Electoral results for the district of Merthyr
# Electoral results for the district of Merthyr

This is a list of electoral results for the electoral district of Merthyr in Queensland state elections.

## Members for Merthyr

| Member | Party | Term |
| - | - | - |
| Thomas Welsby | Ministerialist | 1912–1915 |
| Peter McLachlan | Labor | 1915–1920 |
| Peter MacGregor | National | 1920–1923 |
| Peter McLachlan | Labor | 1923–1929 |
| Patrick Kerwin | Country and Progressive National | 1929–1932 |
| James Keogh | Labor | 1932–1940 |
| William Moore | Labor | 1940–1957 |
| William Moore | Queensland Labor | 1957 |
| Sam Ramsden | Liberal | 1957–1971 |
| Don Lane | Liberal | 1971–1983 |
| Don Lane | National | 1983–1989 |
| Santo Santoro | Liberal | 1989–1992 |

## Election results

### Elections in the 1980s

1989 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Barbara Dawson | 8,662 | 48.4 | +15.9 |
| | Liberal | Santo Santoro | 7,267 | 40.6 | +8.5 |
| | National | Pat Kelly | 1,955 | 10.9 | -21.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 17,884 | 97.0 | +0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 548 | 3.0 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,432 | 94.5 | +5.2 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | Santo Santoro | 9,024 | 50.5 | +50.5 |
| | Labor | Barbara Dawson | 8,860 | 49.5 | +5.5 |
| | Liberal gain from National | Liberal gain from National | Swing | N/A | |

1989 Merthyr state by-election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Santo Santoro | 6,170 | 35.91 | +3.82 |
| | Labor | Barbara Dawson | 5,623 | 32.73 | +0.23 |
| | National | Betty Byrne-Henderson | 2,753 | 16.02 | –16.74 |
| | Independent | Nigel Powell | 1,281 | 7.46 | +7.46 |
| | Independent | Tanya Wilde | 540 | 3.14 | +3.14 |
| | Democrats | John Brown | 443 | 2.58 | +0.82 |
| | Independent | Gerry Bellino | 334 | 1.94 | +1.94 |
| | Independent | I. Ciadamidaro | 36 | 0.21 | +0.21 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 17,180 | 95.29 | –1.60 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 848 | 4.71 | +1.60 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,028 | 78.92 | −10.35 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | Santo Santoro | 9,784 | 56.95 | N/A |
| | Labor | Barbara Dawson | 7,396 | 43.05 | N/A |
| | Liberal gain from National | Liberal gain from National | Swing | N/A | |

1986 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Don Lane | 5,553 | 32.8 | +7.2 |
| | Labor | Garrett Purtill | 5,507 | 32.5 | -8.1 |
| | Liberal | Santo Santoro | 5,439 | 32.1 | -0.4 |
| | Democrats | Bernard O'Malley | 298 | 1.8 | +1.8 |
| | Socialist Workers | Maurice Sibelle | 149 | 0.9 | +0.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 16,946 | 96.9 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 544 | 3.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,490 | 89.3 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | National | Don Lane | 9,497 | 56.0 | -3.8 |
| | Labor | Garrett Purtill | 7,449 | 44.0 | +3.8 |
| | National gain from Liberal | National gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |

1983 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Leon Pearce | 5,520 | 40.6 | -4.9 |
| | Liberal | Don Lane | 4,416 | 32.5 | -22.0 |
| | National | William Owen | 3,480 | 25.6 | +25.6 |
| | Independent | Gary Waddell | 183 | 1.4 | +1.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 13,599 | 97.9 | +0.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 288 | 2.1 | -0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,887 | 89.8 | +5.8 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | Don Lane | 7,853 | 57.7 | +3.2 |
| | Labor | Leon Pearce | 5,746 | 42.3 | -3.2 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +3.2 | |

1980 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Don Lane | 7,334 | 54.5 | +0.9 |
| | Labor | Barbara Dawson | 6,116 | 45.5 | +3.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 13,450 | 97.1 | -0.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 398 | 2.9 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,848 | 84.0 | -4.6 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -1.9 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

1977 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Don Lane | 7,508 | 53.6 | -12.9 |
| | Labor | Barbara Dawson | 5,937 | 42.4 | +8.9 |
| | Progress | Harold Scruton | 550 | 3.9 | +3.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 13,995 | 97.5 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 356 | 2.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,351 | 88.6 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | Don Lane | 7,893 | 56.4 | -10.1 |
| | Labor | Barbara Dawson | 6,102 | 43.6 | +10.1 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -10.1 | |

1974 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Don Lane | 7,004 | 66.6 | +14.4 |
| | Labor | Terence Dawson | 3,517 | 33.4 | -6.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 10,521 | 97.8 | 0.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 241 | 2.2 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,762 | 85.0 | -7.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +7.5 | |

1972 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Don Lane | 5,369 | 52.2 | +2.3 |
| | Labor | Denis Pie | 4,058 | 39.5 | -0.9 |
| | Queensland Labor | James Moss | 849 | 8.3 | -1.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 10,276 | 97.8 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 228 | 2.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,504 | 92.5 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | Don Lane | 6,075 | 59.1 | +2.5 |
| | Labor | Denis Pie | 4,201 | 40.9 | -2.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.5 | |

1971 Merthyr state by-election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Don Lane | 4,026 | 53.1 | +3.2 |
| | Labor | Brian Mellifont | 2,672 | 35.3 | -5.1 |
| | Queensland Labor | Peter Flanagan | 882 | 11.6 | +1.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 7,580 | 97.6 | +0.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 187 | 2.4 | -0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,767 | 73.9 | -13.4 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |

* Preferences were not distributed.

### Elections in the 1960s

1969 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Sam Ramsden | 4,508 | 49.9 | -1.2 |
| | Labor | Brian Mellifont | 3,651 | 40.4 | +0.4 |
| | Queensland Labor | Maurice O'Connor | 880 | 9.7 | +0.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,039 | 97.1 | +0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 268 | 2.9 | -0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,307 | 87.3 | -4.2 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | Sam Ramsden | 5,182 | 57.3 | -0.2 |
| | Labor | Brian Mellifont | 3,857 | 42.7 | +0.2 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -0.2 | |

1966 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Sam Ramsden | 4,781 | 51.1 | -2.3 |
| | Labor | Brian Mellifont | 3,745 | 40.0 | +3.0 |
| | Queensland Labor | Laurence Kehoe | 830 | 8.9 | -0.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,356 | 97.0 | -0.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 284 | 3.0 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,640 | 91.5 | 0.0 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | Sam Ramsden | 5,384 | 57.5 | -3.7 |
| | Labor | Brian Mellifont | 3,972 | 42.5 | +3.7 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -3.7 | |

1963 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Sam Ramsden | 5,298 | 53.4 | +3.3 |
| | Labor | Tom Campbell | 3,672 | 37.0 | +3.8 |
| | Queensland Labor | Geoffrey Traill | 946 | 9.5 | -7.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,916 | 97.4 | -0.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 268 | 2.6 | +0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,184 | 91.5 | +2.9 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | Sam Ramsden | 6,068 | 61.2 | |
| | Labor | Tom Campbell | 3,848 | 38.8 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |

1960 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Sam Ramsden | 5,376 | 50.1 |
| | Labor | Tom Campbell | 3,562 | 33.2 |
| | Queensland Labor | Mick O'Connor | 1,794 | 16.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 10,732 | 98.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 205 | 1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,937 | 88.6 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1950s

1957 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Sam Ramsden | 3,151 | 37.0 | -3.2 |
| | Queensland Labor | Bill Moore | 3,028 | 35.6 | +35.6 |
| | Labor | Tom Campbell | 2,336 | 27.4 | -32.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 8,515 | 99.0 | +0.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 88 | 1.0 | -0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,603 | 94.1 | +3.1 |
| | Liberal gain from Labor | Liberal gain from Labor | Swing | N/A | |

1956 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Bill Moore | 5,030 | 59.8 | -4.0 |
| | Liberal | Sam Ramsden | 3,380 | 40.2 | +4.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 8,410 | 98.6 | -0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 120 | 1.4 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,530 | 91.0 | -2.9 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -4.0 | |

1953 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Bill Moore | 6,110 | 63.8 | +7.8 |
| | Liberal | William Knox | 3,470 | 36.2 | -7.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,580 | 98.7 | 0.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 129 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,709 | 93.9 | +0.5 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +7.8 | |

1950 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Bill Moore | 5,948 | 56.0 |
| | Liberal | Albert Rees | 4,669 | 44.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 10,617 | 98.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 134 | 1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,751 | 93.4 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1940s

1947 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Bill Moore | 5,865 | 55.4 | +0.7 |
| | People's Party | Bert Frost | 4,726 | 44.6 | -0.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 10,591 | 98.3 | +0.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 183 | 1.7 | -0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,774 | 90.2 | +1.5 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +0.7 | |

1944 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Bill Moore | 5,322 | 54.7 | -3.7 |
| | People's Party | Leonard King | 4,400 | 45.3 | +3.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,722 | 98.1 | -0.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 184 | 1.9 | +0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,906 | 88.7 | -5.0 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -3.7 | |

1941 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Bill Moore | 5,302 | 58.4 | +9.1 |
| | United Australia | Samuel Glassey | 3,780 | 41.6 | +11.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,082 | 98.3 | -0.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 158 | 1.7 | +0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,240 | 93.7 | +2.8 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +4.6 | |

1940 Merthyr state by-election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Bill Moore | 4,839 | 57.5 | +8.2 |
| | United Australia | Patrick Kerwin | 3,574 | 42.5 | +12.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 8,413 | | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +3.7 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

1938 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | James Keogh | 4,801 | 49.3 | -17.2 |
| | United Australia | Edmund Cuppaidge | 2,903 | 29.8 | -3.7 |
| | Protestant Labor | Frederick Brown | 2,042 | 20.9 | +20.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,746 | 99.0 | +0.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 97 | 1.0 | -0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,843 | 90.9 | -0.6 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | James Keogh | 4,982 | 53.8 | -12.7 |
| | United Australia | Edmund Cuppaidge | 4,272 | 46.2 | +12.7 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -12.7 | |

1935 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | James Keogh | 6,035 | 66.5 |
| | CPNP | William Stevens | 3,046 | 33.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,081 | 98.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 155 | 1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,236 | 91.5 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

1932 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | James Keogh | 4,780 | 51.6 |
| | CPNP | Patrick Kerwin | 4,293 | 46.4 |
| | Lang Labor | Kenneth McDonald | 187 | 2.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,259 | 99.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 54 | 0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,313 | 84.0 |
| | Labor gain from CPNP | Labor gain from CPNP | Swing | |

* Preferences were not distributed.

### Elections in the 1920s

1929 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | CPNP | Patrick Kerwin | 4,204 | 57.0 | +8.5 |
| | Labor | Peter McLachlan | 3,177 | 43.0 | -8.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 7,381 | 99.0 | -0.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 73 | 1.0 | +0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,454 | 80.2 | +1.2 |
| | CPNP gain from Labor | CPNP gain from Labor | Swing | +8.5 | |

1926 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Peter McLachlan | 3,666 | 51.5 | -0.9 |
| | CPNP | Edwin Fowles | 3,448 | 48.5 | +0.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 7,114 | 99.2 | -0.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 54 | 0.8 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,168 | 79.0 | -0.5 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -0.9 | |

1923 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Peter McLachlan | 3,509 | 52.4 | +4.0 |
| | United | Peter MacGregor | 3,189 | 47.6 | -4.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,698 | 99.6 | +0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 28 | 0.4 | -0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,726 | 79.5 | +7.5 |
| | Labor gain from United | Labor gain from United | Swing | +4.0 | |

1920 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Peter MacGregor | 3,213 | 51.6 | +4.3 |
| | Labor | Peter McLachlan | 3,013 | 48.4 | -4.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,226 | 99.5 | +0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 28 | 0.5 | -0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,254 | 72.0 | -11.6 |
| | National gain from Labor | National gain from Labor | Swing | +4.3 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

1918 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Peter McLachlan | 3,090 | 52.7 | -4.6 |
| | National | Peter MacGregor | 2,776 | 47.3 | +4.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,866 | 99.4 | 0.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 33 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,899 | 83.6 | -8.1 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -4.6 | |

1915 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Peter McLachlan | 2,881 | 57.3 | +7.4 |
| | Liberal | John Lackey | 2,144 | 42.7 | -7.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,025 | 99.4 | +0.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 29 | 0.6 | -0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,054 | 91.7 | +6.2 |
| | Labor gain from Liberal | Labor gain from Liberal | Swing | +7.4 | |

1912 Queensland state election: Merthyr :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Thomas Welsby | 2,119 | 50.05 |
| | Labor | Peter McLachlan | 2,115 | 49.95 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 4,234 | 98.9 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 47 | 1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,281 | 85.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |
