WA Liberals bolt to victory in Cottesloe

Former WA Liberal president David Honey has won the seat of Cottesloe, vacated by ex-premier Colin Barnett and held by the party for all of its 68 years.

David Honey, voting with his wife Robyn, is tipped to keep Cottelsoe for the WA Liberals. (AAP)

David Honey has easily won the state West Australian seat of Cottesloe, replacing former premier Colin Barnett.

The former state Liberal Party president picked up nearly 60 per cent of the primary vote with 65 per cent of the vote counted, the WA electoral commission site showed.

Labor did not field a candidate in the swanky coastal electorate of Cottesloe has more than 27,000 voters.

But seven other candidates stood. The closest was the Greens candidate who picked up 19 per cent of the primary vote.

Even before polls closed on Saturday, Mr Honey, , was rejecting suggestions he was some type of "Messiah" for the Liberals in WA.

"No, I'm someone who hopes they can do a good job for the residents of Cottesloe as a representative and can do everything in parliament to maximise the outcomes for the opposition," he said.

Asked if he had aspirations to lead the party at some stage he said he was focussed on "getting through today".

"I just want to do whatever I can in parliament to maximise our opportunity to return to government at the next election."

But Mr Honey maintained a previous commitment to serve for at least 12 years if possible.

"I see this as a 12-year commitment, I see this as a three-term commitment at a minimum," he said.

Mr Barnett held the seat for more than 27 years before his retirement last month.

His resignation came almost one year after Labor's landslide state election win, which prompted the 67-year-old to step down as party leader.

Mr Honey, who has a chemistry doctorate, comes to politics after a career in business, most recently as a manager at Alcoa.