# 1967 New South Wales new state referendum

The New State referendum was held in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia, on 29 April 1967, under the provisions of the New State Referendum Act 1966. The proposed state's boundaries were based on the findings of the 1935 Nicholas Royal Commission; only voters in this area took part. The vote marked the culmination of a decades-long campaign for a new state in the New England and Northern Rivers districts, but was ultimately defeated.

## Background

The first separatist agitation occurred during colonial times at the time of the separation of Queensland from NSW. While this was followed by outbreaks of agitation, these remained sporadic. Well-organised 'Separation Leagues' existed at both Glen Innes and Grafton in the late 1880s, but did not make progress.
This changed in the twentieth century. Agitation began again at Grafton towards the end of the First World War led by Earle Page, a local doctor and later a prominent politician, rising to caretaker Prime Minister of Australia. This was picked up a little later by Victor Thompson, editor of the Tamworth Northern Daily Leader who launched a sustained newspaper campaign that involved papers as far south as Cessnock in the lower Hunter. This led to the creation of a formal movement. In 1922 a formal request to the Commonwealth was made by the lower house to establish a new state in northern New South Wales. One outcome was the 1924 Cohen Royal Commission into New States.
The Cohen Commission ruled against to the movement and it went into decline, resurging at the start of the Great Depression. This forced another Royal Commission, the Nicholas Commission. While this recommended in favour, the movement was again in decline as economic conditions improved.
Agitation started again at the end of the Second World War and this time was sustained by permanent staff. In 1953, 21 councils defied the state government and held unofficial referendum on the issue of a new state. The people voted overwhelmingly in favour of the referendum. In 1961 the movement launched Operation Seventh State, raising over AU£100,000. This allowed more staff and greater agitation.
This acceptance of boundaries determined by the Nicholas Commission proved to be the movement's critical strategic error. It assumed that a state was not viable unless it was dominated by a large urban population on the English/London model. Yet, the evidence from similar federations like Canada and the USA revealed numerous successful "farm states", like Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas, with comparatively small capital city populations tied to a single, essentially rural community of interest. This metrocentric mindset ensured that two quite distinct communities of interest were being pressured into a doomed arranged marriage. It was also the very antithesis of an "act of free choice" as that choice involved imposing a majority rural will over a geographically distinct urban community. A new state proposal based in most part on boundaries formed by those Local Councils with majorities that actually wanted the change would have acquired a critical momentum.

## Key dates

Writs were issued on 31 March 1967. Polling took place on 29 April and the writ was returned on 29 May.

## Prescribed area

The New State Referendum Act identified a "prescribed area" in which the vote would be held. This included the electoral districts of Armidale, Barwon, Byron, Cessnock, Clarence, Gloucester, Hamilton, Kahibah, Lake Macquarie, Lismore, Maitland, Newcastle, Oxley, Raleigh, Tamworth, Tenterfield, Upper Hunter, Wallsend and Waratah. It also included the subdivisions of Gunnedah, Merriwa and Spring Ridge in Burrendong, and Baradine and Coonabarabran in Castlereagh.

## The question

Are you in favour of the establishment of a new state in north-east New South Wales as described in Schedule 1 to the New State Referendum Act, 1966?

## Results

The 'Yes' case enjoyed strong support across the New England and Northern Rivers districts, but faced overwhelming opposition in metropolitan Newcastle, the Hunter Valley and the Mid-North Coast.
Results of 1967 New State referendum :
| District | Result | Yes | No | Informal | Yes | No | Turnout |
| Armidale | Yes | 10,257 | 6,655 | 868 | 60.65% | 39.35% | 91.99% |
| Barwon | Yes | 12,149 | 6,015 | 843 | 66.89% | 33.11% | 89.35% |
| Burrendong (part) | Yes | 4,570 | 2,474 | 339 | 64.88% | 35.12% | 92.94% |
| Byron | Yes | 13,205 | 6,533 | 1,072 | 66.90% | 33.10% | 93.22% |
| Castlereagh (part) | Yes | 1,719 | 1,528 | 242 | 52.94% | 47.06% | 85.26% |
| Cessnock | No | 4,627 | 14,299 | 1,362 | 24.45% | 75.55% | 94.26% |
| Clarence | Yes | 13,239 | 6,698 | 873 | 66.40% | 33.60% | 93.69% |
| Gloucester | No | 4,725 | 12,235 | 1,012 | 27.86% | 72.14% | 91.79% |
| Hamilton | No | 5,305 | 13,945 | 1,303 | 27.56% | 72.44% | 92.18% |
| Kahibah | No | 6,233 | 14,098 | 1,320 | 30.66% | 69.34% | 93.38% |
| Lake Macquarie | No | 5,784 | 12,981 | 1,444 | 30.82% | 69.18% | 92.66% |
| Lismore | Yes | 13,335 | 5,286 | 735 | 71.61% | 28.39% | 92.91% |
| Maitland | No | 5,159 | 14,470 | 1,274 | 26.28% | 73.72% | 94.11% |
| Newcastle | No | 5,343 | 14,167 | 1,142 | 27.39% | 72.61% | 91.17% |
| Oxley | No | 8,297 | 10,609 | 1,229 | 43.89% | 56.11% | 92.28% |
| Raleigh | Yes | 14,965 | 5,404 | 956 | 73.47% | 26.53% | 92.57% |
| Tamworth | Yes | 10,138 | 7,407 | 842 | 57.78% | 42.22% | 93.67% |
| Tenterfield | Yes | 11,220 | 4,657 | 591 | 70.67% | 29.33% | 92.18% |
| Upper Hunter | No | 6,884 | 11,061 | 795 | 38.36% | 61.64% | 92.22% |
| Wallsend | No | 5,423 | 13,575 | 1,485 | 28.55% | 71.45% | 93.87% |
| Waratah | No | 5,526 | 14,715 | 1,467 | 27.30% | 72.70% | 93.13% |
| Total | No | 168,103 | 198,812 | 21,194 | 45.82% | 54.18% | 92.59% |