Federal election 2022: Mackellar and Warringah election parties

And, over at the Balgowlah RSL, there is already a big crowd at Zali Steggall's election party, with a palpable note of confidence as people line up with their free drink tickets. Food stations dot the room, the stage is set up and ready to go, and above us all, almost floating in the air, is a control centre where three men hunch over computers, crunching numbers.

Katherine Deves' do is a more sedate affair; people sit around the Balgowlah Bowling Club with beers and speak in hushed tones. The lady of the hour hasn't arrived yet, nor have the former Prime Ministers who supported her, Tony Abbott and John Howard. There are a few media scattered about; tickets to this event was limited.

6.30pm - The Scamps and Steggall rooms are both filling fast with volunteers, almost everyone is wearing the familiar teale T-shirts. There's lots of mingling, hugging, clinking of glasses. Spirits are high already.

7.01pm - Right on cue, Steggall and her husband Tim Irving arrive to loud cheers - and are immediately engulfed by fans. There are about 200 people in the room. Her volunteers span a broad spectrum of age and gender - from old Queenwood school buddies to neighbours and work colleagues to students who are passionate about the environment. We even spy Tony Hockey, cousin of former Liberal heavy-hitter Joe, in the crowd. We also spot Steggall's chief of staff, Bronwen Regan, and ask her if her husband, Northern Beaches mayor Michael Regan, will be here at all tonight. He has a domestic violence fundraiser to attend - and, in any case, is keeping out of federal politics tonight.

7.10pm - Loud cheers when Scamps' name registers on top with 43 per cent of the vote, compared to Falinski's 41 per cent.

7.14pm - Former Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Greg Mullins takes to the stage to praise Scamps' stance on climate.

7.20pm - James Mathieson - who himself ran for this seat as an Independent back in 2016, describing it as an "awesome" experience - is MC on the Steggall stage. Throughout the night, he will update the room on the progress of the Independents across the nation. With so many doing so much better than expected, there is plenty of cheering to be done.

7.23pm - Volunteers are watching the election coverage closely and when the screen flips to fellow independent Allegra Spender leading in the seat of Wentworth, loud, spontaneous applause erupts at both the Steggall and Scamps parties.

7.25pm - The Scamps and Steggall rooms fall deadly silent when the ABC's commentators say Liberal Jason Falinski could retain the seat of Mackellar, with him currently leading with 42.6 per cent of the vote.

7.34pm Loud cheers and hugs as the ABC's Antony Green declares "Zali Steggall will be re-elected as the member for Warringah". The chant starts: "Zali! Zali! Zali!" and continues for a good 30 seconds. The member herself, however, is in the corner of the room standing on some crates preparing for a live cross and doesn't even turn her head. Her team says she is not ready to declare.

7.40pm Steggall tells the ABC she is playing the long game and not declaring victory yet.

8.08pm - Falinski's election party is a much more subdued affair, with around 200 people gathered in Pittwater RSL's Monkey Bun sports bar. No hugging, quiet chatter as most people watch the ABC's election coverage intently.

8.17pm - Falinski's wife and their daughter stand by his side quietly watching the coverage. His parents and brothers stand by not too far away.

8.20pm - The Steggall crowd holds their phone torches in the air and bops to "Isn't it Amazing", a quite lovely moment.

8.28pm - Finally! Steggall and a huge entourage that includes her husband, sons and key campaign team take to the stage, declares victory and thanks her supporters. "It is time for a new wave of politics " she tells the cheering crowd. "We absolutely want policies and representation in Canberra that matters; that's not about holding onto power or wedging the other side, that's about vision, about how great we can be. And the athlete in me - the Olympian - I want to win!"

8.34pm - More Zali! chants as the team exits, stage right. Spontaneous dancing breaks out across the room... "I'm burnin' through the sky, yeah 200 degrees, That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit, I'm travelling at the speed of light..."

Shortly afterwards, Deves, in a dark blue sequined gown, will take to the stage with her family and concede victory. Tony Abbott, who arrived earlier and has been drinking beers with the Liberal party faithful, is also on stage, peering over her shoulder at her notes. Her youngest daughter keep her hands on her ears, head down. They don't stay long.

On the big screen, ABC says 35 per cent of the vote has been counted, at 45.9 per cent Falinski trails behind Scamps' 54.1 per cent.

8.35pm - Scamps declares victory as hundreds of her volunteers cheer in support.

Giving generously of her time, Steggall and the NBR slip into the control room for an interview. With a hung parliament still an option, she is already outlining her action plan - "I had prepared myself to be extremely busy for the next few days," she says.

8.50pm - Falinski's party starts to clear out, there's around 100 people left, it's more subdued.

8.56pm - Scamps' celebration is in full swing. Her family is there, so is Kamahl, and Oli and Louis Leimbach from Lime Cordiale. The music has been turned up, volunteers are dancing everywhere - on stage, on the dancefloor and as they wait for a drink at the bar.

9.03pm - Falinski has conceded. He then calls Scamps to offer his congratulations.

9.19pm - Hordes of media are waiting to speak to Scamps following her victory speech to her volunteers.

10.15pm - There seems to be a few gatecrashers at the Steggall do - the dude in head to toe camo drinking beers seems particularly out of place. The team don't care. They are victors. The Steggall reporters leave the crowd to their joy and head home - exhausted - to watch the night play out.

10.51pm - Morrison declares, but the Scamps party talks through much of his speech, before deciding to turn the music on midway through.

11.15pm - The RSL is wrapping up Scamps' party, but many volunteers are still keen to celebrate and head downstairs to continue the party.

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