10.07pm: We’ll squeeze in the last word from our new MP. Susan Templeman thanked all the Labor supporters and volunteers who worked on her campaign. She paid tribute to former Macquarie MP Bob Debus, current Blue Mountains MP Trish Doyle and made special mention of former Labor Macquarie MP Maggie Deahm who died on December 28 last year. Ms Deahm held the seat from 1993 to 1996. Pictured are her children, Harry and Phoebe, and Susan's parents enjoying a happy moment during her victory speech.
10.02pm: This is it. Goodnight Macquarie voters. You have elected a new MP, Susan Templeman from the Labor Party, although Louise Markus has yet to concede and has no plans to do so tonight. We hope you enjoyed or at least were informed by our blog tonight. And we leave you with a lovely photo of the new Macquarie MP with her supporters, including Blue Mountains MP Trish Doyle and Senator Doug Cameron, at the Royal Hotel in Springwood tonight.
10pm: Election night statement from Terry Morgan from the Greens. "I'm very proud of the Macquarie Greens team for all their efforts throughout this long campaign. We Greens have achieved possibly our best ever results in Macquarie and are confident that over the long term this will only continue to grow from strength to strength. Clearly the Greens preferences were crucial to delivering Macquarie to the ALP, as in many other seats across the country. We are very proud of this achievement. The people of Macquarie should know that the Greens will continue to fight against the proposed Western Sydney Airport, to propose practical steps to combat global warming and to protect our precious places."
9.50pm: Despite reports suggesting Macquarie MP Louise Markus is likely to lose her seat, she will not concede this evening. In an address to her party room she thanked her staff and husband before stating confidently, "we're not done yet". Mrs Markus predicted or pre-poll votes would be crucial. She also slammed the ALP for running a dishonest campaign, citing Medicare as an example. "In coming days there will need to be some scrutineers," she said. "I still believe without question that the Coalition is the best to lead this nation."
9.30pm: The Greens Terry Morgan has called in to the Royal to congratulate new Macquarie MP, Susan Templeman.
9.25pm: Susan Templeman has just delivered a victory speech to ecstatic supporters at the Royal Hotel in Springwood.
9.15pm: Still waiting for any official word from the candidates in Macquarie. Just to give an update on neighbouring electorates. In Calare (Lithgow, Bathurst, Oberon, Orange, Parkes) Nationals Andrew Gee has successfully succeeded National John Cobb. In Chifley (Doonside, Mt Druitt, Plumpton, Rooty Hill), Ed Husic retains for the ALP. In Berowra (Hawkesbury River, Brooklyn, Cherrybrook, Beecroft), Julian Lesser retains for the Liberal Party. And in Greenway (Riverstone, Kellyville, Parklea, Toongabbie), Michelle Rowland holds it for the ALP with 54.57%.
8.45pm: Mrs Markus has been behind closed doors in her tally room for the past 15 minutes. The mood in the function room is relatively quiet, on the verge of sombre as the television reports continue to show a strong show for Labor. One of the faithful was heard to mutter, "dear oh dear", as he walked past the on screen tally.
8.35pm: 51.14% for Susan Templeman, 48.86% for Louise Markus according to Australian Electoral Commission.
8.32pm: Emma Husar and Londonderry MP Prue Car celebrate the result in Macquarie. It's looking more and more likely that Lindsay will be too close to call tonight.
8.30pm: Senator Doug Cameron, ABC and others are calling it for Susan Templeman.
In Lindsay: Emma Husar has arrived at Penrith Cricket Club to rousing cheers from supporters. Still too close to call though.
8pm update: 50.97% for Susan Templeman, 49.03% to Louise Markus.
8pm update for Lindsay: Australian Electoral Commission predictions: 50.26% for Emma Husar, 48.74% for Fiona Scott.
At Windsor RSL: Mrs Markus is yet to take a seat. Since we arrived in the room she has been making her way between guests and her tally room, which sits off the main function area.
In Lindsay: Roger Gubbins and Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown show their support for Emma Husar. There has been a swing against Liberal Fiona Scott and supporters are becoming very excited at the Penrith Cricket Club waiting for Ms Husar's arrival.
7.52pm: ABC expert Antony Green is calling Macquarie for Susan Templeman. The news brought a big cheer in the Royal Hotel at Springwood.
And in Lindsay, ABC is predicting Labor will take the seat following 20% vote count.
7.30pm tally: Susan Templeman 6,541 votes (38.07%); Louise Markus 5,599 (33.10%) and Terry Morgan from the Greens 2,400 (14.19%).
Gathering of the clan: Trish Doyle, Bob Debus and Susan Templeman.
7.45pm: Trish Doyle, Blue Mountains state MP, has arrived at the Royal at Springwood and given Susan Templeman a big hug as Ms Templeman’s son, Harry, looks on.
From Louise Markus’s shindig in Windsor: John Miller, 87, was proud to man the Richmond booth for Mrs Markus today. When asked whether he'd been there all day he laughed, "mate, two hours is all day for me".
7.30pm in Lindsay: Emma Husar from ALP 1,403 (46.12%), Fiona Scott 1,062 (34.91%).
And in Lindsay: AEC predicts 50.89% to sitting member Fiona Scott and 49.11% to ALP’s Emma Husar.
Tally: Australian Electoral Commission at this stage is predicting 50.92% to Susan Templeman, 49.08% to Louise Markus. But, as all the wise heads say, it’s early days.
7.15pm: Early word from Antony Green on ABC – seven booths counted, 5.9 per cent swing to ALP. In Windsor, a handful of party faithful have arrived at Windsor RSL, tonight's headquarters for sitting member Louise Markus.
Mrs Markus started the day at her first booth at 7.30am. Starting in the Mountains she worked her way around the electorate throughout the day, eventually losing count of the actual amount of polling stations visited or hands shaken.
6.40pm: Party faithful have started trickling in to the Penrith Cricket Club, where Lindsay Labor candidate Emma Husar's campaign supporters are watching today's results.
6.30pm: Red T-shirts starting to fill up the Royal at Springwood, including former Federal and State MP Bob Debus, who is talking to local members
6.25pm: Bill Shorten visited Susan Templeman at Winmalee High School today.
And Louise Markus’s son helped her hand out how to vote cards.
6.20pm: Very early days with Susan Templeman’s party at the Royal HOtel in Springwood. Dare say it will look a lot different in a couple of hours. Louise Markus’s party at Windsor RSL doesn’t start until 6.30.
6pm: Tick tock, it’s six o’clock so the polls have just closed for Federal Election 2016.
Welcome to the Gazette’s live blog of the count for Macquarie. We will bring you updates on the count, as well as the colour and mood from inside the post-election parties of Louise Markus and Susan Templeman.
Hawkesbury Gazette editor Matt Lawrence is at the Windsor RSL with Mrs Markus; Blue Mountains Gazette editor Damien Madigan is at the Royal Hotel in Springwood with Ms Templeman.
I’m Jennie Curtin, from the Blue Mountains Gazette, and I’ll be co-ordinating tonight and hopefully keeping you in the loop as the count continues.