1904 New South Wales state election

The 1904 New South Wales state election was held on 6 August 1904 for all of the 90 seats in the 20th New South Wales Legislative Assembly and it was conducted in single-member constituencies with a first past the post voting system. For the first time, women were entitled to vote. Both adult males and females were entitled to vote, but not Indigenous people. The 19th parliament of New South Wales was dissolved on 16 July 1904 by the Governor, Sir Harry Rawson, on the advice of the Premier, Thomas Waddell.

← 1901

6 August 1904 (1904-08-06)

1907 →

All 90 seats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
46 Assembly seats were needed for a majority

	First party	Second party	Third party

Leader	Sir Joseph Carruthers	James McGowen	Thomas Waddell
Party	Liberal Reform	Labor Electoral League	Progressive
Leader since	18 September 1902	August 1894	15 June 1904
Leader's seat	St George	Redfern	Cowra (contesting Belubula)
Last election	37 seats	24 seats	42 seats
Seats won	45 seats	25 seats	16 seats
Seat change	8	1	26
Percentage	44.58%	23.30%	18.98%
Swing	11.03	4.86	4.01

Legislative Assembly after the election

Premier before election

Thomas Waddell
Progressive

Elected Premier

Sir Joseph Carruthers
Liberal Reform

This election saw the size of the Legislative Assembly reduced from 125 to 90 seats as a result of the 1903 New South Wales referendum.

Key dates

Date	Event
16 July 1904	The Legislative Assembly was dissolved, and writs were issued by the Governor to proceed with an election.
26 July 1904	Nominations for candidates for the election closed at noon.
6 August 1904	Polling day.
23 August 1904	Opening of 20th Parliament.
29 August 1904	Carruthers ministry sworn in.

Results

New South Wales state election, 6 August 1904 Legislative Assembly << 1901–1907 >>
Enrolled voters		689,490
Votes cast		396,622		Turnout	59.31	−3.53
Informal votes		3,973		Informal	0.99	+0.21
Summary of votes by party
Party		Primary votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Liberal Reform	176,796	44.58	+11.03	45	+8
	Labour	92,426	23.30	+4.86	25	+1
	Progressive	75,297	18.98	−4.01	16	−26
	Independent	25,605	6.46	−4.62	2	−10
	Independent Liberal	21,189	5.34	−3.26	2	−2
	Other	5,309	1.34	−4.01	0	−6
Total					90	-35

Popular vote
Parliamentary seats

Liberal Reform			44.58%
Labor			23.30%
Progressive			18.98%
Independent			6.46%
Ind. Liberal			5.34%
Others			1.34%
Liberal Reform			45
Labor			25
Progressive			16
Independent			2
Ind. Liberal			2

Retiring members

Orange Liberal MLA Harry Newman died on 1 June. Deniliquin Independent MLA Joseph Evans died on 5 July. Due to the proximity of the election, no by-elections were held.

Progressive

Albert Chapman MLA (Braidwood)
William Davis MLA (Bourke)
James Gormly MLA (Wagga Wagga) — appointed to the Legislative Council.
James Hayes MLA (Murray) — appointed to the Legislative Council.
William Hurley MLA (Macquarie) — appointed to the Legislative Council.
Daniel O'Connor MLA (Sydney-Phillip)
Sir John See MLA (Grafton) — appointed to the Legislative Council.

Liberal

Samuel Whiddon MLA (Sydney-Cook)

Labor

John Power MLA (Sydney-Lang) — lost preselection

Independent

Frank Byrne MLA (Hay)
Thomas Griffith MLA (Albury)
Edward Terry MLA (Ryde)