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Melbourne ports — Australian Federal Election Results

Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30

Melbourne ports was won by Michael Danby (Labor) at the 2016 federal election, with a margin of 2,337 votes over Owen Guest after preferences. This page covers every federal election in Melbourne ports from 1901 to 2016.

Australia uses instant-runoff (preferential) voting: voters rank candidates in order of preference, and if no one has a majority of first-preference votes, the lowest-placed candidate is eliminated and their votes redistributed to voters' next preference, repeating until one candidate has a majority. The "Winner" and "Margin" below reflect the final result after preferences (equivalent to the AEC's own two-candidate-preferred figure) — not simply whoever led on first preferences, which can occasionally be a different candidate.

Full Election History (After Preferences), 1901–2016

Election Winner Party Final Votes Final Share Runner-up Margin
1901 Samuel Mauger Prot -1 100.0% None (None) -1 (100.0 pts)
1903 Samuel Mauger Prot 9,646 57.0% James Matthews (Labor) 2,356 (13.9 pts)
1906 James Mathews Labor 6,813 53.5% Edward Watts (Prot) 881 (6.9 pts)
1910 James Mathews Labor 15,055 69.6% Alexander Ramsey (Liberal) 8,472 (39.2 pts)
1913 James Mathews Labor 24,203 79.2% Charles Merrett (Liberal) 17,846 (58.4 pts)
1914 James Mathews Labor -1 100.0% None (None) -1 (100.0 pts)
1917 James Mathews Labor 22,689 66.3% William Fozard (National) 11,132 (32.5 pts)
1919 James Mathews Labor -1 100.0% None (None) -1 (100.0 pts)
1922 James Mathews Labor 17,628 73.1% Selwyn Neale (National) 11,143 (46.2 pts)
1925 James Mathews Labor 29,416 67.7% Francis Wilcher (National) 15,381 (35.4 pts)
1928 James Mathews Labor -1 100.0% None (None) -1 (100.0 pts)
1929 James Mathews Labor -1 100.0% None (None) -1 (100.0 pts)
1931 Edward Holloway Labor 22,901 65.0% William Orr (United Australia Party) 10,582 (30.0 pts)
1934 Edward Holloway Labor 27,081 69.0% James Laurence (United Australia Party) 14,908 (38.0 pts)
1937 Edward Holloway Labor -1 100.0% None (None) -1 (100.0 pts)
1940 Edward Holloway Labor 38,853 66.1% Raymond Trickey (United Australia Party) 18,946 (32.2 pts)
1943 Edward Holloway Labor 47,149 72.8% Frank Preacher (United Australia Party) 29,520 (45.6 pts)
1946 Ted Holloway Labor 43,905 66.7% Douglas Dennis (Liberal) 22,021 (33.5 pts)
1949 Ted Holloway Labor 26,792 67.9% Arthur Block (Liberal) 14,102 (35.7 pts)
1951 Frank Crean Labor 26,502 71.2% Michael Prowse (Liberal) 15,762 (42.3 pts)
1954 Frank Crean Labor 22,001 71.2% Norman Fittock (Liberal) 13,087 (42.3 pts)
1955 Frank Crean Labor 19,917 67.3% Stanislaus Corrigan (Labor (Anti-Communist)) 10,255 (34.7 pts)
1958 Frank Crean Labor 22,968 75.7% Norman Loader (Liberal) 15,587 (51.4 pts)
1961 Frank Crean Labor 20,590 73.3% Gordon Blackburne (Liberal) 13,107 (46.7 pts)
1963 Frank Crean Labor 20,654 74.2% James Pond (Liberal) 13,476 (48.4 pts)
1966 Frank Crean Labor 16,003 69.2% Richard Thomas (Liberal) 8,880 (38.4 pts)
1969 Frank Crean Labor 25,209 61.3% Kevin Randall (Liberal) 9,286 (22.6 pts)
1972 Frank Crean Labor 29,631 66.8% Paul Fenton (Liberal) 14,909 (33.6 pts)
1974 Frank Crean Labor 31,120 66.4% John Walsh (Liberal) 15,387 (32.8 pts)
1975 Frank Crean Labor 28,460 59.4% Roger Johnston (Liberal) 8,975 (18.7 pts)
1977 Clyde Holding Labor 31,308 60.3% Daniel Hill (Liberal) 10,681 (20.6 pts)
1980 Clyde Holding Labor 33,992 62.7% Colin Bell (Liberal) 13,740 (25.3 pts)
1983 Clyde Holding Labor 36,444 64.0% Ronald Flood (Liberal) 15,956 (28.0 pts)
1984 Clyde Holding Labor 36,690 64.2% Allan Paull (Liberal) 16,263 (28.5 pts)
1987 Clyde Holding Labor 35,643 59.9% Allan Paull (Liberal) 11,812 (19.9 pts)
1990 Clyde Holding Labor 34,594 52.0% Allan Paull (Liberal) 2,722 (4.1 pts)
1993 Clyde Holding Labor 39,862 55.8% Helen Friedmann (Liberal) 8,349 (11.7 pts)
1996 Clyde Holding Labor 40,399 56.0% Margot Foster (Liberal) 8,720 (12.1 pts)
1998 Michael Danby Labor 41,585 55.8% Fiona Snedden (Liberal) 8,689 (11.7 pts)
2001 Michael Danby Labor 44,018 55.7% Andrew Mclorinan (Liberal) 8,997 (11.4 pts)
2004 Michael Danby Labor 43,873 53.7% David Southwick (Liberal) 6,110 (7.5 pts)
2007 Michael Danby Labor 49,191 57.1% Adam Held (Liberal) 12,301 (14.3 pts)
2013 Michael Danby Labor 43,419 53.7% Kevin Ekendahl (Liberal) 6,055 (7.5 pts)
2016 Michael Danby Labor 43,573 51.4% Owen Guest (Liberal) 2,337 (2.8 pts)

First-Preference Result by Election

Every candidate's first-preference votes, before any preference redistribution.

1901

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Samuel MaugerProt-1100.0%

1903

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Samuel MaugerProt9,64655.5%
James MatthewsLabor7,29041.9%
Harry ForanIndependent4432.5%

1906

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
James MathewsLabor6,81340.6%
Edward WattsProt5,93235.4%
James RonaldIndependent3,21519.2%
Cyril JamesIndependent8024.8%

1910

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
James MathewsLabor15,05569.6%
Alexander RamseyLiberal6,58330.4%

1913

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
James MathewsLabor24,20379.2%
Charles MerrettLiberal6,35720.8%

1914

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
James MathewsLabor-1100.0%

1917

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
James MathewsLabor22,68966.3%
William FozardNational11,55733.7%

1919

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
James MathewsLabor-1100.0%

1922

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
James MathewsLabor17,62873.1%
Selwyn NealeNational6,48526.9%

1925

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
James MathewsLabor29,41667.7%
Francis WilcherNational14,03532.3%

1928

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
James MathewsLabor-1100.0%

1929

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
James MathewsLabor-1100.0%

1931

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Edward HollowayLabor22,90156.4%
William OrrUnited Australia Party12,31930.3%
William HoweyIndependent3,9459.7%
Thomas Le HurayCommunist Party of Australia8232.0%
Thomas HoustonIndependent4481.1%
Noble KerbyIndependent1540.4%

1934

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Edward HollowayLabor27,08162.8%
James LaurenceUnited Australia Party12,17328.2%
William ClarkeIndependent3,8729.0%

1937

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Edward HollowayLabor-1100.0%

1940

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Edward HollowayLabor38,85366.1%
Raymond TrickeyUnited Australia Party19,90733.9%

1943

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Edward HollowayLabor47,14972.8%
Frank PreacherUnited Australia Party17,62927.2%

1946

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Ted HollowayLabor43,90566.7%
Douglas DennisLiberal21,88433.3%

1949

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Ted HollowayLabor26,79267.9%
Arthur BlockLiberal12,69032.1%

1951

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Frank CreanLabor26,50271.2%
Michael ProwseLiberal10,74028.8%

1954

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Frank CreanLabor22,00167.4%
Norman FittockLiberal8,91427.3%
Albert BullCommunist Party of Australia1,7335.3%

1955

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Frank CreanLabor19,91752.0%
Stanislaus CorriganLabor (Anti-Communist)9,66225.2%
Harold SherLiberal7,53119.7%
Alexander DobbinCommunist Party of Australia1,1933.1%

1958

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Frank CreanLabor22,96863.6%
Norman LoaderLiberal7,38120.4%
John FitzgeraldDemocratic Labor Party4,96913.8%
Roger WilsonCommunist Party of Australia8132.3%

1961

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Frank CreanLabor20,59061.7%
Gordon BlackburneLiberal7,48322.4%
Albert JonesDemocratic Labor Party4,57213.7%
Roger WilsonCommunist Party of Australia7492.2%

1963

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Frank CreanLabor20,65463.5%
James PondLiberal7,17822.1%
George O'dwyerDemocratic Labor Party4,07412.5%
Roger WilsonCommunist Party of Australia6321.9%

1966

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Frank CreanLabor16,00355.5%
Richard ThomasLiberal7,12324.7%
George O'dwyerDemocratic Labor Party3,30411.5%
David ClarkCommunist Party of Australia2,4028.3%

1969

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Frank CreanLabor25,20952.0%
Kevin RandallLiberal15,92332.9%
Eustace TraceyDemocratic Labor Party3,9448.1%
Reginald MaceyIndependent1,5803.3%
Stephen GravesIndependent1,4473.0%
George GabrielIndependent3520.7%

1972

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Frank CreanLabor29,63161.5%
Paul FentonLiberal14,72230.5%
John JohnstonDemocratic Labor Party3,8458.0%

1974

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Frank CreanLabor31,12060.4%
John WalshLiberal15,73330.6%
Beverley BroadbentAP2,4294.7%
John JohnstonDemocratic Labor Party2,2114.3%

1975

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Frank CreanLabor28,46055.5%
Roger JohnstonLiberal19,48538.0%
Beverley BroadbentAP1,6413.2%
Gordon HabermanDemocratic Labor Party1,3692.7%
Frederick GrayNational Country Party1680.3%
Henry SandersIndependent1540.3%

1977

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Clyde HoldingLabor31,30850.0%
Daniel HillLiberal20,62733.0%
Valina RainerAustralian Democrats6,1479.8%
Gordon HabermanDemocratic Labor Party4,4957.2%

1980

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Clyde HoldingLabor33,99257.0%
Colin BellLiberal20,25233.9%
Stephen DuthyAustralian Democrats4,3367.3%
Gordon MoffattIndependent8061.4%
Wilhelm KapphanIndependent2700.5%

1983

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Clyde HoldingLabor36,44459.7%
Ronald FloodLiberal20,48833.5%
John SutcliffeAustralian Democrats3,5565.8%
Brett TreneryIndependent5951.0%

1984

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Clyde HoldingLabor32,66557.1%
Allan PaullLiberal17,60330.8%
Sue McdougallAustralian Democrats3,3125.8%
Michael RoweDemocratic Labor Party1,8253.2%
Denice StephensIndependent8451.5%
Dorothy TurnerNational7951.4%
Russell MorseIndependent1590.3%

1987

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Clyde HoldingLabor29,83150.1%
Allan PaullLiberal20,68334.7%
Di BrethertonAustralian Democrats5,5689.3%
Alan BrownIndependent3,4835.8%

1990

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Allan PaullLiberal29,03243.6%
Clyde HoldingLabor26,33539.6%
David CollyerAustralian Democrats10,32715.5%
Greg LoatsIndependent8861.3%

1993

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Clyde HoldingLabor34,75148.7%
Helen FriedmannLiberal29,81741.7%
Beverley BroadbentAustralian Democrats2,6143.7%
Andrew ColbertIndependent2,2913.2%
Christine CraikIndependent1,2761.8%
Caroline HockleyIndependent6780.9%

1996

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Clyde HoldingLabor33,83846.6%
Margot FosterLiberal28,86339.7%
John DaveyAustralian Democrats5,1477.1%
Misha ColemanGreens3,7465.2%
Margaret Gillespie-JonesAAFI7001.0%
Robert BrownIndependent3570.5%

1998

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Michael DanbyLabor32,84944.1%
Fiona SneddenLiberal29,03739.0%
Julie PetersAustralian Democrats6,0998.2%
Dinesh MathewGreens3,5234.7%
Diana WolowskiUnity1,4131.9%
Arthur HawleyOne Nation1,3801.9%
Tom HaynesIndependent1800.2%

2001

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Andrew MclorinanLiberal31,38439.7%
Michael DanbyLabor31,11039.4%
Jeannette KavanaghGreens8,91211.3%
Greg ChippAustralian Democrats7,3289.3%
Jeremy BeckIndependent3050.4%

2004

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
David SouthwickLiberal35,05842.9%
Michael DanbyLabor32,04639.3%
Jo LewisGreens11,50814.1%
Craig BealeAustralian Democrats1,1021.3%
Les CameronIndependent9581.2%
Graeme JackelFFP4440.5%
Leonie HorinIndependent3740.5%
Aaron IsherwoodCEC1460.2%

2007

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Michael DanbyLabor36,55642.5%
Adam HeldLiberal34,15439.7%
Phillip WalkerGreens12,94115.0%
John MathiesonAustralian Democrats1,5271.8%
Rebecca GebbingFamily First7310.8%
Aaron IsherwoodIndependent1720.2%

2013

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Kevin EkendahlLiberal33,27841.0%
Michael DanbyLabor25,67631.7%
Ann BirrellGreens16,35320.2%
Melissa StarASP3,0893.8%
Toby StoddartPalmer United Party1,1221.4%
Vince StefanoDemocratic Labor Party5400.7%
Robert KeenanFamily First4900.6%
Steven ArmstrongIndependent3240.4%
Margaret QuinnIndependent2010.2%

2016

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Owen GuestLiberal35,53341.7%
Michael DanbyLabor22,89726.9%
Steph Hodgins-MayGreens20,17923.7%
Levi Mckenzie-KirkbrightIndependent1,6852.0%
Robert SmythAJP1,6852.0%
Peter HollandIndependent1,3931.6%
Henry Von DoussaIndependent1,3491.6%
John MyersIndependent4250.5%

Margin Over Time

Final (after-preferences) winning margin, percentage points, coloured by the winning party.

1901: Prot margin 100.0 pts 1903: Prot margin 13.9 pts 1906: Labor margin 6.9 pts 1910: Labor margin 39.2 pts 1913: Labor margin 58.4 pts 1914: Labor margin 100.0 pts 1917: Labor margin 32.5 pts 1919: Labor margin 100.0 pts 1922: Labor margin 46.2 pts 1925: Labor margin 35.4 pts 1928: Labor margin 100.0 pts 1929: Labor margin 100.0 pts 1931: Labor margin 30.0 pts 1934: Labor margin 38.0 pts 1937: Labor margin 100.0 pts 1940: Labor margin 32.2 pts 1943: Labor margin 45.6 pts 1946: Labor margin 33.5 pts 1949: Labor margin 35.7 pts 1951: Labor margin 42.3 pts 1954: Labor margin 42.3 pts 1955: Labor margin 34.7 pts 1958: Labor margin 51.4 pts 1961: Labor margin 46.7 pts 1963: Labor margin 48.4 pts 1966: Labor margin 38.4 pts 1969: Labor margin 22.6 pts 1972: Labor margin 33.6 pts 1974: Labor margin 32.8 pts 1975: Labor margin 18.7 pts 1977: Labor margin 20.6 pts 1980: Labor margin 25.3 pts 1983: Labor margin 28.0 pts 1984: Labor margin 28.5 pts 1987: Labor margin 19.9 pts 1990: Labor margin 4.1 pts 1993: Labor margin 11.7 pts 1996: Labor margin 12.1 pts 1998: Labor margin 11.7 pts 2001: Labor margin 11.4 pts 2004: Labor margin 7.5 pts 2007: Labor margin 14.3 pts 2013: Labor margin 7.5 pts 2016: Labor margin 2.8 pts 1901 1903 1906 1910 1913 1914 1917 1919 1922 1925 1928 1929 1931 1934 1937 1940 1943 1946 1949 1951 1954 1955 1958 1961 1963 1966 1969 1972 1974 1975 1977 1980 1983 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1998 2001 2004 2007 2013 2016

Trend

Melbourne ports has been contested at 44 federal elections on record since 1901. Winning parties over that span: Prot, Labor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won Melbourne ports in the 2016 federal election?

Michael Danby (Labor) won Melbourne ports in 2016 after preferences, with 43,573 votes (51.4%) to Owen Guest's 41,236.

Which parties have won Melbourne ports since 1901?

Since 1901, Melbourne ports has been won by: Labor, Prot.

What was the closest result in Melbourne ports?

The closest result on record for Melbourne ports was 2016, when Michael Danby (Labor) beat Owen Guest by 2,337 votes (2.8 percentage points) after preferences.

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