title: Electoral results for the district of Earlwood
text: # Electoral results for the district of Earlwood
  
  Earlwood, an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales was created in 1950 and abolished in 1991.
  
  | Election | Member | Party |
  | - | - | - |
  | 1950 | Eric Willis | Liberal |
  | 1953 | Eric Willis | Liberal |
  | 1959 | Eric Willis | Liberal |
  | 1962 | Eric Willis | Liberal |
  | 1965 | Eric Willis | Liberal |
  | 1968 | Eric Willis | Liberal |
  | 1971 | Eric Willis | Liberal |
  | 1973 | Eric Willis | Liberal |
  | 1976 | Eric Willis | Liberal |
  | 1978 by | Ken Gabb | Labor |
  | 1978 | Ken Gabb | Labor |
  | 1981 | Ken Gabb | Labor |
  | 1984 | Ken Gabb | Labor |
  | 1988 | Phil White | Liberal |
  
  ## Election results
  
  ### Elections in the 1980s
  
  **1988**
  
  1988 New South Wales state election: Earlwood :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Phil White | 15,528 | 51.3 | +8.5 |
  | | Labor | Ken Gabb | 14,764 | 48.7 | -5.7 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 30,292 | 95.7 | -1.5 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,353 | 4.3 | +1.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,645 | 95.6 | |
  | | Liberal gain from Labor | Liberal gain from Labor | Swing | +7.2 | |
  
  **1984**
  
  1984 New South Wales state election: Earlwood :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labor | Ken Gabb | 15,528 | 53.7 | -7.0 |
  | | Liberal | John Ryan | 12,534 | 43.3 | +6.7 |
  | | Democrats | Paul Terrett | 862 | 3.0 | +0.3 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 28,924 | 97.2 | +0.7 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 833 | 2.8 | -0.7 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,757 | 94.6 | +1.8 |
  | Two-party-preferred result ||||||
  | | Labor | Ken Gabb | | 55.2 | -7.0 |
  | | Liberal | John Ryan | | 44.8 | +7.0 |
  | | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -7.0 | |
  
  **1981**
  
  1981 New South Wales state election: Earlwood :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labor | Ken Gabb | 17,265 | 60.7 | +0.6 |
  | | Liberal | Shirley Watson | 10,404 | 36.6 | -1.2 |
  | | Democrats | Paul Terrett | 756 | 2.7 | +2.7 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 28,435 | 96.5 | |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,022 | 3.5 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,457 | 92.8 | |
  | Two-party-preferred result ||||||
  | | Labor | Ken Gabb | 17,465 | 62.2 | +0.6 |
  | | Liberal | Shirley Watson | 10,614 | 37.8 | -0.6 |
  | | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +0.6 | |
  
  ### Elections in the 1970s
  
  **1978**
  
  1978 New South Wales state election: Earlwood :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labor | Ken Gabb | 18,647 | 60.1 | +14.6 |
  | | Liberal | Alan Jones | 11,725 | 37.8 | -16.7 |
  | | Independent | Charles Bingle | 667 | 2.1 | +2.1 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 31,039 | 98.1 | -0.4 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 596 | 1.9 | +0.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,635 | 94.4 | -0.9 |
  | Two-party-preferred result ||||||
  | | Labor | Ken Gabb | 19,114 | 61.6 | +16.1 |
  | | Liberal | Alan Jones | 11,925 | 38.4 | -16.1 |
  | | Labor gain from Liberal | Labor gain from Liberal | Swing | +16.1 | |
  
  **1978 by-election**
  
  1978 Earlwood by-election Saturday 15 July :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labor | Ken Gabb | 15,168 | 52.62 | +7.17 |
  | | Liberal | Alan Jones | 12,118 | 42.04 | -12.51 |
  | | Democrats | Kerry Warr | 1,053 | 3.65 | |
  | | Independent | Neville Fleming | 269 | 0.93 | |
  | | Gay Liberation | Peter Blazey | 105 | 0.36 | |
  | | Independent | Charles Bingle | 52 | 0.18 | |
  | | Conservative | Josephine Mallett | 33 | 0.11 | |
  | | Independent | Edwin Bellchambers | 27 | 0.09 | |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 28,825 | 97.38 | -1.14 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 775 | 2.62 | +1.14 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,600 | 88.24 | -7.02 |
  | | Labor gain from Liberal | Labor gain from Liberal | Swing | +7.17 | |
  
  **1976**
  
  1976 New South Wales state election: Earlwood :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Eric Willis | 17,111 | 54.5 | +2.9 |
  | | Labor | Ken Gabb | 14,259 | 45.5 | +6.8 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 31,370 | 98.5 | +1.3 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 471 | 1.5 | -1.3 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,841 | 95.3 | +0.2 |
  | | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -2.2 | |
  
  **1973**
  
  1973 New South Wales state election: Earlwood :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Eric Willis | 15,498 | 51.6 | -5.7 |
  | | Labor | Colin Williams | 11,628 | 38.7 | -4.0 |
  | | Australia | Alexander Paterson | 1,566 | 5.2 | +5.2 |
  | | Democratic Labor | Doris Allison | 1,331 | 4.4 | +4.4 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 30,023 | 97.2 | |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 848 | 2.8 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,871 | 95.1 | |
  | Two-party-preferred result ||||||
  | | Liberal | Eric Willis | 17,033 | 56.7 | -0.6 |
  | | Labor | Colin Williams | 12,990 | 43.3 | +0.6 |
  | | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -0.6 | |
  
  **1971**
  
  1971 New South Wales state election: Earlwood :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Eric Willis | 14,815 | 57.3 | -5.4 |
  | | Labor | Barry Robinson | 11,044 | 42.7 | +5.4 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 25,859 | 97.9 | |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 544 | 2.1 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,403 | 95.8 | |
  | | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -5.4 | |
  
  ### Elections in the 1960s
  
  **1968**
  
  1968 New South Wales state election: Earlwood :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Eric Willis | 16,289 | 62.7 | +2.8 |
  | | Labor | Cavell Becher | 9,689 | 37.3 | -2.8 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 25,978 | 97.3 | |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 710 | 2.7 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,688 | 95.6 | |
  | | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.8 | |
  
  **1965**
  
  1965 New South Wales state election: Earlwood :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Eric Willis | 13,902 | 59.9 | +2.6 |
  | | Labor | Harry Chandler | 9,289 | 40.1 | −2.6 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 23,191 | 98.6 | −0.4 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 330 | 1.4 | +0.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,521 | 95.2 | −0.4 |
  | | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.6 | |
  
  **1962**
  
  1962 New South Wales state election: Earlwood :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Eric Willis | 13,286 | 57.3 | −1.1 |
  | | Labor | William Thompson | 9,918 | 42.7 | +1.1 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 23,204 | 99.0 | |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 230 | 1.0 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,434 | 95.6 | |
  | | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −1.1 | |
  
  ### Elections in the 1950s
  
  **1959**
  
  1959 New South Wales state election: Earlwood :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Eric Willis | 13,377 | 58.4 |
  | | Labor | John Buckeridge | 9,518 | 41.6 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 22,895 | 98.8 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 274 | 1.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,169 | 95.7 |
  | | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |
  
  **1956**
  
  1956 New South Wales state election: Earlwood :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Eric Willis | 14,561 | 58.0 | +7.7 |
  | | Labor | David Connors | 10,525 | 42.0 | −7.7 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 25,086 | 98.8 | +0.5 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 310 | 1.2 | −0.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 25,396 | 95.4 | −0.1 |
  | | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +7.7 | |
  
  **1953**
  
  1953 New South Wales state election: Earlwood :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Eric Willis | 11,844 | 50.3 |
  | | Labor | Arthur Higgins | 11,691 | 49.7 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 23,535 | 98.3 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 401 | 1.7 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,936 | 95.5 |
  | | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |
  
  **1950**
  
  1950 New South Wales state election: Earlwood :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Eric Willis | 11,774 | 55.5 |
  | | Labor | Arthur Higgins | 9,428 | 44.5 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 21,202 | 98.7 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 274 | 1.3 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,476 | 94.6 |
  | | Liberal notional hold | Liberal notional hold | | |
  