SA by-election holds to Libs despite swing

The Liberals have suffered a large swing against them but have still held onto the South Australian seat of Davenport.

Liberal accountant Sam Duluk claimed victory after Labor high school teacher Mark Ward conceded defeat on Saturday night.

Labor appears to have secured a six per cent swing towards it on a two-party preferred basis.

Premier Jay Weatherill said although the seat was retained by the Liberals, the swing was "fantastic" for Labor particularly as it was in its fourth term of government.

He said the federal government's cuts and the state opposition's failure to stand up to Prime Minister Tony Abbott played a part in the swing.

Davenport, in the Adelaide Hills, has been held by the Liberals since its creation in 1970 and was retained with an eight per cent margin at last year's state poll.

The by-election was sparked by the retirement of long-serving Liberal Iain Evans, whose father previously held the seat.