Division of Parramatta

Coordinates: 33°48′32″S 151°00′40″E / 33.809°S 151.011°E / -33.809; 151.011
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Parramatta
Australian House of Representatives Division
Division of Parramatta (green) in New South Wales
Created1901
MPAndrew Charlton
PartyLabor
NamesakeParramatta, New South Wales
Area56 km2 (21.6 sq mi)
DemographicInner Metropolitan

The Division of Parramatta is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1900 for the first federal election in 1901. It is named for the locality of Parramatta. The name Parramatta is an Aboriginal word for "the place where the eels lie down".[1]

The division is in the western suburbs of Sydney. It includes Constitution Hill, Dundas Valley, Granville, Harris Park, Holroyd, Mays Hill, North Parramatta, Oatlands, Old Toongabbie, Parramatta, Rosehill, Rydalmere, Telopea, Wentworthville, Westmead and parts of Dundas, Ermington, Guildford, Merrylands, Merrylands West, Northmead, North Rocks, Pendle Hill, South Granville and South Wentworthville.

The division lies between Labor voting areas of western Sydney and the Liberal areas on the North Shore. Because of this, any change to the boundary can change the political balance in the seat.[2] For example, in the 2006 boundary change, Parramatta shifted from marginally Labor to marginally Liberal (as defined by the Australian Electoral Commission). Nevertheless, as was expected[3] Julie Owens held the seat for the ALP with an increased majority.

Members[change | change source]

Member Party Term
  (Sir) Joseph Cook Free Trade, Anti-Socialist 1901–1909
  Commonwealth Liberal 1909–1917
  Nationalist 1917–1921
  Herbert Pratten Nationalist 1921–1922
  Eric Bowden Nationalist 1922–1929
  Albert Rowe Labor 1929–1931
  (Sir) Frederick Stewart United Australia 1931–1946
  Howard Beale Liberal 1946–1958
  Sir Garfield Barwick Liberal 1958–1964
  Nigel Bowen Liberal 1964-1973
  Philip Ruddock Liberal 1973–1977
  John Brown Labor 1977–1990
  Paul Elliott Labor 1990–1996
  Ross Cameron Liberal 1996–2004
  Julie Owens Labor 2004–present

From 1901 to 1921 the Division was represented by Sir Joseph Cook who was the Prime Minister of Australia from 1913-14. There have been several by-elections for Parramatta when the members have resigned. In 1921 Cook resigned to became Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, in 1958 Beale resigned to become Australian Ambassador to the United States, in 1964 Barwick resigned to become Chief Justice of the High Court, Bowen resigned in 1973 to become a judge in the NSW Court of Appeal.

Election results[change | change source]

2022 Australian federal election: Parramatta[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor Andrew Charlton 34,258 40.66 −4.42
Liberal Maria Kovacic 29,492 35.00 −6.28
Greens Phil Bradley 7,546 8.96 +1.72
United Australia Julian Fayad 4,269 5.07 +2.49
  Independent OLC Steve Christou 2,982 3.54 +3.54
Animal Justice Rohan Laxmanalal 2,397 2.84 +2.84
One Nation Heather Freeman 2,011 2.39 +2.39
Liberal Democrats Liza Tazewell 1,310 1.55 +1.55
Total formal votes 84,265 91.07 −0.56
Informal votes 8,259 8.93 +0.56
Turnout 92,524 87.73 −1.88
Two-party-preferred result
Labor Andrew Charlton 45,980 54.57 +1.07
Liberal Maria Kovacic 38,285 45.43 −1.07
Labor hold Swing +1.07

References[change | change source]

  1. Troy, Jakelin. "The Sydney Language". Macquarie Aboriginal Words. Sydney: Macquarie Library. p. 76.
  2. "Parramatta - 2010 Federal Election - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". www.abc.net.au.
  3. Carr, Adam. "Division of Parramatta". Guide to the 2007 Federal Election. Retrieved 2007-09-22.
  4. Parramatta, NSW, 2022 Tally Room, Australian Electoral Commission.

Other websites[change | change source]

Preceded by
Wide Bay
Division represented by the Prime Minister
1913-1914
Joseph Cook
Succeeded by
Wide Bay

33°48′32″S 151°00′40″E / 33.809°S 151.011°E / -33.809; 151.011