Division of Ballarat

Australian federal electoral division

The Division of Ballarat (Ballaarat until 1977) is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was one of the original 75 divisions created in 1900. It was set up for the first federal election in 1901. It is named for the city of Ballarat.

Ballarat
Australian House of Representatives Division
Division of Ballarat in Victoria, as of 2016 federal election.
Created1901
MPCatherine King
PartyLabor
NamesakeBallaarat (from a Wathaurong Aboriginal word: balla arat, thought to mean "resting place".)[1]
Electors110,793 (2016)
Area4,652 km2 (1,796.1 sq mi)
DemographicProvincial

The division includes Ballarat, Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Daylesford, Creswick, Trentham and Clunes. In the past it has included Ararat, Maryborough, and Stawell.

Ballarat had the closest election result in Australian history. Nationalist Edwin Kerby unseated Labor member Charles McGrath by a single vote in 1919. However, McGrath said that the election had not been fair. It was challenged in court which resulted in a by-election in 1920 that was won by McGrath.

Members change

Member Party Term
  Alfred Deakin Protectionist 1901–1909
  Commonwealth Liberal 1909–1913
  Charles McGrath Labor 1913–1919
  Edwin Kerby Nationalist 1919–1920
  Charles McGrath Labor 1920–1931
  United Australia 1931–1934
  Archibald Fisken United Australia 1934–1937
  Reg Pollard Labor 1937–1949
  Alan Pittard Liberal 1949–1951
  Robert Joshua Labor 1951–1955
  Labor (Anti-Communist) 1955–1955
  Dudley Erwin Liberal 1955–1975
  Jim Short Liberal 1975–1980
  John Mildren Labor 1980–1990
  Michael Ronaldson Liberal 1990–2001
  Catherine King Labor 2001–present

The most famous member was Alfred Deakin, Prime Minister of Australia three times. Michael Ronaldson was the grandson of Archibald Fisken.[2] Ronaldson later served as a Liberal senator.

Election results change

2022 Australian federal election: Ballarat[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor Catherine King 43,171 44.74 −2.15
Liberal Ben Green 26,142 27.09 −4.57
Greens John Barnes 14,076 14.59 +5.61
United Australia Terri Pryse-Smith 3,693 3.83 −0.77
One Nation Rosalie Taxis 3,476 3.60 +3.60
Liberal Democrats Julia McGrath 3,216 3.33 +3.33
Independent Alex Graham 2,044 2.12 +0.85
Australian Federation Kerryn Sedgman 682 0.71 +0.71
Total formal votes 96,500 94.97 −0.83
Informal votes 5,109 5.03 +0.83
Turnout 101,609 91.90 −1.92
Two-party-preferred result
Labor Catherine King 60,770 62.97 +2.74
Liberal Ben Green 35,730 37.03 −2.74
Labor hold Swing +2.74

References change

  1. http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/HouseDivisionPage-20499-198.htm Australian Electroal Commission
  2. Carr, Adam (2006). "Voting by constituency". psephos.adam-carr.net. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  3. Ballarat, VIC, 2022 Tally Room, Australian Electoral Commission.

Other websites change

Preceded by
Hunter
Division represented by the Prime Minister
1903
Alfred Deakin
Succeeded by
Bland
Preceded by
East Sydney
Division represented by the Prime Minister
1905
Alfred Deakin
Succeeded by
Wide Bay
Preceded by
Wide Bay
Division represented by the Prime Minister
1908
Alfred Deakin
Succeeded by
Wide Bay

37°30′58″S 144°03′58″E / 37.516°S 144.066°E / -37.516; 144.066