Outside of Read's victory, the election was also notable as the first in Western Australia to be contested by the newly established Liberal Party.
Howard Raphael, a prominent dentist and member of the Perth City Council, had held Victoria Park for the Labor Party since the seat's creation at the 1930 state election.
He enlisted in a dental unit of the Australian Army in 1942, but continued on as a member of parliament until his sudden death in Sydney in December 1944.
[2] Six candidates contested the by-election:[3] Read joined three other independents in the Legislative Assembly – Horace Berry, Lionel Kelly, and Harry Shearn.
He was re-elected at the 1947 state election, and with Shearn supported Ross McLarty's efforts to form a minority government.