# Results of the 1956 South Australian state election (House of Assembly)

South Australian state election, 3 March 1956 House of Assembly
<< 1953–1959 >> :
| Enrolled voters | Enrolled voters | 299,048 | | | | |
| Votes cast | Votes cast | 280,811 | | Turnout | 93.90% | –1.11% |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 6,702 | | Informal | 2.39% | –0.54% |
| Summary of votes by party |||||||
| Party | Party | Primary votes | % | Swing | Seats | Change |
| | Labor | 129,853 | 47.37% | –3.60% | 15 | ± 0 |
| | Liberal and Country | 100,569 | 36.95% | +0.23% | 21 | + 1 |
| | Labor (A-C) | 20,384 | 7.44% | * | 0 | ± 0 |
| | Communist | 3,185 | 1.16% | –0.32% | 0 | ± 0 |
| | Independent | 20,118 | 7.34% | –3.76% | 3 | – 1 |
| Total | Total | 274,109 | | | 39 | |
| Two-party-preferred |||||||
| | Liberal and Country | | 51.30% | +4.30% | | |
| | Labor | | 48.70% | –4.30% | | |
This is a list of House of Assembly results for the 1956 South Australian state election.

## Results by electoral district
### Adelaide

1956 South Australian state election: Adelaide :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Sam Lawn | 15,116 | 76.8 |
| | Labor (A-C) | James O'Sullivan | 3,281 | 16.7 |
| | Communist | Edward Robertson | 1,295 | 6.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 19,692 | 95.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 989 | 4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,681 | 92.0 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Sam Lawn | | 81.7 |
| | Labor (A-C) | James O'Sullivan | | 18.3 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |
* Two candidate preferred vote was estimated.

### Albert

1956 South Australian state election: Albert :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Malcolm McIntosh | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | | |

### Alexandra

1956 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

1956 South Australian state election: Angas :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal and Country | Berthold Teusner | 4,655 | 77.6 |
| | Independent | William Viney | 1,344 | 22.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,999 | 97.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 142 | 2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,141 | 95.7 |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | |

### Barossa

1956 South Australian state election: Barossa :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Condor Laucke | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | | |

### Burnside

1956 South Australian state election: Burnside :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Geoffrey Clarke | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | | |

### Burra

1956 South Australian state election: Burra :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Percy Quirke | 3,015 | 51.2 |
| | Liberal and Country | George Hawker | 2,876 | 48.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,891 | 98.9 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 67 | 1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,958 | 95.1 |
| | Independent gain from Liberal and Country | Independent gain from Liberal and Country | Swing | |

### Chaffey

1956 South Australian state election: Chaffey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | William MacGillivray | 2,386 | 35.9 |
| | Liberal and Country | Harold King | 2,249 | 33.9 |
| | Labor | Robert Curren | 1,971 | 29.7 |
| | Independent | William Napier | 36 | 0.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,642 | 97.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 174 | 2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,816 | 95.7 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal and Country | Harold King | 3,669 | 55.2 |
| | Independent | William MacGillivray | 2,973 | 44.8 |
| | Liberal and Country gain from Independent | Liberal and Country gain from Independent | Swing | |

### Edwardstown

1956 South Australian state election: Edwardstown :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Frank Walsh | 15,366 | 74.3 |
| | Labor (A-C) | Patrick Tippins | 5,317 | 25.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 20,683 | 96.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 858 | 4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,541 | 93.6 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

### Enfield

1956 South Australian state election: Enfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Jack Jennings | 14,091 | 67.2 |
| | Liberal and Country | Betty Preston | 5,865 | 28.0 |
| | Labor (A-C) | Charles Matthews | 1,005 | 4.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 20,961 | 98.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 383 | 1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,344 | 93.9 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Jack Jennings | | 67.9 |
| | Liberal and Country | Betty Preston | | 32.1 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |
* Two party preferred vote was estimated.

### Eyre

1956 South Australian state election: Eyre :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal and Country | George Bockelberg | 3,498 | 55.9 |
| | Independent | Herbert Hogan | 1,793 | 28.6 |
| | Independent | George Simpson | 970 | 15.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,261 | 98.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 100 | 1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,361 | 93.4 |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | |
* Preferences were not distributed.

### Flinders

1956 South Australian state election: Flinders :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Glen Pearson | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | | |

### Frome

1956 South Australian state election: Frome :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Mick O'Halloran | 2,844 | 52.6 |
| | Liberal and Country | Raymond McAuley | 1,954 | 36.2 |
| | Labor (A-C) | Michael Hoare | 606 | 11.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,404 | 98.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 76 | 1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,480 | 89.0 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Mick O'Halloran | | 54.3 |
| | Liberal and Country | Raymond McAuley | | 45.7 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |
* Two party preferred vote was estimated.

### Gawler

1956 South Australian state election: Gawler :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John Clark | unopposed | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | | |

### Glenelg

1956 South Australian state election: Glenelg :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal and Country | Baden Pattinson | 11,650 | 53.6 |
| | Labor | Loftus Fenwick | 8,959 | 41.3 |
| | Labor (A-C) | Peter Lasarewitch | 1,100 | 5.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 21,719 | 98.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 325 | 1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,044 | 94.4 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal and Country | Baden Pattinson | | 58.0 |
| | Labor | Loftus Fenwick | | 42.0 |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | |
* Two party preferred vote was estimated.

### Gouger

1956 South Australian state election: Gouger :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal and Country | Rufus Goldney | 4,330 | 70.5 |
| | Independent | Hector Henstridge | 1,813 | 29.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,143 | 96.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 205 | 3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,348 | 95.2 |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | |

### Gumeracha

1956 South Australian state election: Gumeracha :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal and Country | Thomas Playford | 5,457 | 88.6 |
| | Communist | Fred Slater | 705 | 11.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,162 | 96.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 251 | 3.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,413 | 94.8 |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | |

### Hindmarsh

1956 South Australian state election: Hindmarsh :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Cyril Hutchens | unopposed | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | | |

### Light

1956 South Australian state election: Light :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | George Hambour | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | | |

### Millicent

1956 South Australian state election: Millicent :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Jim Corcoran | 3,201 | 52.3 |
| | Liberal and Country | William Gordon | 2,918 | 47.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,119 | 99.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 42 | 0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,161 | 95.3 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

### Mitcham

1956 South Australian state election: Mitcham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Robin Millhouse | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | | |

### Mount Gambier

1956 South Australian state election: Mount Gambier :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | John Fletcher | 3,822 | 56.1 |
| | Labor | Ron Ralston | 2,988 | 43.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,810 | 98.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 103 | 1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,913 | 95.1 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |

### Murray

1956 South Australian state election: Murray :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Gabe Bywaters | 3,533 | 51.4 |
| | Liberal and Country | Hector White | 3,340 | 48.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,873 | 98.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 104 | 1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,977 | 96.1 |
| | Labor gain from Liberal and Country | Labor gain from Liberal and Country | Swing | |

### Norwood

1956 South Australian state election: Norwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Don Dunstan | 11,981 | 56.5 |
| | Liberal and Country | Roy Moir | 8,323 | 39.3 |
| | Labor (A-C) | John Parkinson | 884 | 4.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 21,188 | 98.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 354 | 1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,532 | 93.8 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Don Dunstan | | 57.2 |
| | Liberal and Country | Roy Moir | | 42.8 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

### Onkaparinga

1956 South Australian state election: Onkaparinga :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal and Country | Howard Shannon | 4,189 | 70.1 |
| | Independent | Frank Rieck | 1,786 | 29.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,975 | 95.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 269 | 4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,244 | 94.1 |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | |

### Port Adelaide

1956 South Australian state election: Port Adelaide :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | James Stephens | 16,321 | 77.8 |
| | Labor (A-C) | Brian Crowe | 3,461 | 16.5 |
| | Communist | Alan Finger | 1,185 | 5.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 20,967 | 95.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 916 | 4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,883 | 93.7 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | James Stephens | | 82.1 |
| | Labor (A-C) | Brian Crowe | | 17.9 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |
* Two candidate preferred vote was estimated.

### Port Pirie

1956 South Australian state election: Port Pirie :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Charles Davis | unopposed | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | | |

### Ridley

1956 South Australian state election: Ridley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Tom Stott | 2,638 | 42.7 |
| | Liberal and Country | Cyril Tunbridge | 2,054 | 33.2 |
| | Labor | Arnold Busbridge | 1,487 | 24.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,179 | 99.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 65 | 1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,244 | 96.6 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Independent | Tom Stott | 3,771 | 61.0 |
| | Liberal and Country | Cyril Tunbridge | 2,408 | 39.0 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |

### Rocky River

1956 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

1956 South Australian state election: Semaphore :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Harold Tapping | unopposed | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | | |

### Stirling

1956 South Australian state election: Stirling :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | William Jenkins | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | | |

### Stuart

1956 South Australian state election: Stuart :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Lindsay Riches | unopposed | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | | |

### Torrens

1956 South Australian state election: Torrens :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal and Country | John Coumbe | 10,601 | 51.3 |
| | Labor | George Seager | 8,382 | 40.6 |
| | Labor (A-C) | Olaf Alland | 1,674 | 8.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 20,657 | 98.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 336 | 1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,993 | 93.6 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal and Country | John Coumbe | | 58.2 |
| | Labor | George Seager | | 41.8 |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | |
* Two party preferred vote was estimated.

### Unley

1956 South Australian state election: Unley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal and Country | Colin Dunnage | 10,900 | 53.6 |
| | Labor | Cyril Hasse | 7,868 | 38.7 |
| | Labor (A-C) | Francis Ryan | 1,566 | 7.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 20,334 | 98.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 386 | 1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,720 | 93.6 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal and Country | Colin Dunnage | | 60.2 |
| | Labor | Cyril Hasse | | 39.8 |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | |
* Two party preferred vote was estimated.

### Victoria

1956 South Australian state election: Victoria :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal and Country | Leslie Harding | 3,841 | 61.7 |
| | Labor | Victor Sparrow | 2,385 | 38.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,226 | 98.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 90 | 1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,316 | 94.1 |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | |

### Wallaroo

1956 South Australian state election: Wallaroo :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal and Country | Leslie Heath | 2,971 | 47.2 |
| | Labor | Robert Butler | 2,808 | 44.6 |
| | Independent | Arthur Clarke | 515 | 8.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,294 | 99.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 62 | 1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,356 | 96.3 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal and Country | Leslie Heath | 3,271 | 52.0 |
| | Labor | Robert Butler | 3,023 | 48.0 |
| | Liberal and Country gain from Labor | Liberal and Country gain from Labor | Swing | |

### West Torrens

1956 South Australian state election: West Torrens :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Fred Walsh | 10,542 | 50.4 |
| | Liberal and Country | Frank Potter | 8,898 | 42.5 |
| | Labor (A-C) | Patrick McEwen | 1,490 | 7.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 20,930 | 98.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 405 | 1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,335 | 93.1 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Fred Walsh | | 51.4 |
| | Liberal and Country | Frank Potter | | 48.6 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |
* Two party preferred vote was estimated.

### Whyalla

1956 South Australian state election: Whyalla :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Ron Loveday | unopposed | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | | |

### Yorke Peninsula

1956 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 | | |