1961-1973 added only - will add 1974-1985 progressively.

General notes:

  • Southport state by-election, 1987 and Redlands state by-election, 1985 were two good examples produced from a process very similar to this some time ago for the Queensland by-elections. Murdoch state by-election, 2008 is a fairly complete article from WA.
  • Each by-election is grouped by parliament. This leaves the option of making nifty navboxes like the ones at the bottom of the Queensland ones above.
  • The "Re-member bio links" are to Re-member (a database of all Victorian MPs since 1851). Parliament of Victoria. You may not need them at all, but they're there in case you do, as it was an easy job mass-hunting them all. This is meant to be a one stop shop rather than "every last little bit here must go in" :)
  • The citations are ready to be used in their current format.

42nd Parliament (1961–1964)

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Parties and results are confirmed at Hughes, Colin A. (1976). Voting for the Victorian Legislative Assembly, 1890-1964. Canberra: Australian National University. p. 392. ISBN 0-7081-1332-X. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

No change

Summary
Key dates

"Legislative Assembly" (PDF). Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 10 April 1962. p. 1962:999.

  • 10 April 1962 - Issue of writs
  • 27 April 1962 - Close of nominations
  • 12 May 1962 - Polling day
  • 23 May 1962 - Return of writs
Results

Source: Chief Electoral Officer of Victoria (1964). Statistics relating to the general election held on Saturday 27 June 1964 (6947/64). p. 156.

Clyde Holding (ALP)     9,347 (65.94%) +4.99%
Leo Gardner (DLP)       3,802 (26.82%) +1.06%
Stirling Davis (Ind Lab)  897 ( 6.33%) +6.33%
John Murray (Aust Rep)    129 ( 0.91%) +0.91%
|
Formal votes           14,175 (96.14%) +1.75%
Informal votes            569 ( 3.86%) –1.75%
Total votes            14,744 (84.01% of enrolled) –7.48%

(A Communist Party of Australia candidate earned 5.18% in the 1961 general election.)

Write-up in PC

Jupp, James (November 1962). "Australian Political Chronicle: January-June 1962". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 8 (2): 232. ISSN 0004-9522.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

In the Assembly, the depleted ALP ranks were further thinned by the death of Mr. Towers, MLA for over twenty years in the Collingwood and, later, Richmond, seats. His successor, Mr. Clyde Holding, had an easy victory on 12 May in a seat which had been held by the DLP between 1955 and 1958, but is now absolutely safe for the ALP. Mr. Holding became the youngest member of the state parliamentary ALP but had to wait four months for parliament to reassemble before he could take any part in debates.

Notes

Holding later became opposition leader from 1967 to 1977

Liberal --> Labor; first victory since 1955 split

Summary
Key dates

"Legislative Assembly" (PDF). Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 28 June 1962. p. 1962:2307.

  • 28 June 1962 - Issue of writs
  • 17 July 1962 - Close of nominations
  • 4 August 1962 - Polling day
  • 17 August 1962 - Return of writs
Results

Source: Chief Electoral Officer of Victoria (1964). Statistics relating to the general election held on Saturday 27 June 1964 (6947/64). pp. 157–159.

John Wilton (ALP)    22,700 (54.26%) +9.05%
Frank Robinson (LIB) 11,737 (28.05%) –6.92%
John Donnellon (DLP)  7,185 (17.17%) –2.11%
John Phillips (REP)     217  (0.52%) +0.52%
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Formal votes         41,839 (98.39%) +0.90%
Informal votes          686  (1.61%) –0.90%
Total votes          42,525 (91.13% of enrolled) +3.81%


Write-up in PC

Jupp, James (May 1963). "Australian Political Chronicle: June-December 1962". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 9 (1): 94, 97. ISSN 0004-9522.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

94 - The latter half of 1962 was less than satisfactory for Premier Bolte, though his control over the Government of the State remained unimpaired. [...] But in August Mr. Bolte lost the State Electorate of Broadmeadows to the ALP, the first electoral defeat he has suffered since 1955.

97 - The State Government suffered its first by-election defeat on August 4th. Mr. J. T. Wilton, the ALP candidate, took the place of the late Mr. Kane, MLA for Broadmeadows since 1955. Broadmeadows, which contains the largest Housing Commission development on Melbourne’s outskirts, was clearly destined to become Labor at any time. Layoffs at the Ford factory, the increase of Commission tenants, together with such transitory influences as the collapse of King Street Bridge in the previous month, all helped Mr. Wilton substantially. Nevertheless, his vote of 54.6% of the total compared to 45% for Labor in 1961, was a very substantial improvement. The Liberal vote dropped drastically to 27.7%, and the DLP less noticeably to 17%. The Victorian ALP, chalking up its first victory since the split of 1955, was jubilant.

The King Street Bridge case it refers to (from p.94:)

In July, the King Street Bridge, an important if structurally unspectacular addition to the southern exit from the City of Melbourne, collapsed under the load of a solitary, early morning semi-trailer. The centre of divided responsibilities between the Country Roads Board, the Public Works Department and the Melbourne City Council, Kings Street Bridge became a symbol of Mr. Bolte’s Utopia for the State Government when it was built, and for the State Opposition when it collapsed.

Notes

In 1961, the Liberal candidate had won on preferences, despite gaining 34.97% to Labor's 45.21%.

No change

Summary
Key dates

"Legislative Assembly" (PDF). Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 24 September 1962. p. 1962:3347.

  • 24 September 1962 - Issue of writs
  • 10 October 1962 - Close of nominations
  • 27 October 1962 - Polling day
  • 12 November 1962 - Return of writs
Results

Source: Chief Electoral Officer of Victoria (1964). Statistics relating to the general election held on Saturday 27 June 1964 (6947/64). pp. 160–164.

(not sure of parties, they weren't marked - will find out this info soon)

Milton Whiting    (CP)  8,723 (45.46%) –13.01%
Arthur Lawton     (ALP) 6,030 (31.42%) + 8.16%
Geoffrey Harding  (LIB) 2,488 (12.97%) + 4.12%
William McInerney (DLP) 1,489 ( 7.76%) – 1.67%
George Eggleton   (IND)   460 ( 2.40%) + 2.40% 
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Formal votes 19,190 (98.22%) +0.78%
Informal votes 348  ( 1.78%) –0.78%
Total votes 19,538  (93.62% of enrolled) –1.73%
Notes

Same PC as Broadmeadows, p.97:

The other State by-election, at Mildura, was in a Country Party stronghold in which the Labor vote has consistently fallen for ten years. Here, too, the swing to the ALP was substantial, nearly equalling the 9% in Broadmeadows. But the Country Party candidate, Mr M. S. Whiting, was comfortably returned on DLP preferences.

43rd Parliament (1964–1967)

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No change

Summary
Key dates

"Legislative Assembly" (PDF). Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 6 August 1965. p. 1965:2527.

  • 6 August 1965 - Issue of writs
  • 27 August 1965 - Close of nominations
  • 18 September 1965 - Polling day
  • 1 October 1965 - Return of writs
Results

Source:

  • Chief Electoral Officer of Victoria (1967). Statistics relating to the general election held on Saturday 29 April 1967 (4944/67). pp. 181–182.
  • Hughes, Colin A. (1981). Voting for the Australian state lower houses, 1965-1974. Canberra: Australian National University. p. 66. ISBN 0-9095-9673-5.

Seat mainly consisted of the suburbs of Caulfield and Malvern.

Ian McLaren (LIB)    10,686 (64.88%) +7.81%
Robert Vernon (ALP)   5,784 (35.12%) +5.48%
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Formal votes         16,470 (98.67%) +0.37%
Informal votes          222  (1.33%) –0.37%
Total votes          16,972 (78.79% of enrolled) –14.00%

(At the 1964 election, a DLP candidate Celia Laird obtained 13.29% of the vote. Labor candidate was the same as in 1964.)

Write-up in PC

Staley, Tony (April 1966). "Australian Political Chronicle: September-December 1965". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 12 (1): 86. ISSN 0004-9522.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

In (an) almost unnoticed by-election (20 per cent failed to vote) a Liberal candidate was returned. The only interest was (that) neither the Liberal nor ALP candidate appeared to make any significant gain from the votes of DLP supporters.

No change

Summary
Key dates

"Legislative Assembly: Issue of writ for the by-election for the Electoral District of Grant" (PDF). Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 9 September 1966. p. 1966:3297.

  • 9 September 1966 - Issue of writs
  • 21 September 1966 - Close of nominations
  • 8 October 1966 - Polling day
  • 21 October 1966 - Return of writs
Results

Source:

  • Chief Electoral Officer of Victoria (1967). Statistics relating to the general election held on Saturday 29 April 1967 (4944/67). pp. 183–184.
  • Hughes, Colin A. (1981). Voting for the Australian state lower houses, 1965-1974. Canberra: Australian National University. p. 66. ISBN 0-9095-9673-5.

This source also says seat included the suburbs of Albion, Altona, Brooklyn, Deer Park, Laverton, St Albans, Sunshine and Werribee.

Jack Ginifer (ALP)   25,666 (72.42%) +16.38%
James Davies (Repub)  9,774 (27.58%) +27.58%
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Formal votes         35,440 (94.97%) – 1.22%
Informal votes        1,879  (5.03%) + 1.22%
Total votes          37,319 (72.36% of enrolled) –22.06%
Write-up

There is none.

44th Parliament (1967–1970)

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No change

Summary
Key dates

"Legislative Assembly: Issue of writ for the by-election for the Electoral District of Swan Hill" (PDF). Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 8 August 1968. p. 1968:2881.

  • 8 August 1968 - Issue of writs
  • 27 August 1968 - Close of nominations
  • 14 September 1968 - Polling day
  • 4 October 1968 - Return of writs
Results

Source:

  • Chief Electoral Officer of Victoria (1970). Statistics relating to the general election held on Saturday 30 May 1970.
  • Hughes, Colin A. (1981). Voting for the Australian state lower houses, 1965-1974. Canberra: Australian National University. p. 72. ISBN 0-9095-9673-5.
Henry Broad (CP)      8,080 (47.94%)  –9.23     2pp 9,492 (56.32)
Gordon Harrison (LIB) 4,424 (26.25%) +14.72     2pp 7,362 (43.68)
Jack McLean (ALP)     4,350 (25.81%) +11.16
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Formal votes         16,854 (94.97%)  +0.94
Informal votes          244  (1.43%)  –0.94
Total votes          17,098 (91.92% of enrolled) –3.72

(DLP got 16.64% in 1967)

Write-up in PC

Holmes, Jean (April 1969). "Australian Political Chronicle: September-December 1968". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 15 (1): 94–95. ISSN 0004-9522.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

A by-election held at Swan Hill on 14 September was notable mainly for the opportunity it gave the Labor Party to try out its new policy of no preference support to the Country Party. A wheat and irrigation electorate, Swan Hill district has been regarded as a blue ribbon Country Party seat, and at the last general election held in 1967 that party won the seat outright. Such a victory was unlikely this time however, and the preference issue was therefore vital. The campaign itself was dull, enlivened only by a report quoting the premier [Henry Bolte] as promising a meeting that the law relating to butter and margarine would soon be amended when parliament met, because ‘in 1968 we should be eating bread and butter, and not be back in the depression days of bread and dripping.’ His sentiments met with approval in rural areas, but low income earners in metropolitan areas and pensioners reacted sharply to the suggestion that today butter appeared on all tables. Voting was close, with the CP candidate winning 8085 primary votes, the Liberal Party candidate 4427 and the ALP candidate 4361 votes. Only a 20% drift of Labor’s second preference votes from the Liberal to the Country Party candidate saved the seat for the Country Party, and both the premier and the leader of the opposition agreed gleefully that rural seats were now more ‘fluid’ than they had been. [Clyde] Holding [Opposition leader since 1967] served notice on the Country Party that its ‘hard line’ preference stood, a policy which threatens at least 2 seats in the house of representatives and 4 in the state parliament. It aims at weakening the Country Party and building up the Labor Party’s own rural organisation, with the ultimate objective of creating a two-party system in Victoria, and Labor launched a full scale all-state rural campaign on 5 December to this end.

Square brackets are my own notes.

No change

Summary
Key dates

"Legislative Assembly" (PDF). Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 7 October 1969. p. 1969:3355.

  • 7 October 1969 - Issue of writs
  • 27 October 1969 - Close of nominations
  • 15 November 1969 - Polling day (cancelled)
  • 2 December 1969 - Return of writs
Results

Source: Chief Electoral Officer of Victoria (1970). Statistics relating to the general election held on Saturday 30 May 1970.

Jim Simmonds was elected unopposed at the close of nominations on 27 October 1969.

No write-up. (as expected, as no polling took place)

Liberal --> Labor

Summary
Key dates

"Legislative Assembly" (PDF). Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 11 November 1969. p. 1969:3781.

  • 11 November 1969 - Issue of writs
  • 24 November 1969 - Close of nominations
  • 6 December 1969 - Polling day
  • 19 December 1969 - Return of writs
Results

Source:

  • Chief Electoral Officer of Victoria (1970). Statistics relating to the general election held on Saturday 30 May 1970.
  • Hughes, Colin A. (1981). Voting for the Australian state lower houses, 1965-1974. Canberra: Australian National University. p. 72. ISBN 0-9095-9673-5.
Alan Lind (ALP)                  16,149 (56.78%) +13.77
Wallace Werrett (LIB)            11,681 (41.07%) – 0.58
Cornelius Dubbeld (Republican)      613 ( 2.16%) + 2.16
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Formal votes                     28,443 (97.71%) + 0.77
Informal votes                      666 ( 2.29%) – 0.77
Total votes                      29,109 (89.63%) – 5.87

(DLP had gotten 15.34% at 1967 election. Lind had been Labor candidate at 1967 election - 2pp on that occasion 46.77)

Write-up in PC

Holmes, Jean (April 1970). "Australian Political Chronicle: September-December 1969". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 16 (1): 85. ISSN 0004-9522.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

A by-election for the Dandenong electorate held on 6 December resulted in a heavy swing to Labor, a pointer to the Liberals’ likely fate if Sir Henry persisted in risking an early poll. [...] As the premier said, "Defeat makes you re-think your policies. It makes you pull up your socks a little."

On page 90:

It would be impossible to make much of the federal election result as a guide to the state elections due to be held here in May 1970. The premier insisted that his government could be certain of holding forty of its forty-four seats despite the federal swing, and Mr. Holding in turn insisted that there would be a further swing to Labor by then. A by-election held on 6 December for the Dandenong electorate, held previously by the Liberal party, gave a landslide victory to the Labor candidate Mr. Alan Lind, fourteen per cent more than his 1967 election vote. [...] The Liberal share of the poll was much the same as it had scored in the October federal election, but Labor appeared to have captured most of the twelve per cent DLP votes recorded then, to give it the commanding lead. Mr. Lind has topped the primary vote on previous polls, but DLP preferences have always given the seat to his Liberal opponent. It's a pointer for the May results.

45th Parliament (1970–1973)

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No change

Summary

Liberal candidate was former East Yarra Province MLC Rupert Hamer.

Key dates

"Legislative Assembly" (PDF). Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 22 March 1971. p. 1971:687.

  • 22 March 1971 - Issue of writs
  • 30 March 1971 - Close of nominations
  • 17 April 1971 - Polling day
  • 3 May 1971 - Return of writs
Results

Source:

  • Chief Electoral Officer of Victoria (1973). Statistics relating to the general election held on Saturday 19 May 1973 (7960/73). p. 156.
  • Hughes, Colin A. (1981). Voting for the Australian state lower houses, 1965-1974. Canberra: Australian National University. p. 94. ISBN 0-9095-9673-5.
Rupert Hamer (LIB)     13,422 (64.80%) +23.10%
Rosslyn Ives (ALP)      6,325 (30.53%) +4.77%
Laurence Hull (Cong*)     968 ( 4.67%) +4.67%  (Congress Movement)
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Formal votes           20,715 (97.66%) +0.81%
Informal votes            497 ( 2.34%) –0.81%
Total votes            21,212 (82.76% of enrolled) –10.23%

(In 1970, the DLP got 13.82%, Progressive Reform got 11.29% and an Ind got 7.43%. The Lib 2PP in 1970 was 59.41%.)1

Write-up in PC

Holmes, Jean (August 1971). "Australian Political Chronicle: January-April 1971". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 17 (2): 278. ISSN 0004-9522.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

"The end of an era" was the phrase that seemed relevant to the announcement of his retirement by Victoria's deputy premier and Sir Henry Bolte's right hand man, Sir Arthur Rylah, on 2 February. [...] Sir Arthur had no sooner announced his decision when he was stricken with a cerebral haemorrhage and on the critically ill list for many weeks, a sad ending to a full political career. He has made a slow recovery and now faces a long convalescence.

The deputy premier's retirement was the signal for the minister for local government, Hon. R. J. Hamer, to make his first serious move towards eventual Liberal party leadership by resigning from the upper House to contest the by-election for Sir Arthur's blue ribbon Liberal seat of Kew. Mr Hamer won the by-election decisively, gaining almost 65% of the vote, against an ALP vote of 30.5%, with 4.7% going to an independent candidate. He then went on to defeat other leading ministers in the party for election as deputy leader on 20 April, and as the final accolade to a most successful run was publicly acclaimed as heir apparent by Sir Henry Bolte.

No change

Summary

Liberal candidate was Athol Guy, former member of The Seekers.

Key dates

"Legislative Assembly" (PDF). Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 3 November 1971. p. 1971:3533.

  • 3 November 1971 - Issue of writs
  • 25 November 1971 - Close of nominations
  • 11 December 1971 - Polling day
  • 24 December 1971 - Return of writs
Results

Source:

  • Chief Electoral Officer of Victoria (1973). Statistics relating to the general election held on Saturday 19 May 1973 (7960/73). p. 157-159.
  • Hughes, Colin A. (1981). Voting for the Australian state lower houses, 1965-1974. Canberra: Australian National University. p. 94. ISBN 0-9095-9673-5.
Ernest Jamieson (ALP)   9,386 (41.61%)  +3.52%     2pp 10,192 (45.19%) +5.01%
Athol Guy       (Lib)   8,262 (36.63%) –10.54%     2pp 12,363 (54.81%) -5.01%
Maurice Flynn   (DLP)   3,367 (14.93%)  +1.94%
Peter Holzgrefe (Ind)   1,540 ( 6.83%)  +6.83%
|
Formal votes           22,555 (97.86%)  +0.74%
Informal votes            494 ( 2.14%)  –0.74%
Total votes            23,049 (85.29% of enrolled) –9.28%

(In 1970, an Ind got 1.75%.)

Write-up

Holmes, Jean (April 1972). "Australian Political Chronicle: September-December 1971". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 18 (1): 110. ISSN 0004-9522.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

The Liberals faced a by-election in Gisborne during the period, consequent upon Julian Doyle's retirement. Their candidate was a surprise choice for state politics — Athol Guy, former member of the Seekers pop group, but a favourite performer of the Premier. He scraped in by 2171 votes after the distribution of DLP preferences, a marked change from Mr. Doyle's 47 per cent primary vote in 1970. However it is hard to decide if the by-election is much of a pointer for this year's federal election, for Mr. Doyle had a strong personal following and the rather unorthodox Mr. Guy may have seemed a strange candidate by comparison. The Liberals received 84 per cent of DLP preferences at the by-election.

No change

Summary
  • Elected unopposed on close of nominations on 9 June 1972.
  • Melbourne

On 9 May 1972, the Labor member for Melbourne, Arthur Clarey, died. Labor candidate Barry Jones was elected unopposed at the close of nominations for the resulting by-election on 9 June 1972.

Key dates

"Legislative Assembly" (PDF). Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 19 May 1972. p. 1972:1659.

  • 19 May 1972 - Issue of writs
  • 9 June 1972 - Close of nominations
  • 1 July 1972 - Polling day (cancelled)
  • 17 July 1972 - Return of writs
Results

Source: Chief Electoral Officer of Victoria (1973). Statistics relating to the general election held on Saturday 19 May 1973 (7960/73). p. 160.

Barry Jones was elected unopposed at the close of nominations on 9 June 1972.

No write-up. (as expected, as no polling took place)

No change

Summary
Key dates

"Legislative Assembly" (PDF). Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 4 September 1972. p. 1972:3029.

  • 4 September 1972 - Issue of writs
  • 19 September 1972 - Close of nominations
  • 7 October 1972 - Polling day
  • 24 October 1972 - Return of writs
Results

Source:

  • Chief Electoral Officer of Victoria (1973). Statistics relating to the general election held on Saturday 19 May 1973 (7960/73). p. 160-165.
  • Hughes, Colin A. (1981). Voting for the Australian state lower houses, 1965-1974. Canberra: Australian National University. p. 94. ISBN 0-9095-9673-5.
Ray Blizzard     (ALP)  5,872 (36.58%)  +5.56%     2pp 6,379 (39.74%) +5.01%
Thomas Austin    (LIB)  5,616 (34.99%)  –7.92%     2pp 9,672 (60.26%) -5.01%
Alan Plant       (CP)   3,278 (20.42%)  +4.26%
Francis O'Brien  (DLP)  1,113 ( 6.93%)  –2.89%
Ivan Maddern     (Ind)    172 ( 1.07%)  +1.07%
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Formal votes           16,051 (98.82%)  +0.53%
Informal votes            191 ( 1.18%)  –0.53%
Total votes            16,242 (91.58% of enrolled) –4.52%

No write-up.

46th Parliament (1973–1976)

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No change

Summary
Key dates

"Legislative Assembly" (PDF). Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 17 September 1973. p. 1973:3231.

  • 17 September 1973 - Issue of writs
  • 25 September 1973 - Close of nominations
  • 13 October 1973 - Polling day
  • 26 October 1973 - Return of writs
Results

Source:

  • Chief Electoral Officer of Victoria (1976). Statistics relating to the general election held on Saturday 20 March 1976 (4792/76). p. 146-147.
  • Chief Electoral Officer of Victoria (1973). Statistics relating to the general election held on Saturday 19 May 1973 (7960/73). p. 79-81.
  • Hughes, Colin A. (1981). Voting for the Australian state lower houses, 1965-1974. Canberra: Australian National University. ISBN 0-9095-9673-5.
Monte Vale    (LIB)    20,323 (47.29%) +4.90%
Bob Fell      (ALP)    17,724 (41.24%) –2.59%
Flora Miller  (Aust P)  2,533 ( 5.89%) +0.06%
Chris Curtis  (DLP)     2,395 ( 5.57%) –1.03%
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Formal votes           42,975 (98.72%) +1.00%
Informal votes            559 ( 1.28%) –1.00%
Total votes            43,534 (88.20% of enrolled) –5.99%

Original election result

Bob Fell      (ALP)    19,155 (43.83%)        2pp 21848
Monte Vale    (LIB)    18,524 (42.39%)        2pp 21853
Ernest Dobson (DLP)     2,886 ( 6.60%)
Flora Miller  (Aust P)  2,546 ( 5.83%)
David Close   (SJP)       590 ( 1.35%)        Social Justice Party
|
Formal votes           43,701 (97.72%)
Informal votes          1,018 ( 2.28%)
Total votes            44,719 (94.19% of enrolled)

Holmes, Jean (April 1974). "Australian Political Chronicle: September-December 1973". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 20 (1): 87. ISSN 0004-9522.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

Hamer consolidated his May election victory by winning a by-election for Greensborough on 13 October, polling 47.3 per cent of the vote. The general election in May had produced a stalemate in this electorate, and the swing since then to the Liberals must put a question mark against the Labor-held federal seat of Diamond Valley extending over similar boundaries, especially since the ALP vote in the by-election declined by 2.5 per cent compared with its May total.