Electoral results for the district of Benalla
# Electoral results for the district of Benalla

This is a list of electoral results for the Electoral district of Benalla in Victorian state elections.

## Members for Benalla

| Member | Party | Term |
| - | - | - |
| John Carlisle | Comm Liberal | 1904–1917 |
| John Carlisle | Economy | 1917–1918 |
| John Carlisle | Nationalist | 1918–1920 |
| John Carlisle | Farmers Union | 1920–1920 |
| John Carlisle | Country | 1920-1926 |
| John Carlisle | Independent | 1926–1927 |
| Edward Cleary | Country | 1927–1930 |
| Edward Cleary | Country Progressive | 1930–1936 |
| Frederick Cook | Independent | 1936–1939 |
| Frederick Cook | Liberal-Country | 1939–1943 |
| Frederick Cook | Country | 1943–1961 |
| Tom Trewin | Country | 1961–1975 |
| Tom Trewin | National Country | 1975–1982 |
| Pat McNamara | National | 1982–2000 |
| Denise Allen | Labor | 2000–2002 |
| Bill Sykes | National | 2002–2014 |

## Election results

### Elections in the 2010s

2010 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Bill Sykes | 21,072 | 63.28 | +21.15 |
| | Labor | Rowena Allen | 6,124 | 18.39 | -6.81 |
| | Greens | Kammy Cordner Hunt | 2,756 | 8.28 | +1.18 |
| | Country Alliance | Rochelle Hunt | 2,546 | 7.65 | +7.65 |
| | Independent | Nicholas Williams | 804 | 2.41 | +2.41 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 33,302 | 95.97 | -0.50 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,398 | 4.03 | +0.50 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,700 | 93.82 | +0.67 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | National | Bill Sykes | 24,354 | 73.06 | +5.55 |
| | Labor | Rowena Allen | 8,978 | 26.94 | -5.55 |
| | National hold | National hold | Swing | +5.55 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

2006 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Bill Sykes | 13,533 | 42.1 | +15.6 |
| | Labor | Rob Mitchell | 8,094 | 25.2 | -16.1 |
| | Liberal | Hamish McMillan | 7,396 | 23.0 | -3.1 |
| | Greens | Kammy Cordner Hunt | 2,282 | 7.1 | +0.9 |
| | Family First | James A. Rainey | 819 | 2.5 | +2.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 32,124 | 96.4 | -1.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,211 | 3.6 | +1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,335 | 93.1 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | National | Bill Sykes | 21,687 | 67.5 | +15.5 |
| | Labor | Rob Mitchell | 10,437 | 32.5 | -15.5 |
| | National hold | National hold | Swing | +15.5 | |

2002 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Denise Allen | 13,129 | 41.3 | -1.8 |
| | National | Bill Sykes | 8,414 | 26.5 | -26.3 |
| | Liberal | Andrew Dwyer | 8,306 | 26.1 | +22.3 |
| | Greens | Peter Stewart | 1,961 | 6.2 | +6.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 31,810 | 97.6 | +1.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 791 | 2.4 | -1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,601 | 94.0 | +1.0 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | National | Bill Sykes | 16,531 | 52.0 | -4.7 |
| | Labor | Denise Allen | 15,279 | 48.0 | +4.7 |
| | National gain from Labor | National gain from Labor | Swing | -4.7 | |

2000 Benalla state by-election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Denise Allen | 12,514 | 42.07 | −0.52 |
| | National | Bill Sykes | 12,244 | 41.16 | −16.25 |
| | Independent | Geoff Rowe | 2,072 | 6.97 | +6.97 |
| | Independent | Bill Hill | 1,983 | 6.67 | +6.67 |
| | Greens | Janet Mackenzie | 597 | 2.01 | +2.01 |
| | Independent | Maurie Smith | 234 | 0.79 | +0.79 |
| | Reform | Alf Thorpe | 101 | 0.34 | +0.34 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 29,745 | 97.22 | +0.79 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 849 | 2.78 | –0.79 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,594 | 89.60 | −3.35 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Denise Allen | 14,991 | 50.40 | +7.81 |
| | National | Bill Sykes | 14,754 | 49.60 | −7.81 |
| | Labor gain from National | Labor gain from National | Swing | 7.81 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

1999 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Pat McNamara | 17,543 | 57.4 | -7.9 |
| | Labor | Denise Allen | 13,013 | 42.6 | +7.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 30,556 | 96.4 | -1.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,128 | 3.6 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,684 | 93.0 | -1.9 |
| | National hold | National hold | Swing | -7.9 | |

1996 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Pat McNamara | 18,055 | 58.9 | -9.3 |
| | Labor | Zuvele Leschen | 7,250 | 23.6 | -3.2 |
| | Independent | Bill Hill | 4,711 | 15.4 | +15.4 |
| | Independent | Brian Lumsden | 382 | 1.2 | -3.8 |
| | Natural Law | James Charlwood | 275 | 0.9 | +0.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 30,673 | 98.1 | +0.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 601 | 1.9 | -0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,274 | 94.9 | -0.9 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | National | Pat McNamara | 19,969 | 65.3 | -5.5 |
| | Labor | Zuvele Leschen | 10,628 | 34.7 | +5.5 |
| | National hold | National hold | Swing | -5.5 | |

1992 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Pat McNamara | 20,306 | 68.2 | +25.8 |
| | Labor | Anne Cox | 7,984 | 26.8 | -0.3 |
| | Independent | Brian Lumsden | 1,491 | 5.0 | +5.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 29,781 | 97.7 | -0.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 686 | 2.3 | +0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,467 | 95.8 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | National | Pat McNamara | 21,085 | 70.8 | +0.2 |
| | Labor | Anne Cox | 8,687 | 29.2 | -0.2 |
| | National hold | National hold | Swing | +0.2 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

1988 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Pat McNamara | 12,004 | 42.54 | -4.88 |
| | Labor | Barbara Stepan | 8,394 | 29.75 | -2.71 |
| | Liberal | Margaret Stribling | 6,333 | 22.44 | +2.32 |
| | Independent | Grant Triffett | 909 | 3.22 | +3.22 |
| | Call to Australia | Win Wise | 576 | 2.04 | +2.04 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 28,216 | 97.76 | -0.59 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 646 | 2.24 | +0.59 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,862 | 92.36 | -0.25 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | National | Pat McNamara | 19,173 | 67.95 | +1.86 |
| | Labor | Barbara Stepan | 9,043 | 32.05 | -1.86 |
| | National hold | National hold | Swing | +1.86 | |

1985 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Pat McNamara | 13,031 | 47.4 | +13.4 |
| | Labor | Grant Triffett | 8,922 | 32.5 | -1.7 |
| | Liberal | Leonard Crocombe | 5,529 | 20.1 | -7.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 27,482 | 98.3 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 460 | 1.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,942 | 92.6 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | National | Pat McNamara | 18,163 | 66.1 | +3.2 |
| | Labor | Grant Triffett | 9,319 | 33.9 | -3.2 |
| | National hold | National hold | Swing | +3.2 | |

1982 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Pat McNamara | 9,027 | 36.7 | -5.6 |
| | Labor | James Ure | 8,291 | 33.7 | +0.8 |
| | Liberal | Andrew Mein | 6,303 | 25.6 | +0.7 |
| | Democrats | Rita Dart | 975 | 4.0 | +4.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 24,596 | 98.5 | +0.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 382 | 1.5 | -0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,978 | 93.5 | +0.1 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | National | Pat McNamara | 15,593 | 63.4 | -2.0 |
| | Labor | James Ure | 9,003 | 36.6 | +2.0 |
| | National hold | National hold | Swing | -2.0 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

1979 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Tom Trewin | 9,991 | 42.3 | -1.8 |
| | Labor | Brian Cousins | 7,768 | 32.9 | +6.0 |
| | Liberal | Alan Jones | 5,883 | 24.9 | +2.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 23,642 | 97.8 | -0.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 522 | 2.2 | +0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,164 | 93.4 | -0.4 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | National | Tom Trewin | 15,460 | 65.4 | -4.7 |
| | Labor | Brian Cousins | 8,182 | 34.6 | +4.7 |
| | National hold | National hold | Swing | -4.7 | |

1976 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Tom Trewin | 10,160 | 44.1 | +10.7 |
| | Labor | John Dennis | 6,205 | 26.9 | -3.6 |
| | Liberal | Leo Gorman | 5,188 | 22.5 | -3.9 |
| | Democratic Labor | Christopher Cody | 1,495 | 6.5 | -3.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 23,048 | 98.4 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 378 | 1.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,426 | 93.8 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | National | Tom Trewin | 16,156 | 70.1 | +3.9 |
| | Labor | John Dennis | 6,892 | 29.9 | -3.9 |
| | National hold | National hold | Swing | +3.9 | |

1973 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Country | Tom Trewin | 8,990 | 48.8 | +2.7 |
| | Labor | James Scott | 4,236 | 23.0 | +1.2 |
| | Liberal | Vernon Dawson | 3,209 | 17.4 | -2.8 |
| | Democratic Labor | Christopher Cody | 1,971 | 10.7 | -1.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 18,406 | 97.6 | +0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 449 | 2.4 | -0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,855 | 94.8 | -1.1 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Country | Tom Trewin | 13,705 | 74.5 | -0.9 |
| | Labor | James Scott | 4,701 | 25.5 | +0.9 |
| | Country hold | Country hold | Swing | -0.9 | |

1970 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Country | Tom Trewin | 7,981 | 46.1 | -6.0 |
| | Labor | John Coutts | 3,762 | 21.8 | +2.9 |
| | Liberal | Dulcie Brack | 3,503 | 20.2 | +3.0 |
| | Democratic Labor | Christopher Cody | 2,053 | 11.9 | +0.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 17,299 | 97.5 | -0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 438 | 2.5 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,737 | 95.9 | -0.2 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Country | Tom Trewin | 13,043 | 75.4 | -2.2 |
| | Labor | John Coutts | 4,256 | 24.6 | +2.2 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Country | Tom Trewin | 9,399 | 54.3 | -23.3 |
| | Liberal | Dulcie Brack | 7,900 | 45.7 | +45.7 |
| | Country hold | Country hold | Swing | -2.2 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

1967 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Country | Tom Trewin | 8,761 | 52.1 | -8.0 |
| | Labor | Nathanial Robertson | 3,179 | 18.9 | +18.9 |
| | Liberal | Ian Bayles | 2,898 | 17.2 | -5.7 |
| | Democratic Labor | Christopher Cody | 1,989 | 11.8 | -5.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 16,827 | 97.6 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 412 | 2.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,239 | 96.1 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Country | Tom Trewin | 13,059 | 77.6 | +14.1 |
| | Labor | Nathanial Robertson | 3,768 | 22.4 | +22.4 |
| | Country hold | Country hold | Swing | +14.1 | |

1964 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Country | Tom Trewin | 11,713 | 59.4 | +23.6 |
| | Liberal and Country | Ewen Cameron | 4,872 | 24.7 | +5.3 |
| | Democratic Labor | Christopher Cody | 3,151 | 16.0 | +0.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 19,736 | 98.3 | +0.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 338 | 1.7 | -0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,074 | 95.2 | -3.6 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Country | Tom Trewin | 12,343 | 62.5 | -4.5 |
| | Liberal and Country | Ewen Cameron | 7,393 | 37.5 | +37.5 |
| | Country hold | Country hold | Swing | -4.5 | |

1961 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Country | Tom Trewin | 7,007 | 35.8 | +1.6 |
| | Labor | Jack Ginifer | 5,758 | 29.5 | +1.0 |
| | Liberal and Country | John Hanson | 3,785 | 19.4 | -4.6 |
| | Democratic Labor | Bartholomew O'Dea | 3,000 | 15.4 | +2.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 19,550 | 98.0 | -1.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 394 | 2.0 | +1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,944 | 98.8 | +4.0 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Country | Tom Trewin | 13,102 | 67.0 | -0.1 |
| | Labor | Jack Ginifer | 6,448 | 33.0 | +0.1 |
| | Country hold | Country hold | Swing | -0.1 | |

### Elections in the 1950s

1958 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Country | Frederick Cook | 6,628 | 34.2 |
| | Labor | Jack Ginifer | 5,520 | 28.5 |
| | Liberal and Country | James Bennison | 4,651 | 24.0 |
| | Democratic Labor | William Mithen | 2,604 | 13.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 19,403 | 99.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 188 | 1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,591 | 94.8 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Country | Frederick Cook | 13,028 | 67.1 |
| | Labor | Jack Ginifer | 6,375 | 32.9 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Country | Frederick Cook | 11,810 | 60.9 |
| | Liberal and Country | James Bennison | 7,593 | 39.1 |
| | Country hold | Country hold | Swing | |

1955 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Country | Frederick Cook | 7,589 | 38.8 |
| | Labor (A-C) | Ernest Straughair | 6,028 | 30.8 |
| | Liberal and Country | Jack Pennington | 5,949 | 30.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 19,566 | 97.9 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 423 | 2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,989 | 94.7 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Country | Frederick Cook | 12,804 | 65.4 |
| | Labor (A-C) | Ernest Straughair | 6,762 | 34.6 |
| | Country hold | Country hold | Swing | |

1952 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Country | Frederick Cook | unopposed | | |
| | Country hold | Country hold | Swing | | |

1950 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Country | Frederick Cook | 7,466 | 59.1 | -8.2 |
| | Liberal and Country | Jack Pennington | 5,174 | 40.9 | +8.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 12,640 | 97.3 | +1.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 348 | 2.7 | -1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,988 | 94.2 | +1.2 |
| | Country hold | Country hold | Swing | -8.2 | |

### Elections in the 1940s

1947 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Country | Frederick Cook | 8,141 | 67.3 | +12.6 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Nolan | 3,955 | 32.7 | +32.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 12,096 | 96.3 | -1.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 467 | 3.7 | +1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,563 | 93.0 | +4.2 |
| | Country hold | Country hold | Swing | N/A | |

1945 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Country | Frederick Cook | 6,125 | 54.7 |
| | Country | Percy Johnson | 5,077 | 45.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 11,202 | 97.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 288 | 2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,490 | 88.8 |
| | Country hold | Country hold | Swing | |

1943 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Country | Frederick Cook | 3,779 | 40.2 | -14.8 |
| | Labor | Andrew McIntosh | 3,109 | 33.0 | +33.0 |
| | Country | Percy Johnson | 2,520 | 26.8 | +26.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,408 | 99.1 | +0.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 83 | 0.9 | -0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,491 | 87.3 | -4.6 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Country | Frederick Cook | 5,649 | 60.0 | +15.0 |
| | Labor | Andrew McIntosh | 3,759 | 40.0 | +40.0 |
| | Country gain from Liberal Country | Country gain from Liberal Country | Swing | N/A | |

1940 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal Country | Frederick Cook | 5,592 | 55.0 | +55.0 |
| | Country | Manvers Meadows | 4,580 | 45.0 | +19.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 10,172 | 98.9 | 0.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 115 | 1.1 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,287 | 91.9 | -3.1 |
| | Liberal Country gain from Independent | Liberal Country gain from Independent | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1930s

1937 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Independent | Frederick Cook | 4,126 | 38.5 | +38.5 |
| | Labor | Jack Devlin | 3,836 | 35.8 | +35.8 |
| | Country | Mervyn Huggins | 2,762 | 25.8 | -74.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 10,724 | 98.9 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 117 | 1.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,841 | 95.0 | |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Independent | Frederick Cook | 5,806 | 54.1 | +54.1 |
| | Labor | Jack Devlin | 4,918 | 45.9 | +45.9 |
| | Independent gain from Country | Independent gain from Country | Swing | N/A | |

1936 Benalla state by-election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Country | Michael Cleary | 2,715 | 28.2 |
| | Independent | Frederick Cook | 2,452 | 25.4 |
| | Country | Malachy Ryan | 1,337 | 13.9 |
| | Country | Henry Hill | 1,057 | 11.0 |
| | Country | Arthur Harrison | 1,052 | 10.9 |
| | Country | William Tonkin | 1,030 | 10.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,643 | 97.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 302 | 3.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,945 | 90.4 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Independent | Frederick Cook | 5,006 | 51.9 |
| | Country | Michael Cleary | 4,637 | 48.1 |
| | Independent gain from Country | Independent gain from Country | Swing | N/A |

1935 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Country | Edward Clearly | unopposed | | |
| | Country hold | Country hold | Swing | | |

1932 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Country | Edward Cleary | unopposed | | |
| | Country hold | Country hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1920s

1929 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Country Progressive | Edward Cleary | 5,327 | 56.4 | +17.7 |
| | Country | Patrick Connell | 4,123 | 43.6 | +18.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,450 | 99.1 | +1.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 87 | 0.9 | -1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,537 | 94.5 | +1.8 |
| | Country Progressive hold | Country Progressive hold | Swing | N/A | |

1927 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Country Progressive | Edward Cleary | 3,406 | 38.7 |
| | Independent | John Carlisle | 3,201 | 36.3 |
| | Country | Patrick Connell | 2,200 | 25.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 8,807 | 97.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 203 | 2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,010 | 92.7 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Country Progressive | Edward Cleary | 4,413 | 50.1 |
| | Independent | John Carlisle | 4,394 | 49.9 |
| | Country Progressive gain from Country | Country Progressive gain from Country | Swing | N/A |

1924 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Country | John Carlisle | 2,397 | 61.6 | -3.2 |
| | Nationalist | Alexander Mitchell | 1,494 | 38.4 | +3.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,891 | 99.5 | +0.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 19 | 0.5 | -0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,910 | 55.0 | -2.4 |
| | Country hold | Country hold | Swing | -3.2 | |

1921 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Victorian Farmers | John Carlisle | 2,912 | 64.8 | -1.2 |
| | Nationalist | Alfred Manning | 1,582 | 35.2 | +1.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 4,494 | 98.8 | +3.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 55 | 1.2 | -3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,549 | 57.4 | -1.9 |
| | Victorian Farmers hold | Victorian Farmers hold | Swing | -1.2 | |

1920 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Victorian Farmers | John Carlisle | 2,937 | 66.0 | +66.0 |
| | Nationalist | Robert Lewers | 1,512 | 34.0 | -28.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 4,449 | 95.5 | -1.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 208 | 4.5 | +1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,657 | 59.3 | -4.0 |
| | Victorian Farmers gain from Nationalist | Victorian Farmers gain from Nationalist | Swing | N/A | |

* John Carlisle was the sitting Nationalist MP for Benalla, but changed to the Victorian Farmers Union before this election.

### Elections in the 1910s

1917 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Nationalist | John Carlisle | 2,688 | 55.1 | -11.3 |
| | Labor | Laurence Corboy | 1,840 | 37.7 | +4.1 |
| | Nationalist | Thomas Kennedy | 353 | 7.2 | +7.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 4,881 | 97.3 | -0.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 139 | 2.7 | +0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,020 | 63.3 | +10.4 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Nationalist | John Carlisle | | 61.6 | -4.8 |
| | Labor | Laurence Corboy | | 38.4 | +4.8 |
| | Nationalist hold | Nationalist hold | Swing | -4.8 | |

* Two party preferred vote was estimated.

1914 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | John Carlisle | 2,785 | 66.4 | -6.4 |
| | Labor | Ebenezer Brown | 1,411 | 33.6 | +6.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 4,196 | 98.0 | -0.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 84 | 2.0 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,280 | 52.9 | -9.2 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -6.4 | |

1911 Victorian state election: Benalla :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | John Carlisle | 3,437 | 72.8 | +11.3 |
| | Labor | Gerald Stanley | 1,285 | 27.2 | +27.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 4,722 | 98.8 | -0.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 57 | 1.2 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,779 | 62.1 | +17.4 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
