Divisions of the Australian House of Representatives


In Australia, electoral districts for the Australian House of Representatives are called divisions or more commonly referred to as electorates or seats. There are currently 151 single-member electorates for the Australian House of Representatives.

Constitutional and legal requirements

Section 14 of the Constitution of Australia requires that the total number of members of the Australian House of Representatives shall be "as nearly as practicable" twice as many as the number of members of the Australian Senate. The section also requires that electorates be apportioned among the states in proportion to their respective populations; provided that each original state has at least 5 members in the House of Representatives, a provision that has given Tasmania higher representation than its population would justify. There are also three electorates in the Australian Capital Territory and two in the Northern Territory.
In addition, Section 29 forbids electorate boundaries from crossing state lines, forcing populated areas along state and territory borders to be placed in different electorates, such as Albury in New South Wales being part of the electorate of Farrer, while nearby Wodonga in Victoria is part of the electorate of Indi. The same restriction does not apply to territories, and several current electoral divisions incorporate electors from multiple territories. This is currently the case for the Division of Bean, the Division of Fenner, and the Division of Lingiari.
The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 sets out further provisions.

Apportionment

The Australian Electoral Commission determines from time to time the number of members to which each state and territory is entitled and the boundaries of each electorate, in a process known in Australia as redistribution.
Within each state and territory, electoral boundaries are redrawn from time to time. This takes place at least once every 7 years, or when the state's entitlement to the number of members of the House of Representatives changes. Boundaries are drawn by a Redistribution Committee, and apportionment within a state is on the basis of the number of enrolled voters rather than total residents or "population".
The number of enrolled voters in each division cannot vary by more than 10% from the average across a state or territory, nor can the number of voters vary by more than 3.5% from the average projected enrolment 3.5 years into the future. However, due to various reasons, larger seats like Cowper contain 80% more electors than that of smaller seats like Solomon.
The last redistribution was completed in 2018, in time for the 2019 federal election. In this redistribution, the AEC added a seat to Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, and also determined that South Australia would lose a seat. The total number of seats in the House of Representatives therefore increased to 151. Seats in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia were also abolished, in order to make way for seats in similar locations but with different names.
The historical apportionment of seats for the various states is:

Naming

The Divisions of the House of Representatives are unusual in that many of them are not named after geographical features or numbered, as is the case in most other legislatures around the world. Most Divisions are named in honour of prominent historical people, such as former politicians, explorers, artists and engineers.
In some cases where a Division is named after a geographical locality, the connection to that locality is sometimes tenuous. For instance, the Division of Werriwa, created in 1901, was named after the Aboriginal word for Lake George in the Canberra region. However, Werriwa has not contained Lake George for many decades, and has steadily moved some 200 km north to the south-western suburbs of Sydney over the past century.

List of Divisions in 2019

The lists below show the Divisions as they exist at the 2019 Australian federal election.
There were 47 Divisions in New South Wales, 38 in Victoria, 30 in Queensland, 16 in Western Australia, 10 in South Australia, 5 in Tasmania, 3 in the ACT and 2 in Northern Territory.
NameFormedStateNamesakeKnown forNotable MPs
Adelaide1903South AustraliaCity of AdelaideGeographic locationCharles Kingston, premier of South Australia
Aston1984VictoriaTilly AstonTeacher
Ballarat1901VictoriaCity of BallaratGeographic locationAlfred Deakin, Prime Minister
Banks1949New South WalesJoseph BanksBotanist
Barker1903South AustraliaCollet BarkerExplorerJohn Langdon Bonython, owner and editor of The Advertiser
Archie Cameron, leader of the Country Party
Barton1922New South WalesEdmund BartonPrime MinisterH. V. Evatt, leader of the ALP and Justice of the High Court
Linda Burney, first indigenous woman in the House of Representatives
Bass1903TasmaniaGeorge BassExplorer
Bean2019Australian Capital TerritoryCharles BeanWar correspondent
Historian
Bendigo1901VictoriaCity of BendigoGeographic locationBilly Hughes, Prime Minister
George Rankin, major general in the Army Reserve
John Brumby, premier of Victoria
Bennelong1949New South WalesBennelongAboriginal elderJohn Howard, Prime Minister
Maxine McKew, Walkley and Logie winning journalist
John Alexander, professional tennis player
Berowra1969New South WalesSuburb of BerowraGeographic location
Blair1998QueenslandHarold BlairAboriginal singer
Blaxland1949New South WalesGregory BlaxlandExplorerPaul Keating, Prime Minister
Bonner2004QueenslandNeville BonnerAboriginal politician
Boothby1903South AustraliaWilliam BoothbyElectoral commissionerSteele Hall, premier of South Australia
Bowman1949QueenslandDavid BowmanPolitician
Braddon1955TasmaniaEdward BraddonPremier of TasmaniaRay Groom, VFL player and premier of Tasmania
Bradfield1949New South WalesJohn BradfieldDesigner of the Sydney Harbour BridgeBilly Hughes, Prime Minister
Brendan Nelson, leader of the Liberal Party and president of the AMA
Brand1984Western AustraliaDavid BrandPremier of Western AustraliaKim Beazley, leader of the ALP
Brisbane1901QueenslandCity of BrisbaneGeographic location
Bruce1955VictoriaStanley BrucePrime MinisterBilly Snedden, leader of the Liberal Party
Burt2016Western AustraliaArchibald Burt
Septimus Burt
Francis Burt
Members of a significant WA family
Calare1906New South WalesAboriginal name for the Lachlan RiverGeographic locationNeville Howse, major general in the ADF
Calwell1984VictoriaArthur CalwellLeader of the opposition
Canberra1974Australian Capital TerritoryCity of CanberraGeographic location
Canning1949Western AustraliaAlfred CanningSurveyor of the Rabbit-proof fence
Capricornia1901QueenslandTropic of CapricornGeographic locationFrank Forde, Prime Minister
Casey1969VictoriaRichard CaseyGovernor General
Chifley1969New South WalesBen ChifleyPrime MinisterEd Husic, first Muslim elected to parliament
Chisholm1949VictoriaCaroline ChisholmPhilanthropistWilfrid Kent Hughes, represented Australia at the 1920 Olympics
Gladys Liu, first Chinese woman in parliament
Clark2019TasmaniaAndrew Inglis ClarkCo-author of the Australian Constitution
Cook1969New South WalesJames CookExplorerScott Morrison, Prime Minister
Cooper2019VictoriaWilliam CooperAboriginal ActivistGed Kearney, president of the ACTU
Corangamite1901VictoriaLake CorangamiteGeographic locationJames Scullin, Prime Minister
Sarah Henderson, Walkley award winning journalist
Corio1901VictoriaCorio BayGeographic locationRichard Casey, Governor General
Hubert Opperman, professional cyclist
Cowan1984Western AustraliaEdith CowanPolitician and activistAnne Aly, first Muslim woman in parliament
Cowper1901New South WalesCharles CowperNSW premierEarle Page, Prime Minister
Cunningham1949New South WalesAllan CunninghamExplorerMichael Organ, first member of the Greens elected to the House of Representatives
Curtin1949Western AustraliaJohn CurtinPrime MinisterPaul Hasluck, Governor General
Dawson1949QueenslandAnderson DawsonPremier of Queensland
Deakin1937VictoriaAlfred DeakinPrime Minister
Dickson1992QueenslandJames Robert DicksonPremier of QueenslandCheryl Kernot, leader of the Democrats
Dobell1984New South WalesWilliam DobellPainter
Dunkley1984VictoriaLouisa Margaret DunkleyLabour unionist and
women's rights campaigner
Durack2010Western AustraliaMary DurackAuthor
Eden-Monaro1901New South WalesTown of Eden
Region of Monaro
Geographic location
Fadden1977QueenslandArthur FaddenPrime Minister
Fairfax1984QueenslandRuth FairfaxFounder of the Country Women's AssociationClive Palmer, businessman and leader of United Australia Party
Farrer1949New South WalesWilliam FarrerScientistTim Fischer, leader of the National Party
Fenner2016Australian Capital TerritoryFrank FennerScientistAndrew Leigh, professor of economics
Fisher1949QueenslandAndrew FisherPrime Minister
Flinders1901VictoriaMatthew FlindersExplorerWilliam Irvine, premier of Victoria and Chief Justice of Victoria
Stanley Bruce, Prime Minister
Flynn2006QueenslandJohn FlynnFounder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service
Forde1984QueenslandFrank FordePrime Minister
Forrest1922Western AustraliaJohn ForrestExplorer
Premier of Western Australia
Fowler1984New South WalesLilian FowlerMayor of Newtown
Franklin1903TasmaniaJohn FranklinExplorerWilliam McWilliams, leader of the Country Party
Fraser2019VictoriaMalcolm FraserPrime Minister
Fremantle1901Western AustraliaCity of FremantleGeographic locationElias Solomon, first Jewish member of parliament
John Curtin, Prime Minister
Carmen Lawrence, premier of Western Australia
Gellibrand1949VictoriaJoseph GellibrandAttorney General of Tasmania
Gilmore1984New South WalesMary GilmorePoet and author
Gippsland1901VictoriaRegion of GippslandGeographic locationAllan McLean, premier of Victoria
Goldstein1984VictoriaVida GoldsteinSuffragette
Gorton2004VictoriaJohn GortonPrime Minister
Grayndler1949New South WalesEdward GrayndlerPolitician and unionistAnthony Albanese, leader of the Opposition
Greenway1984New South WalesFrancis GreenwayArchitect
Grey1903South AustraliaGeorge GreyGovernor of South Australia
Griffith1934QueenslandSamuel GriffithPremier of Queensland
Chief Justice of Australia
Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister
Groom1984QueenslandLittleton GroomPolitician
Hasluck2001Western AustraliaPaul Hasluck
Alexandra Hasluck
Governor General
Author
Herbert1901QueenslandRobert HerbertPremier of Queensland
Higgins1949VictoriaH. B. HigginsPolitician and judgeHarold Holt, Prime Minister
John Gorton, Prime Minister
Hindmarsh1903South AustraliaJohn HindmarshGovernor of South Australia
Hinkler1984QueenslandBert HinklerAviator
Holt1969VictoriaHarold HoltPrime MinisterWilliam Yates, also a member of House of Commons in the UK
Hotham1969VictoriaCharles HothamGovernor of VictoriaDon Chipp, founder and leader of the Democrats
Simon Crean, leader of the ALP
Hughes1955New South WalesBilly HughesPrime Minister
Hume1901New South WalesHamilton HumeExplorerWilliam Lyne, premier of NSW
Hunter1901New South WalesJohn HunterNSW GovernorEdmund Barton, Prime Minister and Justice of the High Court
Matthew Charlton, leader of the ALP
H. V. Evatt, leader of the ALP, Chief Justice of NSW and Justice of the High Court
Indi1901VictoriaAboriginal name for the Murray RiverGeographic locationIsaac Isaacs, Chief Justice, Governor General
John Leckie, played in the VFA
John McEwen, Prime Minister
William Bostock, Air vice-marshal in the RAAF
Mac Holten, played in the VFL
Isaacs1969VictoriaIsaac IsaacsGovernor General
Chief Justice
Jagajaga1984VictoriaThree Wurundjeri elders
Kennedy1901QueenslandEdmund KennedyExplorerBob Katter, leader of Katter's Australian Party
Kingsford Smith1949New South WalesCharles Kingsford SmithAviatorPeter Garrett, lead singer of Midnight Oil
Kingston1949South AustraliaCharles KingstonPremier of South AustraliaJim Handby, SANFL player and coach
Kay Brownbill, media personality
Kooyong1901VictoriaSuburb of KooyongGeographic locationWilliam Knox, secretary of BHP
John Latham, leader of the Opposition, Chief Justice
Robert Menzies, Prime Minister
Andrew Peacock, leader of the Opposition
La Trobe1949VictoriaCharles La TrobeGovernor of VictoriaRichard Casey, Governor General
Lalor1949VictoriaPeter LalorLeader of the Eureka RebellionBarry Jones, quiz champion and radio host
Julia Gillard, Prime Minister
Leichhardt1949QueenslandLudwig LeichhardtExplorer
Lilley1913QueenslandCharles LilleyPremier and Chief Justice of QueenslandElaine Darling, first Queensland woman in the House of Representatives
Lindsay1984New South WalesNorman LindsayArtistJackie Kelly, professional rower
Lingiari2001Northern TerritoryVincent LingiariAboriginal activist
Longman1996QueenslandIrene LongmanPoliticianWyatt Roy, youngest ever member of the House of Representatives
Lyne1949New South WalesWilliam LyneNSW premierMark Vaile, leader of the National Party
Lyons1984TasmaniaJoseph Lyons
Enid Lyons
Prime Minister
Politician
Eric Hutchinson, administrator of Norfolk Island
Macarthur1949New South WalesJohn Macarthur
Elizabeth Macarthur
Pioneer of white settlementJohn Fahey, premier of NSW and president of WADA
Pat Farmer, ultra-marathon runner
Mackellar1949New South WalesCharles Mackellar
Dorothea Mackellar
Politician
Poet
Macnamara2019VictoriaJean MacnamaraScientist
Macquarie1901New South WalesLachlan MacquarieGovernor of NSWBen Chifley, Prime Minister
Makin1984South AustraliaNorman MakinPolitician
Mallee1949VictoriaRegion of The MalleeGeographic location
Maranoa1901QueenslandMaranoa RiverGeographic location
Maribyrnong1906VictoriaMaribyrnong RiverGeographic locationBill Shorten, leader of the ALP
Mayo1984South AustraliaHelen MayoDoctorAlexander Downer, leader of the Liberal Party
McEwen1984VictoriaJohn McEwenPrime MinisterArthur Fadden, Prime Minister
Charles Barnes, race horse owner
McPherson1949QueenslandMcPherson RangeGeographic location
McMahon2010New South WalesWilliam McMahonPrime Minister
Melbourne1901VictoriaCity of MelbourneGeographic locationMalcolm McEacharn, businessman and Mayor of Melbourne
Arthur Calwell, leader of the ALP
Adam Bandt, leader of the Greens
Menzies1984VictoriaRobert MenziesPrime Minister
Mitchell1949New South WalesThomas MitchellExplorer
Monash2019VictoriaJohn MonashGeneral and head of the armed forces
Moncrieff1984QueenslandGladys MoncrieffSinger
Moore1949Western AustraliaGeorge Fletcher MooreEarly WA settler
Moreton1901QueenslandMoreton BayGeographic location
New England1901New South WalesRegion of New EnglandGeographic locationIan Sinclair, leader of the Nationals
Barnaby Joyce, leader of the Nationals
Newcastle1901New South WalesCity of NewcastleGeographic location
Nicholls2019VictoriaDouglas Nicholls
Gladys Nicholls
Aboriginal activistsDamian Drum, AFL player and coach
North Sydney1901New South WalesSuburb of North SydneyGeographic locationGranville Ryrie, Major General in the army
Billy Hughes, Prime Minister
Trent Zimmerman, first openly LGBTI member of the House of Representatives
O'Connor1980Western AustraliaC. Y. O'ConnorEngineer
Oxley1949QueenslandJohn OxleyExplorerBill Hayden, Governor General, leader of the ALP
Pauline Hanson, leader of One Nation
Page1984New South WalesEarle PagePrime Minister
Parkes1984New South WalesHenry ParkesGovernor of NSW
Parramatta1901New South WalesSuburb of ParramattaGeographic locationJoseph Cook, Prime Minister
Garfield Barwick, Chief Justice of the High Court
Nigel Bowen, Chief Justice Federal Court of Australia
Paterson1949-1984
1993
New South WalesBanjo PatersonAuthor and poet
Pearce1989Western AustraliaGeorge PearcePolitician
Perth1901Western AustraliaCity of PerthGeographic locationRic Charlesworth, cricket professional, hockey player and coach, competed at the 1976 Olympics
Petrie1949QueenslandAndrew PetrieArchitect
Rankin1984QueenslandAnnabelle RankinPolitician
Reid1922New South WalesGeorge ReidPrime MinisterJack Lang, premier of NSW
Richmond1901New South WalesRichmond RiverGeographic locationDoug Anthony, leader of National Party
Riverina1901-84
1993
New South WalesRegion of The RiverinaGeographic locationMichael McCormack, leader of the Nationals
Robertson1901New South WalesJohn RobertsonPremier of NSW
Ryan1949QueenslandT. J. RyanPremier of Queensland
Scullin1968VictoriaJames ScullinPrime Minister
Shortland1949New South WalesJohn ShortlandExplorer
Solomon2000Northern TerritoryVaiben Louis SolomonPremier of South Australia
Spence2019South AustraliaCatherine Helen SpencePolitician
Author
Stirling1955Western AustraliaJames StirlingGovernor of Western AustraliaEoin Cameron, radio presenter
Sturt1949South AustraliaCharles SturtExplorer
Swan1901Western AustraliaSwan RiverGeographic locationJohn Forrest, premier of Western Australia
Kim Beazley, leader of the ALP
Sydney1968New South WalesCity of SydneyGeographic location
Tangney1974Western AustraliaDorothy TangneyPolitician
Warringah1922New South WalesWarringah CouncilGeographic locationGranville Ryrie, Major General in the army
Tony Abbott, Prime Minister
Zali Steggall, alpine skier at 1998 Winter Olympics
Wannon1901VictoriaWannon RiverGeographic locationMalcolm Fraser, Prime Minister
Watson1992New South WalesChris WatsonPrime Minister
Wentworth1901New South WalesWilliam WentworthExplorerPeter Coleman, leader of the NSW Liberal Party
John Hewson, leader of the Liberal Party
Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister
Kerryn Phelps, president of the AMA
Werriwa1901New South WalesAboriginal name for Lake GeorgeGeographic locationWalter McNicoll, Brigadier General in the army
Gough Whitlam, Prime Minister
Mark Latham, leader of the ALP
Whitlam2016New South WalesGough WhitlamPrime Minister
Wide Bay1901QueenslandRegion of Wide Bay–BurnettGeographic locationAndrew Fisher, Prime Minister
Warren Truss, leader of the National Party
Wills1949VictoriaWilliam John WillsExplorerBob Hawke, Prime Minister
Wright2009QueenslandJudith WrightPoet

Abolished divisions

These Australian Divisions no longer exist:
NameFormedAbolishedStateNamesakeKnown forNotable MPs
Angas 19031934SAGeorge Fife AngasBusinessman and banker
Angas 19491977SAGeorge Fife AngasBusinessman and banker
Australian Capital Territory19491974ACTAustralian Capital TerritoryGeographic location
Balaclava19011984VICSuburb of BalaclavaGeographic locationGeorge Turner, premier of Victoria
William Watt, premier of Victoria
Barrier19011922NSWBarrier RangesGeographic location
Batman19062019VICJohn BatmanFounder of Melbourne
Bland19011906NSWWilliam BlandDoctorChris Watson, Prime Minister
Bonython19552004SAJohn Langdon BonythonEditor and newspaper proprietor
Bourke19011949VICRichard BourkeGovernor of NSW
Burke 19491955VICRobert O'Hara BurkeExplorer
Burke 19692004VICRobert O'Hara BurkeExplorer
Canobolas19011906NSWMount CanobolasGeographic location
Charlton19842016NSWMatthew CharltonPoliticianGreg Combet, secretary ACTU
Cook 19061955NSWJames CookExplorer
Coolgardie19011913WATown of CoolgardieGeographic location
Corinella 19011906VICCorinella regionGeographic locationJames Whiteside McCay, Lieutenant general in the army
Corinella 19901996VICTown of CorinellaGeographic location
Dalley19011969NSWWilliam Bede DalleyPolitician and barristerTed Theodore, premier of Queensland
Dampier19131922WAWilliam DampierExplorer
Darebin19491969VICDarebin CreekGeographic location
Darling19011977NSWDarling RiverGeographic location
Darling Downs19011984QLDDarling DownsGeographic locationArthur Fadden, Prime Minister
Darwin19031955TASCharles DarwinScientistWilliam Spence, founder of AWU
Enid Lyons, first woman elected to parliament and appointed to the ministry
Denison19032019TASWilliam DenisonGovernor of Van Diemen's Land, NSW and MadrasPhilip Fysh, premier of Tasmania
John Gellibrand, Major General in the army
Diamond Valley19691984VICDiamond CreekGeographic location
Dundas19771993NSWHenry DundasScottish politician and aristocrat
East Sydney19011969NSWEast SydneyGeographic locationGeorge Reid, Prime Minister, premier of NSW, MP in the UK
Echuca19011937VICTown of EchucaGeographic locationJohn McEwen, Prime Minister
Evans19491977NSWGeorge EvansExplorerMalcolm Mackay, prominent Presbyterian minister
Fawkner19061969VICJohn Pascoe FawknerPioneerHarold Holt, Prime Minister
Fraser 19742016ACTJim FraserPoliticianAndrew Leigh, professor of economics
Grampians19011922VICGrampians RangesGeographic location
Gwydir19012007NSWGwydir RiverGeographic locationAubrey Abbott, Administrator of the NT
John Anderson, leader of the National Party
Hawker19691993SACharles HawkerPolitician
Henty19131990VICHenty familyPioneersArthur Coles, founder of Coles supermarkets and Lord Mayor of Melbourne
Higinbotham19491969VICGeorge HiginbothamChief Justice of VictoriaDon Chipp, founder and leader of the Democrats
Hoddle19491955VICRobert HoddleSurveyor
artist
Illawarra19011922NSWRegion of IllawarraGeographic locationGeorge Fuller, premier of NSW
Isaacs 19491969VICIsaac IsaacsGovernor General
Chief Justice
Kalgoorlie19012010WACity of KalgoorlieGeographic location
Laanecoorie19011913VICLaanecoorieGeographic location
Lang19011977NSWJohn Dunmore LangPolitician and activist
Lawson19491969NSWHenry LawsonWriter and poet
Lowe19492010NSWRobert LoweBritish statesmanWilliam McMahon, Prime Minister
Martin19221955NSWJames Martin Premier of NSW
Chief Justice of NSW
William Holman, premier of NSW
McMillan19492019VICAngus McMillanPioneer
Melbourne Ports20012019VICSuburb of Port MelbourneGeographic location
Mernda19011913VICTown of MerndaGeographic location
Moira19011906VICShire of MoiraGeographic location
Murray19492019VICMurray RiverGeographic locationJohn McEwen, Prime Minsiter
Damian Drum, AFL player and coach
Namadgi19961998ACTNamadgi National ParkGeographic location
Nepean19061922NSWEvan NepeanBritish politician
Northern Melbourne19011906VICNorth MelbourneGeographic locationH. B. Higgins, Justice of the High Court
Northern Territory19222001NTNorthern TerritoryGeographic locationJock Nelson, Administrator of the NT
Grant Tambling, administrative head of Norfolk Island
Paul Everingham, Chief Minister of the NT
Oxley 19011934QLDJohn OxleyExplorer
Parkes 19011969NSWHenry ParkesPremier of NSWEdward McTiernan, Justice of the High Court
Les Haylen, novelist and playwright
Phillip19491993NSWArthur PhillipGovernor of NSWSyd Einfeld, president of ECAJ
Port Adelaide19492019SASuburb of Port AdelaideGeographic location
Prospect19692010NSWProspect ReservoirGeographic location
Riverina-Darling19841993NSWRiverina regionGeographic location
Scullin 19551969VICJames ScullinPrime Minister
South Australia19011903SASouth AustraliaGeographic locationCharles Kingston, premier of South Australia
John Langdon Bonython, media proprietor and editor
Vaiben Louis Solomon, premier of South Australia
South Sydney19011934NSWSouthern SydneyGeographic locationChris Watson, Prime Minister
Southern Melbourne19011906VICSouth MelbourneGeographic location
St George19491993NSWSt George areaGeographic location
Streeton19841990VICArthur StreetonPainter
Tasmania19011903TASTasmaniaGeographic locationEdward Braddon, premier of Tasmania
Philip Fysh, premier of Tasmania
Throsby19842016NSWCharles ThrosbyExplorer
Wakefield19032019SAEdward Gibbon WakefieldPioneerFrederick Holder, premier of South Australia
Watson 19341969NSWChris WatsonPrime Minister
West Sydney19011969NSWArea of Western SydneyGeographic locationBilly Hughes, Prime Minister
T. J. Ryan, premier of Queensland
William Lambert, Lord Mayor of Sydney
Wilmot19031984TASSir John Eardley-WilmotLieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's LandEdward Braddon, premier of Tasmania
Joseph Lyons, Prime Minister and premier of Tasmania
Wimmera19011977VICWimmera regionGeographic locationAlexander Wilson, Administrator of Norfolk Island
Yarra19011969VICYarra RiverGeographic locationFrank Tudor, leader of the ALP
James Scullin, Prime Minister