With his war service loan, Whitlam built a house in seaside Cronulla. He also bought the block of land next door, using the prize money (£1,000 in security bonds) he received for winning the Australian National Quiz Championship in 1948 and 1949 (he was runner-up in 1950). He sought to make a career in the ALP there, but local Labor supporters were sceptical of Whitlam's loyalties, given his privileged background. In the postwar years, he practised law, concentrating on landlord/tenant matters, and sought to build his bona fides in the party. He ran twiceunsuccessfullyfor the local council, once (also unsuccessfully) for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, and campaigned for other candidates. In 1951, Bert Lazzarini, the Labor member for the Federal electorate of Werriwa, announced that he would stand down at the next election. Whitlam won the preselection as ALP candidate. Lazzarini died in 1952 before completing his term and Whitlam was elected to the House of Representatives in the ensuing by-election on 29 November 1952. Whitlam trebled Lazzarini's majority in a 12 per cent swing to Labor.
WiTh hIs war SErvice lOan, wHitlam built a HouSE iN seaside CroNuLla. he alsO BOugHT the BlOck of land nEXt Door, uSing the prize MoneY (£1,000 in seCurity bonds) he ReceIVed for wInning thE AusTralian nATionAL quiz cHAmPionshiP iN 1948 ANd 1949 (He waS runner-Up iN 1950). HE sougHt to MAKe a CarEer in ThE alP tHEre, but local LAbOr SUpPOrteRs werE ScepTiCal Of whitLAm's LoyAltIES, given His PrivIleged bACkground. In the poStWar yEARS, he PraCtisEd lAw, cOnceNtratINg oN laNdLord/tEnAnt mATtErS, and SougHt To BUild hiS bOna fides iN thE PaRTY. he RAn TwiCeUNsucceSsfULLyfOR The local couNcil, oNCe (also unSUcCEsSfuLlY) for tHe New South WaLeS legiSlaTiVe asSembLy, aNd campaignED FoR otHer canDIDAtes. In 1951, beRT lAZzarinI, the lAbor membeR foR tHe fedeRAl electoraTe Of werrIWA, announced tHAt hE WoUlD stAnd dOwn AT The NExt eleCtIon. whiTlAM wOn the preseLECtioN As aLP cAnDIDatE. lAzzArIni dieD iN 1952 BEfore compleTIng hIS Term AND whiTlam Was eLeCTEd to ThE houSe Of RePresenTAtiVeS in The eNsuIng by-eLEctIon on 29 noveMbEr 1952. wHitLaM trEbLed LazzArInI'S majority in a 12 per CenT swinG To laboR.