Cowper
State: New South Wales
Name Derivation: Named after Sir Charles Cowper 1807-75, Premier of New South Wales 25 August-2 October 1856.
Area and Location Description: Cowper covers an area of approximately 7 700 sq km from Gladstone/ Smithtown in the south to Yamba in the north. The main towns include Bellingen, Bowraville, Coffs Harbour, Dorrigo, Maclean, Macksville, Nambucca Heads, Sawtell, South West Rocks, Urunga, Woolgoolga and Yamba.
Products/Industries of the Area: Fishing, forestry, agriculture - especially bananas - vegetables and dairy cattle, as well as tourism.
First Proclaimed/Election: 1900/1901
Demographic Rating: Rural
Members:
• HARTSUYKER, L (NP) 2001-
• NEHL, G (NP) 1984-2001
• ROBINSON, I L (CP/NCP) 1963-1984
• MCGUREN, F W (ALP) 1961-1963
• PAGE, E C G (FSU/CP) 1919-1961
• THOMSON, J (PROT/LIB/NAT) 1906-1919
• LEE, H W (FT) 1903-1906
• CLARKE, F (PROT) 1901-1903
Dawson
State: Queensland
Name Derivation: Named after Andrew (Anderson) Dawson 1863-1910, Queensland's first Labor Premier 1899.
Area and Location Description: Dawson covers an area of approximately 22 515 sq km from Clairview in the south to Giru in the north and also includes The Whitsunday Island Group such as Hamilton, Hayman, and South Molle. The main towns include Airlie Beach, Ayr, Bowen, Home Hill, Proserpine and Sarina as well as the City of Mackay.
Products/Industries of the Area: Various small crops, prawn and fish farms, sugar (growing and refining), beef cattle, dairying, coal mining, abattoirs at Bakers Creek and tourism.
First Proclaimed/Election: 1949
Demographic Rating: Rural
Members:
• KELLY, D (NP) 1996-
• BRAITHWAITE, R A (NP) 1975-1996
• PATTERSON, R A (ALP) 1966-1975
• SHAW, G W (CP) 1963-1966
• DAVIDSON, C W (CP) 1949-1963
Flynn
State: Queensland
The new seat of Flynn is currently held by Mayor of Banana Shire Glenn Churchill.
Gippsland
State: Victoria
Name Derivation: Named after the area which was explored by Angus McMillan in 1839. It was named after Governor Sir George Gipps.
Area and Location Description: Gippsland covers an area of approximately 33 264 sq km from the New South Wales border in the north-east to Port Albert in the south-west. The main towns include Bairnsdale, Churchill, Heyfield, Lakes Entrance, Maffra, Morwell, Stratford, Traralgon, Yarram, Orbost, Rosedale and Sale.
Products/Industries of the Area: Dairying, beef, fishing, forestry, sheep, cropping, sawmills, vegetables, oil, gas, tourism and correctional services, RAAF Base (East Sale).
First Proclaimed/Election: 1901
Demographic Rating: Rural
Members:
• MCGAURAN, P (NP) 1983-
• NIXON, P J (CP/NCP/NP) 1961-1983
• BOWDEN, G J (CP) 1943-1961
• PATERSON, T (CP/LCP) 1922-1943
• WISE, G H (PROT/NAT) 1914-1922
• BENNETT, J (LIB) 1913-1914
• WISE, G H (PROT) 1906-1913
• MCLEAN, A (PROT) 1901-1906
Gwydir
State: New South Wales
Name Derivation: Named after the Gwydir River which was discovered by Allan Cunningham in 1827 and named after Lord Gwydir. Coincidentally Gwydir is also an Aboriginal name meaning 'river with red banks'.
Area and Location Description: Gwydir covers an area of approximately 185 604 sq km from the Queensland border in the north to Kandos in the south and Bourke in the west. The main towns include Aberdeen, Baradine, Boggabri, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coolah, Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Gulgong, Gunnedah, Kandos, Mendooran, Moree, Mudgee, Narrabri, Quirindi, Rylstone, Scone, Walgett, Warialda, Wee Waa and Wellington.
Products/Industries of the Area: Wool, beef, pork, wheat, cotton, oil seed crops, lucerne, fruit, vegetables, dairy cattle, horse, sheep and cattle studs, timber, coal and opal mining and wine growing.
First Proclaimed/Election: 1901
Demographic Rating: Rural
Members:
• ANDERSON, J (NP) 1989-
• HUNT, R J (CP/NCP/NP) 1969-1989
• ALLAN, A I (CP) 1953-1969
• TRELOAR, T J (CP) 1949-1953
• SCULLY, W J (ALP) 1937-1949
• ABBOTT, C L (CP) 1931-1937
• CUNNINGHAM, L L (ALP) 1929-1931
• ABBOTT, C L (CP) 1925-1929
• CUNNINGHAM, L L (ALP) 1919-1925
• WEBSTER, W (ALP) 1903-1919
• CRUICKSHANK, G A (PROT) 1901-1903
Hinkler
State: Queensland
Name Derivation: Named after Bert Hinkler 1892-1933, pioneer aviator. First person to fly solo from England to Australia 1928.
Area and Location Description: Hinkler covers an area of approximately 35 330 sq km along the coast from Calliope Shire in the north, west to Monto and Eidsvold Shires and to Isis Shire in the south. The main towns include Bundaberg, Gladstone, Childers, Agnes Water, Monto, Eidsvold, Gayndah, Mundubbera and Gin Gin.
Products/Industries of the Area: Sugar, small crops (tomatoes, avocados, melons, beans, zucchinis), citrus orchards, timber, Gladstone alumina plant (largest in world, producing 2 million tonnes each year), Gladstone power station, Bundaberg Rum Distillery, beef cattle, fish and scallop industries and tourism.
First Proclaimed/Election: 1984
Demographic Rating: Rural
Members:
• NEVILLE, P (NP) 1993-
• COURTICE, B W (ALP) 1987-1993
• CONQUEST, B J (NP) 1984-1987
Lyne
State: New South Wales
Name Derivation: Named after Sir William Lyne 1844-1913, Premier of New South Wales 1899-1901.
Area and Location Description: Lyne covers an area of approximately 9 291 sq km from Frederickton in the north to the southern boundary of Greater Taree City in the south and inland to the western boundaries of Greater Taree, Hastings and Kempsey Councils. The main towns include Bonny Hills, Crescent Head, Harrington, Kempsey, Kendall, Lake Cathie, Laurieton, North Haven, Old Bar, Port Macquarie, Taree, Wauchope and Wingham.
Products/Industries of the Area: Timber, beef/dairy cattle, mixed farming, dairy products processing, fishing and oyster farming, clothing/auto parts manufacturing, boat building, engineering and tourism.
First Proclaimed/Election: 1949
Demographic Rating: Rural
Members:
• VAILE, M (NP) 1993-
• COWAN, D B (NCP/NP) 1980-1993
• LUCOCK, P E (CP/NCP) 1952-1980
• EGGINS, E J (CP) 1949-1952
Mallee
State: Victoria
Name Derivation: Named after the area in which it is located. Mallee is an Aboriginal word for dwarf eucalypts which grow in the area.
Area and Location Description: Mallee covers an area of approximately 70 694 sq km in the north west corner of Victoria. It is bordered by the Murray River in the north, the South Australian border in the west, the division of Wannon in the south, and the divisions of Bendigo and Murray in the east. The main centres are Mildura in the north, Warracknabeal, St Arnaud, Horsham in the south and Swan Hill and Kerang in the east.
Products/Industries of the Area: Dried fruit, citrus, stone fruit, wheat and cereals, wool, sheep, vegetables, vineyards, olive oil, dairying, beef cattle, pig raising, meat works, gold mining and flour milling.
First Proclaimed/Election: 1948/1949
Demographic Rating: Rural
Members:
• FORREST, J (NP) 1993-
• FISHER, P S (CP/NCP/NP) 1972-1993
• TURNBULL, W G (CP) 1949-1972
Maranoa
State: Queensland
Name Derivation: Named after the district name which was taken from the Maranoa River which passes through the area. The river was discovered by Sir Thomas Mitchell in 1846 and retained its Aboriginal name.
Area and Location Description: Maranoa covers an area of approximately 779 329 sq km from the Northern Territory, South Australian and New South Wales borders to Winton in the north and Dalby in the east. The main towns include Barcaldine, Blackall, Capella, Charleville, Chinchilla, Cunnamulla, Dalby, Emerald, Goondiwindi, Longreach, Miles, Roma, Stanthorpe, Warwick and Winton.
Products/Industries of the Area: Mainly primary production including coal, oil, gas, orchards, cotton, grain, cattle and sheep.
First Proclaimed/Election: 1900/1901
Demographic Rating: Rural
Members:
• SCOTT, B (NP) 1990-
• CAMERON, I M D (NCP/NP) 1980-1990
• CORBETT, J (CP/NCP) 1966-1980
• BRIMBLECOMBE, W J (CP) 1951-1966
• RUSSELL, C W (CP) 1949-1951
• ADERMANN, C F (CP) 1943-1949
• BAKER, F P (ALP) 1940-1943
• HUNTER, J A J (CP) 1921-1940
• PAGE, J (ALP) 1901-1921
Page
State: New South Wales
Name Derivation: Named after Sir Earle Page 1880-1961, Member of the House of Representatives 1919-61. He served as caretaker Prime Minister of Australia during April 1939.
Area and Location Description: Page covers an area of approximately 16 682 sq km from Iluka in the south to Ballina in the north on the coastal side, and from Hernani in the south to the Queensland border on the inland side. The main towns include Ballina, Casino, Grafton, Evans Head, Iluka Kyogle and Lismore.
Products/Industries of the Area: Dairy and beef cattle, pigs, maize, tropical fruit, sugar cane, fishing, prawning, oysters, butter and dairy factories, timber mills, several abattoirs and tourism.
First Proclaimed/Election: 1984
Demographic Rating: Rural
Members:
• CAUSLEY, I (NP) 1996-
• WOODS, H F (ALP) 1990-1996
• ROBINSON, I L (NP) 1984-1990
Parkes
State: New South Wales
Name Derivation: Named after Sir Henry Parkes 1815-96, former Premier of New South Wales and known as the 'Father of Federation'.
Area and Location Description: Parkes covers an area of approximately 268 674 sq km from the Queensland border in the north, Grenfell, West Wyalong, Hillston and Ivanhoe in the south, from Dubbo in the east to the South Australian border in the west. The main towns include Broken Hill, Cobar, Dubbo, Forbes, Grenfell, Hillston, Narromine, Nyngan, Parkes, Warren and West Wyalong.
Products/Industries of the Area: Mining, pastoral, mixed farming, fruit, timber, irrigation, comprehensive agricultural support services, flour, butter and meat processing, light engineering and construction industries.
First Proclaimed/Election: 1984 (There was previously a division with the name of Parkes which existed in the Sydney metropolitan area up until 1967.)
Demographic Rating: Rural
Members:
• COBB, J (NP) 2001-
• LAWLER, A (NP) 1998-2001
• COBB, M (NP) 1984-1998
Riverina
State: New South Wales
Name Derivation: Named after the area in which it is located.
Area and Location Description: Riverina covers an area of approximately 44 970 sq km. The division is located in the south west of NSW, and runs east-west. In the east from the junction of the Hume and Sturt Highways and in the west extends to the Hay Plains generally following the Murrumbidgee River Valley. The rural cities of Wagga Wagga and Griffith are the largest centres; major towns in the division include Leeton, Cootamundra, Narrandera, Temora, Junee, Hay, Forest Hill, Coolamon and Gundagai.
Products/Industries of the Area: Wheat, barley, canola, rice and cereal crops. Fat lambs, wool, poultry, dairying, cattle, ostrich, emu, deer, and goat farming. Food processing, fruit, grapes, and wine making. Flour-milling, concrete pipes, steel construction, brick kiln, saw milling, joinery, plaster works, tourism, education, and defence forces.
First Proclaimed/Election: 1901 (From 1984 to 1991 the division was known as Riverina-Darling.)
Demographic Rating: Rural
Members:
• HULL, K (NP) 1998-
• HICKS, N J (NCP/NP) 1980-1998
• FITZPATRICK, J (ALP) 1977-1980
• SULLIVAN, J W (CP/NCP) 1974-1977
• GRASSBY, A J (ALP) 1969-1974
• ARMSTRONG, A A (CP) 1965-1969
• ROBERTON, H S (CP) 1949-1965
• LANGTRY, J I (ALP) 1940-1949
• NOCK, H K (CP) 1931-1940
• KILLEN, W W (CP) 1922-1931
• CHANTER, J M (NAT & FARMERS) 1914-1922
• FALKINER, F B S (LIB) 1913-1914
• CHANTER, J M (PROT/ALP) 1904-1913
• BLACKWOOD, R O (FT) 1903-1904
• CHANTER, J M (PROT) 1901-1903
Solomon
State: Northern Territory
Name Derivation: Named after Vaiben Louis Solomon 1853-1908, who has been described as the Northern Territory's founding father of federation.
Area and Location Description: Solomon covers an area of approximately 326 sq km and includes the cities of Darwin and Palmerston and urban fringes.
Products/Industries of the Area: Tourism, horticulture, fishing and light industry.
First Proclaimed/Election: 2000/2001 (Previously part of the Division of Northern Territory - 1922-2000.)
Demographic Rating: Inner Metropolitan
Members:
• TOLLNER, D (CLP) 2001-
Wide Bay
State: Queensland
Name Derivation: Named after the district which takes its name from the bay sighted by Captain Cook on 18 May 1770.
Area and Location Description: Wide Bay covers an area of approximately 19 604 sq km from Gympie and Rainbow Beach in the SE; from the city of Hervey Bay in the NE; from the township of Biggenden in the NW to the township of Boondooma in the SW and the towns of Wondai and Murgon in the south. Major population centres are Hervey Bay, Maryborough and Gympie. It also includes the World Heritage listed Fraser Island (the world's largest sand island).
Products/Industries of the Area: Eco-tourism (Fraser Island), whale watching (Hervey Bay), historical attractions (Maryborough), natural attractions (Cooloola Coast) timber, dairying, grain, grazing, sugar, tropical fruit orchards, and railway rolling stock (including Queensland's 'tilt' trains).
First Proclaimed/Election: 1900/1901
Demographic Rating: Rural
Members:
• TRUSS, W (NP) 1990-
• MILLAR, P C (CP/NCP/NP) 1974-1990
• HANSEN, B P (ALP) 1961-1974
• BANDIDT, H N C (CP) 1958-1961
• BRAND, W A (CP) 1954-1958
• CORSER, B H (CP) 1928-1954
• CORSER, E B C (LIB/NAT) 1915-1928
• FISHER, A (ALP) 1901-1915