5.9 |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | −7.6 | |

### Norwood

1953 South Australian state election: Norwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Don Dunstan | 9,189 | 56.3 | +12.4 |
| | Liberal and Country | Roy Moir | 7,122 | 43.7 | −0.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 16,311 | 97.8 | +2.9 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 367 | 2.2 | −2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,678 | 95.1 | +1.4 |
| | Labor gain from Liberal and Country | Labor gain from Liberal and Country | Swing | +10.8 | |

### Onkaparinga

1953 South Australian state election: Onkaparinga :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Howard Shannon | 4,266 | 57.0 | −4.1 |
| | Labor | Frank Staniford | 3,223 | 43.0 | +4.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 7,489 | 97.9 | −0.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 160 | 2.1 | +0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,649 | 95.7 | +0.8 |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | −4.1 | |

### Port Adelaide

1953 South Australian state election: Port Adelaide :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | James Stephens | 25,131 | 91.9 | +1.7 |
| | Communist | Peter Symon | 2,212 | 8.1 | −1.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 27,343 | 94.6 | 0.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,559 | 5.4 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,902 | 95.1 | +2.3 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +1.7 | |

### Port Pirie

1953 South Australian state election: Port Pirie :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Charles Davis | 5,137 | 65.8 | −3.7 |
| | Independent | Arthur Pickering | 1,585 | 20.3 | +20.3 |
| | Independent | Thomas Madigan | 1,089 | 13.9 | +13.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 7,811 | 95.2 | +4.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 390 | 4.8 | −4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,201 | 96.2 | +1.2 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Preferences were not distributed.

### Prospect

1953 South Australian state election: Prospect :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Jack Jennings | 11,728 | 53.4 | +12.2 |
| | Liberal and Country | Elder Whittle | 10,228 | 46.6 | −8.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 21,956 | 97.9 | +2.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 468 | 2.1 | −2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,424 | 94.9 | +0.4 |
| | Labor gain from Liberal and Country | Labor gain from Liberal and Country | Swing | +9.2 | |

### Ridley

1953 South Australian state election: Ridley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Tom Stott | 4,531 | 77.8 | −22.2 |
| | Independent | Henry Schneider | 1,291 | 22.2 | +22.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,822 | 98.2 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 107 | 1.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,929 | 97.0 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Rocky River

1953 South Australian state election: Rocky River :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | James Heaslip | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | | |

### Semaphore

1953 South Australian state election: Semaphore :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Harold Tapping | 19,043 | 87.6 | +7.1 |
| | Independent | Roy Luckman | 2,693 | 12.4 | +12.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 21,736 | 95.4 | +1.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,037 | 4.6 | −1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,773 | 93.9 | +1.8 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Stanley

1953 South Australian state election: Stanley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Percy Quirke | 2,954 | 61.9 | +14.7 |
| | Liberal and Country | Elliot Parker | 1,817 | 38.1 | +2.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 4,771 | 98.0 | −0.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 98 | 2.0 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,869 | 96.8 | −0.1 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | +1.9 | |

### Stirling

1953 South Australian state election: Stirling :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | William Jenkins | 3,507 | 52.9 | −3.7 |
| | Independent | William McAnaney | 2,141 | 32.3 | 32.3 |
| | Independent | Orlando Hutchinson | 985 | 14.8 | +14.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,633 | 97.6 | −0.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 161 | 2.4 | +0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,794 | 97.0 | +1.8 |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Preferences were not distributed.

### Stuart

1953 South Australian state election: Stuart :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Lindsay Riches | 8,444 | 89.8 | −3.0 |
| | Communist | Elliott Johnston | 956 | 10.2 | +3.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,400 | 96.3 | +0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 363 | 3.7 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,763 | 90.1 | +0.1 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | −3.0 | |

### Thebarton

1953 South Australian state election: Thebarton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Fred Walsh | unopposed | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | | |

### Torrens

1953 South Australian state election: Torrens :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Leo Travers | 8,469 | 51.3 | −3.2 |
| | Labor | Thomas Sexton | 8,055 | 48.7 | +3.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 16,524 | 97.9 | −0.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 359 | 2.1 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,883 | 94.1 | +1.9 |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | −3.2 | |

### Unley

1953 South Australian state election: Unley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Colin Dunnage | 8,065 | 50.3 | −7.5 |
| | Labor | Arthur Savage | 7,974 | 49.7 | +7.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 16,039 | 97.9 | −0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 336 | 2.1 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,375 | 94.5 | +2.2 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | −7.5 | |

### Victoria

1953 South Australian state election: Victoria :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Jim Corcoran | 4,795 | 49.4 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal and Country | Roy McLachlan | 4,639 | 47.8 | −4.9 |
| | Independent | John Gartner | 278 | 2.9 | +2.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,712 | 98.7 | −0.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 126 | 1.3 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,838 | 95.5 | +1.1 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Jim Corcoran | | 50.8 | +3.5 |
| | Liberal and Country | Roy McLachlan | | 49.2 | −3.5 |
| | Labor gain from Liberal and Country | Labor gain from Liberal and Country | Swing | +3.5 | |

### Wallaroo

1953 South Australian state election: Wallaroo :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Hughie McAlees | unopposed | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | | |

### Yorke Peninsula

1953 South Australian state election: Yorke Peninsula :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Cecil Hincks | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | | |

### Young

1953 South Australian state election: Young :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Robert Nicholls | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | | |