The prime minister went to church with wife Jenny on Sunday morning after the miracle victory.

"I give thanks to live in the greatest country in all the world," he told reporters outside the Horizon Church.

"Thanks again to all Australians all across the country."

Hugging members of the church congregation, Mr Morrison praised the people of the Sutherland Shire in his home seat of Cook, and his team of local volunteers.

"They have stayed with me ever since I was first elected to parliament in 2007," he said.

"You don't get to be prime minister and serve in that capacity unless you are first a member of your local electorate."

Pastor Andrew Evans, a former South Australian state politician who founded the Family First party, ministered the service on Sunday morning.

Overnight, the prime minister received a rapturous reception after defying the pundits in a come-from-behind victory.

"I have always believed in miracles," he told jubilant Liberal supporters in Sydney on Saturday night, with his wife and two daughters by his side.

"I'm standing with the three biggest miracles of my life here tonight and tonight we have been delivered another one."

Hundreds of Liberal diehards who packed into the ballroom of the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel erupted in deafening delight when Mr Morrison entered the room around midnight.

But the prime minister declared the surprise election result a victory for "quiet Australians".

"It's always been about them."

Liberal diehards had come expecting a funeral but somehow found themselves at a coronation.

Mr Morrison, who became prime minister less than nine months ago after the Liberal Party rolled Malcolm Turnbull, is hungry to get back to work.

"We've got a lot of work to do. We're going to get back to work for the Australians that we know go to work every day, who face those struggles and trials every day," he said.

"They're looking for a fair go and they're having a go and they're going to get a go from our government."

The coalition will be returned to government after winning at least 74 of the 76 seats needed to form a majority in parliament.

A number of seats are still in doubt, but Mr Morrison acknowledged those candidates who defied the odds to buck expected defeats.

He singled out the Sunshine State, where Labor failed to make an impact.

"How good's Queensland?" he said, to chants of Queensland from the crowd.

"I never thought I'd hear that in this room in NSW this close to Origin."

Mr Morrison will watch his beloved Cronulla Sharks play later in the day. The real work begins on Monday, when the coalition government returns to Canberra.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has congratulated his successor Scott Morrison for his unexpected win in Saturday's federal election.

"Congratulations @ScottMorrisonMP on an outstanding personal victory," Mr Turnbull tweeted on Sunday.

"Australians have once again backed the Coalition to deliver a strong economy, more jobs & lower taxes."

Vote counting will continue but Labor conceded on Saturday night it will not be able to form government.

Tearful true believers embraced one another as the curtain came down on another shattering election failure.

Bill Shorten's concession speech was a painful footnote for Labor supporters, drawing a line under Saturday's stunning loss.

"We are a resilient and proud movement and we never give up," he told them.

Sadness and disbelief prevailed in the room as nightmares came true.

As the results came through, the crowd thinned out.

Many worked tirelessly to elect Mr Shorten prime minister but now, Labor will spend three more years in opposition.

Nick Wilson, a branch member in Mr Shorten's electorate of Maribyrnong, said Queensland had been an issue.

"I'm still trying to take it all in really," he told AAP.

But the 20-year party member hopes Labor's work on developing a comprehensive policy platform doesn't get thrown out.

"Whether a different leader could sell it in a more positive way, I don't know."

Another Labor diehard said the result wasn't good for Australia's future.

"This is a bad call," she told AAP.

"We need to look after our young people, we need to look after the climate and to make sure housing is affordable."

Peter Dutton, who received a savage chorus of boos when his speech was shown, used Paul Keating's "sweetest victory of all" line.

As the results turned sour, the bar line grew with people looking to douse nerves and drown sorrows.

The excitement of earlier in the night evaporated, replaced by agitation and finally grief.

A raucous cheer broke out when the news former prime minister Tony Abbott will be booted from parliament was shown on the big screens.

But aside from that, there was little to cheer about.

Red balloons adorned the room but there was nothing festive about the mood.

Billionaire Anthony Pratt, Father Bob Maguire and Will Connolly, who shot to national attention for egging far-right senator Fraser Anning, attended the party.

Australian Associated Press