# Electoral results for the Division of East Sydney

This is a list of electoral results for the Division of East Sydney in Australian federal elections from the division's creation in 1901 until its abolition in 1969.

## Members

| Member | Party | Term |
| George Reid | Free Trade, Anti-Socialist | 1901–1909 |
| George Reid | Liberal | 1909–1910 |
| John West | Labor | 1910–1931 |
| Eddie Ward | Labor (NSW) | 1931 by–1931 |
| John Clasby | United Australia | 1931–1932 |
| Eddie Ward | Labor (NSW) | 1932 by–1936 |
| Eddie Ward | Labor | 1936–1963 |
| Len Devine | Labor | 1963 by–1969 |

## Election results
### Elections in the 1960s
#### 1966

1966 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Len Devine | 15,004 | 52.9 | -8.3 |
| | Liberal | William Berman | 10,636 | 37.5 | +4.4 |
| | Democratic Labor | Mel Antcliff | 1,807 | 6.4 | +6.4 |
| | Communist | Bill Brown | 940 | 3.3 | -2.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 28,387 | 94.3 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,731 | 5.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,118 | 90.3 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Len Devine | | 57.0 | -9.4 |
| | Liberal | William Berman | | 43.0 | +9.4 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -9.4 | |

#### 1963

1963 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Len Devine | 19,779 | 61.2 | -6.6 |
| | Liberal | William Foster | 10,711 | 33.1 | +11.1 |
| | Communist | Bill Brown | 1,827 | 5.7 | +2.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 32,317 | 97.3 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 885 | 2.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,202 | 91.8 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Len Devine | | 66.4 | -5.5 |
| | Liberal | William Foster | | 33.6 | +5.5 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -5.5 | |

#### 1963 by-election

East Sydney by-election, 1963 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Len Devine | 19,704 | 80.7 | +12.9 |
| | Independent Liberal | Vernon Luckman | 2,233 | 9.1 | +9.1 |
| | Independent | Leslie Bond | 1,224 | 5.0 | +5.0 |
| | Property Owners | Hazen Cook | 699 | 2.9 | +2.9 |
| | Republican | John Phillips | 546 | 2.2 | +2.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 24,406 | 94.9 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,305 | 5.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 25,711 | 71.9 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Len Devine | | 85.1 | +13.2 |
| | Independent Liberal | Vernon Luckman | | 14.9 | +14.9 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +13.2 | |

#### 1961

1961 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | 21,999 | 67.8 | +4.6 |
| | Liberal | John Folbigg | 7,137 | 22.0 | -0.8 |
| | Democratic Labor | Joseph Bergin | 2,276 | 7.0 | +0.6 |
| | Communist | Bill Brown | 1,030 | 3.2 | -4.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 32,442 | 96.3 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,247 | 3.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,689 | 91.9 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | | 71.9 | +1.5 |
| | Liberal | John Folbigg | | 28.1 | -1.5 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +1.5 | |

### Elections in the 1950s
#### 1958

1958 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | 22,377 | 63.2 | -0.4 |
| | Liberal | Derek Montefiore-Castle | 8,059 | 22.8 | -5.2 |
| | Communist | Eddie Maher | 2,703 | 7.6 | -0.7 |
| | Democratic Labor | Mervyn Reid | 2,283 | 6.4 | +6.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 35,422 | 95.6 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,633 | 4.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,055 | 91.3 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | | 70.4 | +0.2 |
| | Liberal | Derek Montefiore-Castle | | 29.6 | -0.2 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +0.2 | |

#### 1955

1955 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | 24,859 | 63.6 | -3.4 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Landor | 10,953 | 28.0 | -0.4 |
| | Communist | Bill Brown | 3,251 | 8.3 | +3.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 39,063 | 96.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,642 | 4.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,705 | 92.2 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | | 70.2 | -0.9 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Landor | | 29.8 | +0.9 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -0.9 | |

#### 1954

1954 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | 19,282 | 58.0 | +3.1 |
| | Liberal | George Chambers | 12,068 | 36.3 | -8.8 |
| | Communist | Bill Brown | 1,904 | 5.7 | +5.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 33,254 | 98.2 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 600 | 1.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,854 | 94.8 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | | 62.2 | +7.3 |
| | Liberal | George Chambers | | 37.8 | -7.3 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +7.3 | |

#### 1951

1951 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | 20,379 | 54.9 | -2.1 |
| | Liberal | Allan Stewart | 16,767 | 45.1 | +6.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 37,146 | 97.5 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 961 | 2.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,107 | 94.2 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -3.1 | |

### Elections in the 1940s
#### 1949

1949 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | 22,496 | 57.0 | -4.8 |
| | Liberal | John Mant | 15,398 | 39.0 | +5.9 |
| | Independent | William Dalton | 1,552 | 3.9 | +3.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 39,446 | 97.5 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,015 | 2.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,461 | 95.5 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | | 58.0 | -6.3 |
| | Liberal | John Mant | | 42.0 | +6.3 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -6.3 | |

#### 1946

1946 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | 37,863 | 65.5 | -3.5 |
| | Liberal | Ivan Dougherty | 16,348 | 28.3 | +4.8 |
| | Protestant People | Wal Campbell | 3,578 | 6.2 | +6.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 57,789 | 97.1 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,716 | 2.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,505 | 92.0 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | | 67.6 | -3.4 |
| | Liberal | Ivan Dougherty | | 32.4 | +3.4 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -3.4 | |

#### 1943

1943 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | 36,531 | 69.0 | +19.9 |
| | United Australia | Vincent Brady | 12,430 | 23.5 | -7.0 |
| | Liberal Democratic | Hugh Angrave | 2,377 | 4.5 | +4.5 |
| | One Parliament | Ernest Carr | 1,141 | 2.2 | +2.2 |
| | Independent | Arthur Shirley | 494 | 0.9 | +0.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 52,973 | 96.4 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,967 | 3.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,940 | 94.8 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | | 71.0 | +4.9 |
| | United Australia | Vincent Brady | | 29.0 | -4.9 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +4.9 | |

#### 1940

1940 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | 23,685 | 49.1 | -6.9 |
| | United Australia | Lewis Nott | 12,211 | 25.3 | -9.7 |
| | Labor (N-C) | Steve Gould | 5,547 | 11.5 | +11.5 |
| | United Australia | James Catts | 2,508 | 5.2 | +5.2 |
| | Independent | Fred Aarons | 2,264 | 4.7 | +4.7 |
| | Independent | Diana Gould | 1,867 | 3.9 | +3.9 |
| | Atokist | Louis Phillips | 187 | 0.4 | +0.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 48,269 | 95.3 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,386 | 4.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,655 | 90.5 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | | 66.1 | +8.1 |
| | United Australia | Lewis Nott | | 33.9 | -8.1 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +8.1 | |

### Elections in the 1930s
#### 1937

1937 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | 28,484 | 56.0 | +51.3 |
| | United Australia | Arthur Butterell | 20,429 | 40.2 | -2.1 |
| | Independent | Thomas Grant | 1,603 | 3.2 | +3.2 |
| | Independent | Louis Phillips | 348 | 0.7 | +0.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 50,864 | 97.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,587 | 3.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,451 | 93.7 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | | 58.0 | +58.0 |
| | United Australia | Arthur Butterell | | 42.0 | -2.1 |
| | Labor gain from Labor (NSW) | Labor gain from Labor (NSW) | Swing | +2.1 | |

#### 1934

1934 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor (NSW) | Eddie Ward | 25,567 | 49.9 | +3.9 |
| | United Australia | Arthur Butterell | 21,686 | 42.3 | +1.2 |
| | Labor | George Laughlan | 2,400 | 4.7 | -8.2 |
| | Communist | Bill McDougall | 1,592 | 3.1 | +3.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 51,245 | 96.1 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,070 | 3.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,315 | 92.0 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor (NSW) | Eddie Ward | | 55.9 | +0.2 |
| | United Australia | Arthur Butterell | | 44.1 | -0.2 |
| | Labor (NSW) hold | Labor (NSW) hold | Swing | +0.2 | |

#### 1932 by-election

East Sydney by-election, 1932 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor (NSW) | Eddie Ward | 17,461 | 47.0 | +4.6 |
| | United Australia | William McCall | 16,304 | 43.9 | -0.3 |
| | Labor | Lou Cunningham | 2,817 | 7.6 | -5.7 |
| | Communist | Jack Miles | 597 | 1.6 | +1.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 37,179 | 97.3 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,018 | 2.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,197 | 85.6 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor (NSW) | Eddie Ward | 18,676 | 50.2 | +1.9 |
| | United Australia | William McCall | 18,503 | 49.8 | -1.9 |
| | Labor (NSW) gain from United Australia | Labor (NSW) gain from United Australia | Swing | +1.9 | |

#### 1931

1931 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United Australia | John Clasby | 16,977 | 44.2 | +12.6 |
| | Labor (NSW) | Eddie Ward | 16,291 | 42.4 | +42.4 |
| | Labor | George Buckland | 5,112 | 13.3 | -55.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 38,380 | 96.2 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,514 | 3.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,894 | 91.7 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | United Australia | John Clasby | 19,831 | 51.7 | +11.7 |
| | Labor (NSW) | Eddie Ward | 18,549 | 48.3 | -11.7 |
| | United Australia gain from Labor | United Australia gain from Labor | Swing | +11.7 | |

#### 1931 by-election

East Sydney by-election, 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | 19,975 | 54.1 | -14.3 |
| | Nationalist | Lionel Courtenay | 16,333 | 44.2 | +12.6 |
| | Communist | Bill Mountjoy | 611 | 1.7 | +1.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 36,919 | 97.2 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,068 | 2.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,987 | 81.3 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Eddie Ward | | 55.7 | -14.3 |
| | Nationalist | Lionel Courtenay | | 44.3 | +14.3 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -14.3 | |

### Elections in the 1920s
#### 1929

1929 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John West | 25,105 | 68.4 | +10.0 |
| | Nationalist | Hyman Diamond | 11,583 | 31.6 | -10.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 36,688 | 96.2 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,451 | 3.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,139 | 89.1 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +10.0 | |

#### 1928

1928 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John West | 19,651 | 58.4 | +4.6 |
| | Nationalist | Julian Simpson | 13,994 | 41.6 | -4.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 33,645 | 94.8 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,852 | 5.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,497 | 87.9 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +4.6 | |

#### 1925

1925 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John West | 18,822 | 53.8 | -5.3 |
| | Nationalist | Richard Orchard | 16,169 | 46.2 | +5.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 34,991 | 98.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 729 | 2.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,720 | 85.6 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -5.3 | |

#### 1922

1922 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John West | 10,885 | 59.1 | +1.3 |
| | Nationalist | Sir Benjamin Fuller | 7,518 | 40.9 | -1.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 18,403 | 95.8 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 801 | 4.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,204 | 47.3 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +1.3 | |

### Elections in the 1910s
#### 1919

1919 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John West | 12,751 | 57.8 | -42.2 |
| | Nationalist | John Willson | 9,327 | 42.2 | +42.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 22,078 | 97.3 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 617 | 2.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,695 | 58.1 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -42.2 | |

#### 1917

1917 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John West | unopposed | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | | |

#### 1914

1914 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John West | 12,831 | 57.3 | +1.2 |
| | Liberal | Lindsay Thompson | 9,568 | 42.7 | -1.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 22,399 | 96.8 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 736 | 3.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,135 | 51.1 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +1.2 | |

#### 1913

1913 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John West | 14,174 | 56.1 | -0.1 |
| | Liberal | John Willson | 11,077 | 43.9 | +0.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 25,251 | 97.2 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 733 | 2.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 25,984 | 58.0 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -0.1 | |

#### 1910

1910 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John West | 10,487 | 57.1 | +12.0 |
| | Liberal | Samuel Lees | 7,890 | 42.9 | -12.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 18,377 | 99.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 181 | 1.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,558 | 58.9 | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | +12.0 | |

### Elections in the 1900s
#### 1906

1906 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Anti-Socialist | George Reid | 7,229 | 54.9 | -6.4 |
| | Labour | John West | 5,936 | 45.1 | +12.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 13,165 | 98.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 275 | 2.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,440 | 49.0 | |
| | Anti-Socialist hold | Anti-Socialist hold | Swing | -9.5 | |

#### 1903

1903 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Free Trade | George Reid | 8,103 | 61.3 | -6.7 |
| | Labour | Thomas Thrower | 4,308 | 32.6 | +32.6 |
| | Protectionist | Robert Peel | 799 | 6.1 | +6.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 13,210 | 97.3 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 362 | 2.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,572 | 38.8 | |
| | Free Trade hold | Free Trade hold | Swing | -7.9 | |

#### 1903 by-election

East Sydney by-election, 1903 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Free Trade | George Reid | 1,697 | 82.70 | +14.67 |
| | Protectionist | William Maguire | 259 | 12.62 | +12.62 |
| | Independent | John Blake | 96 | 4.68 | +4.68 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 2,052 | 98.99 | +2.32 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 21 | 1.01 | −2.32 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,763 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,073 | 15.06 | −46.65 |
| | Free Trade hold | Free Trade hold | Swing | +14.67 | |

#### 1901

1901 Australian federal election: East Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Free Trade | George Reid | 6,191 | 68.0 | +68.0 |
| | Ind. Protectionist | Harry Foran | 2,139 | 23.5 | +23.5 |
| | Ind. Protectionist | John Cleary | 517 | 5.7 | +5.7 |
| | Independent | James Toomey | 253 | 2.8 | +2.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,100 | 96.7 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 313 | 3.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,413 | 61.7 | |
| | Free Trade win | Free Trade win | (new seat) | (new seat) | (new seat) |