1959 South Australian state election


State elections were held in South Australia on 7 March 1959. All 39 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election. The incumbent Liberal and Country League led by Premier of South Australia Thomas Playford IV defeated the Australian Labor Party led by Leader of the Opposition Mick O'Halloran.

Background

Labor won two seats at this election, rural Mount Gambier from an Independent and rural Wallaroo from the LCL. Both of these seats had been previously won in by-elections in 1957 and 1958, and Labor retained them.

Post-election pendulum

Labor seats ---
Marginal---
West TorrensFred WalshALP1.4%
FromeMick O'HalloranALP2.5%
MillicentJim CorcoranALP4.5%
NorwoodDon DunstanALP5.0%
Fairly safe---
EdwardstownFrank WalshALP7.8%
Mount GambierRon RalstonALP8.3%
WallarooLloyd HughesALP8.9%
Safe---
MurrayGabe BywatersALP15.1%
GawlerJohn ClarkALP17.7%
AdelaideSam LawnALP30.1% v DLP
Port AdelaideJohn RyanALP34.9% v DLP
WhyallaRon LovedayALP34.9% v IND
StuartLindsay RichesALP38.4% v IND
SemaphoreHarold TappingALP42.2% v COM
EnfieldJoe JenningsALPundistributed
Port PirieDave McKeeALPundistributed
HindmarshCyril HutchensALPunopposed
Crossbench seats ---
BurraPercy QuirkeIND2.1% v LCL
RidleyTom StottIND6.7% v LCL