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Australian Electoral Commission
Victoria is undergoing a redistribution because the number of members of the House of Representatives it is entitled to has decreased from 39 to 38 as a result of a determination made by the Electoral Commissioner on Thursday 27 July 2023.
Sub-section 59(2) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (the Electoral Act) specifies that a redistribution process should be undertaken when:
The redistribution formally commenced on Wednesday 9 August 2023.
Victoria is now entitled to 38 federal electoral divisions, which is a decrease of one from 39.
Individuals and organisations are able to propose which electoral division should be abolished at two stages of the redistribution process:
The Redistribution Committee will consider any ideas it receives in suggestions and comments on suggestions advocating for the abolition of a federal electoral division and in their proposed redistribution will indicate which federal electoral division has been abolished, together with reasons for the proposal.
Individuals and organisations can object to the Redistribution Committee's proposed abolition. Objections may agree or disagree with the Redistribution Committee’s proposal. Any ideas received in objections and comments on objections advocating for a particular federal electoral division to be abolished will be considered by the augmented Electoral Commission for Victoria, who is ultimately responsible for determining the federal electoral divisions in Victoria.
The name of an abolished electoral division may be re-used.
Electoral divisions are required to fall within two numerical ranges:
Abolishing an electoral division will, of necessity, result in significant elector movement away from the abolished electoral division and will also require consequential boundary changes and elector movements across the state to ensure that all electoral divisions remain within the two numerical ranges.
No. On the boundaries in place on Wednesday 9 August 2023:
Electoral division |
Enrolment as at Wednesday 9 August 2023 |
Revised projected enrolment at Monday 17 April 2028 |
Is the requirement met? |
|---|---|---|---|
Aston |
110,768 |
113,457 |
No
|
Ballarat |
112,875 |
124,120 |
Yes |
Bendigo |
113,381 |
121,056 |
No
|
Bruce |
114,307 |
119,135 |
No
|
Calwell |
115,327 |
140,187 |
No
|
Casey |
115,636 |
118,846 |
No
|
Chisholm |
110,672 |
119,806 |
No
|
Cooper |
110,943 |
119,120 |
No
|
Corangamite |
116,531 |
138,344 |
No
|
Corio |
113,985 |
116,944 |
No
|
Deakin |
113,714 |
118,427 |
No
|
Dunkley |
112,715 |
117,651 |
No
|
Flinders |
114,469 |
118,874 |
No
|
Fraser |
113,089 |
119,856 |
No
|
Gellibrand |
112,851 |
124,789 |
Yes |
Gippsland |
116,666 |
123,685 |
Yes |
Goldstein |
111,083 |
118,919 |
No
|
Gorton |
118,708 |
129,465 |
Yes |
Hawke |
111,225 |
128,336 |
Yes |
Higgins |
109,335 |
116,654 |
No
|
Holt |
113,159 |
135,088 |
No
|
Hotham |
117,704 |
126,984 |
Yes |
Indi |
118,876 |
125,526 |
Yes |
Isaacs |
113,084 |
120,165 |
No
|
Jagajaga |
114,336 |
118,664 |
No
|
Kooyong |
113,586 |
121,455 |
No
|
Lalor |
116,506 |
144,313 |
No
|
La Trobe |
113,306 |
139,719 |
No
|
Macnamara |
112,881 |
122,119 |
No
|
Mallee |
121,563 |
125,051 |
Yes |
Maribyrnong |
110,438 |
115,904 |
No
|
McEwen |
114,082 |
135,348 |
No
|
Melbourne |
115,139 |
128,869 |
Yes |
Menzies |
112,994 |
120,222 |
No
|
Monash |
113,398 |
127,031 |
Yes |
Nicholls |
114,691 |
120,106 |
No
|
Scullin |
111,244 |
121,829 |
No
|
Wannon |
116,485 |
119,402 |
No
|
Wills |
110,228 |
119,582 |
No
|
Provision of revised enrolment projection data by the ABS has resulted in the recalculation of the enrolment projection for each electoral division in Victoria at the projection time of Monday 17 April 2028. The projected enrolment quota for Victoria did not need to be recalculated following the provision of revised enrolment projection data by the ABS as the estimated total number of electors enrolled in Victoria at the projection time did not change.
Note: To access maps of electoral divisions that existed at different points in time, visit the electorates section in the Parliamentary Library’s Parliamentary Handbook Online Electorates (aph.gov.au). Within the Handbook, you can select electoral divisions at different points in time for comparison, overlay them on top of each other, and view the maps to observe the historical evolution of electoral boundaries, including divisions that have been retired over the years. This resource provides a comprehensive view of electoral divisions and changes to these divisions dating back to the first federal election in 1901.
Abolishing an electoral division in Victoria will require some consequential changes to other electoral division boundaries. This is because reducing the number of electoral divisions is not simply a case of combining two electoral divisions into one, as doing so will result in electoral divisions which do not meet the numerical requirements.
Because the requirement to be within the specified range for both enrolment as at Wednesday 9 August 2023 and projected enrolment as at Monday 17 April 2028 is not met by all 39 of Victoria's federal electoral divisions, the boundaries of these electoral divisions will need to change.
Changes will be made to some or all of the boundaries of Victoria's federal electoral divisions. Changes may be made to those federal electoral divisions which meet the requirement as a consequence of making changes to the boundaries of those federal electoral divisions which do not meet the requirement. This is to ensure that all of Victoria's federal electoral divisions meet the requirement.
The names of the current electoral divisions may or may not change.
Individuals and organisations are able to propose alternative names for electoral divisions at two stages of the redistribution process:
The Redistribution Committee will consider any ideas it receives in suggestions and comments on suggestions advocating a change of name for a federal electoral division and in their proposed redistribution will indicate whether it has or has not proposed changing the name of a federal electoral division, together with reasons for the proposal.
Individuals and organisations can object to the Redistribution Committee's proposed names of federal electoral divisions. Objections may agree or disagree with the Redistribution Committee’s proposal. Any ideas received in objections and comments on objections advocating a change of name for a federal electoral division will be considered by the augmented Electoral Commission for Victoria, who is ultimately responsible for determining the names of the federal electoral divisions in Victoria.
The Guidelines for naming federal electoral divisions were developed by the AEC from recommendations made by the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters in 1995 in its Report on the Effectiveness and Appropriateness of the Redistribution Provisions of Parts III and IV of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. These guidelines are non-binding but may be referred to by the Redistribution Committee for Victoria or the augmented Electoral Commission for Victoria to assist with their decision making process.
The extent to which the names of Victoria's current federal electoral divisions meet these guidelines is displayed below. The electoral divisions are sortable by clicking on the header row.
| Electoral division | Is the electoral division named for a prominent person? | Is the electoral division named for an Australian Prime Minister? | Is the electoral division name that of an original Federation electoral division? | Is the electoral division named for a geographical feature? | Is the electoral division named for an aboriginal person or word? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aston | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Ballarat | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bendigo | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bruce | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Calwell | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Casey | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Chisholm | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Cooper | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Corangamite | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Corio | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Deakin | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Dunkley | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Flinders | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Fraser | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Gellibrand | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Gippsland | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Goldstein | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Gorton | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Hawke | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Higgins | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Holt | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Hotham | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Indi | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Isaacs | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Jagajaga | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Kooyong | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Lalor | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| La Trobe | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Macnamara | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Mallee | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Maribyrnong | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| McEwen | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Melbourne | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Menzies | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Monash | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Nicholls | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Scullin | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Wannon | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wills | Yes | No | No | No | No |
|
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The Division of Aston is named for Matilda 'Tilly' Ann Aston, 1873–1947. Aston was a blind writer and teacher who founded the Victorian Association of Braille Writers in 1894 and the Association for the Advancement of the Blind. Aston was also the head of the School for the Blind.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 14 September 1984 and was first represented in 1984.
Biographical information about Tilly Aston from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Ballarat is named for the city covered by the electoral division. The name of the city is believed to be derived from the Aborignal word 'balaarat' meaning resting place or reclining on elbow.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 26 September 1900 and was first represented in 1901.
Information about the city of Ballarat can be found by conducting a search on the VICNAMES website.
The Division of Bendigo is named for the city covered by the electoral division. The city is named after a Ravenswood shepherd who was nicknamed 'Bendigo' after an English pugilist, Abednego William Thompson.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 26 September 1900 and was first represented in 1901.
Information about the city of Bendigo can be found by conducting a search on the VICNAMES website.
The Division of Bruce is named for the Rt Hon. Lord Stanley Melbourne Bruce CH MC, 1883–1967. Bruce was Prime Minister of Australia (1923–29) and a Member of the House of Representatives (1918–29 and 1931–33).
The first electoral division of this name was created on 10 August 1955 and was first represented in 1955.
Biographical information about Lord Stanley Bruce from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Calwell is named for Arthur Augustus Calwell, 1896–1973. Calwell was a Member of the House of Representatives (1940–72).
The first electoral division of this name was created on 14 September 1984 and was first represented in 1984.
Biographical information about Arthur Calwell from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Casey is named for Lord Richard Gavin Gardiner Casey KG GCMG CH DSO MC PC, 1890–1976. Casey was a Member of the House of Representatives (1931–40 and 1949–60) and Governor-General of Australia (1965–69).
The first electoral division of this name was created on 21 November 1968 and was first represented in 1969.
Biographical information about Lord Richard Casey from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Chisholm is named for Caroline Chisholm, 1808–77. Chisholm was known for her work in encouraging emigration to Australia, her social work in New South Wales and Victoria, particularly with immigrant girls, and the building of a series of shelter sheds along the routes to the diggings in the Victorian goldfields.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 11 May 1949 and was first represented in 1949.
Biographical information about Caroline Chisholm from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Cooper is named for William Cooper, 1861–1941. Cooper was a Yorta Yorta man who as a spokesman for Aboriginal people called for direct representation in parliament, enfranchisement, land rights and federal control of Aboriginal affairs.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 13 July 2018 and was first represented in 2019.
Biographical information about William Cooper from the Australian Dictionary of Biography and the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll.
The Division of Corangamite is named for the geographic area covered at one time by the electoral division. 'Corangamite' is believed to be derived from the Gulidjan word for 'bitter water'.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 26 September 1900 and was first represented in 1901.
Information about Lake Corangamite can be found by conducting a search on the VICNAMES website.
The Division of Corio is named for the geographic area covered by the electoral division. 'Corio' is beleved to have originated from an Aboriginal word 'coraiyo' meaning small marsupial or sandy cliffs or from the Aboriginal word 'Korayn' meaning salt.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 26 September 1900 and was first represented in 1901.
Information about Corio Bay can be found by conducting a search on the VICNAMES website.
The Division of Deakin is named for the Hon. Alfred Deakin, 1856–1919. Deakin was an active member of the Constitutional Conventions that led to the Commonwealth of Australia, Prime Minister of Australia (1903–04, 1905–08 and 1909–10) and a Member of the House of Representatives (1901–13).
The first electoral division of this name was created on 21 July 1937 and was first represented in 1937.
Biographical information about Alfred Deakin from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Dunkley is named for Louisa Margaret Dunkley, 1866–1927. Dunkley was a union leader and feminist who founded the Victorian Women's Post and Telegraph Association in 1900 and campaigned for equal pay for women.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 14 September 1984 and was first represented in 1984.
Biographical information about Louisa Dunkley from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Flinders is named for Matthew Flinders, 1774–1814. Flinders was a well-known navigator and explorer who charted parts of the Australian coast. The adoption of the name Australia is due to him.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 26 September 1900 and was first represented in 1901.
Biographical information about Matthew Flinders from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Fraser is named for the Rt Hon. John Malcom Fraser AC CH, 1930–2015. Fraser was Prime Minister of Australia (1975–83) and a Member of the House of Representatives (1955–83).
The first electoral division of this name was created on 13 July 2018 and was first represented in 2019.
Biographical information about John Malcom Fraser from the National Museum of Australia.
The Division of Gellibrand is named for Joseph Gellibrand 1786–1836, lawyer and explorer.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 11 May 1949 and was first represented in 1949.
Biographical information about for Joseph Gellibrand from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Gippsland is named for the geographic area covered by the electoral division. The south-east region of Victoria was named in March 1840 to honour Sir George Gipps who was Governor of New South Wales at the time.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 26 September 1900 and was first represented in 1901.
Information about Gippsland can be found by conducting a search on the VICNAMES website.
The Division of Goldstein is named for Vida Jane Goldstein, 1869–1949. Goldstein was a suffragist, feminist and involved in social welfare. As a Senate candidate in 1903, Goldstein was one of the first women in the British Empire to be nominated for and to stand for election to a national parliament. Goldstein made a further four attempts to be elected to Federal parliament.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 14 September 1984 and was first represented in 1984.
Biographical information about Vida Goldstein from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Gorton is named for the Rt Hon. Sir John Grey Gorton GCMG AC CH, 1911-2002. Gorton was Prime Minister of Australia (1968–71), a Senator for Victoria (1949–68) and a Member of the House of Representatives (1968–75).
The first electoral division of this name was created on 29 January 2003 and was first represented in 2004.
Biographical information about Sir John Gorton from the National Archives of Australia
The Division of Hawke is named for the Hon. Robert James Lee Hawke AC, 1929–2019. Hawke was Prime Minister of Australia (1983–91) and a Member of the House of Representatives (1980–92).
The first electoral division of this name was created on 6 July 2021and was first represented in 2022.
Biographical information about Robert James Lee Hawke from the National Museum of Australia.
The Division of Higgins is named for Henry Bournes Higgins KC, 1851–1929. Higgins was an active member of the Constitutional Conventions that led to the Commonwealth of Australia, Member of the House of Representatives (1901–06), a Justice of the High Court (1906–29) and President of the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Court (1907–21). Higgins is known for the Harvester Decision.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 11 May 1949 and was first represented in 1949.
Biographical information about Henry Higgins from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Holt is named for the Rt Hon. Harold Edward Holt CH, 1908–67. Holt was Prime Minister of Australia (1966–67) and a Member of the House of Representatives (1935–67).
The first electoral division of this name was created on 21 November 1968 and was first represented in 1969.
Biographical information about Harold Holt from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Hotham is named for Sir Charles Hotham RN KCB, 1806–55. Hotham was Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria (1854-55) and the first Governor of Victoria (1855).
The first electoral division of this name was created on 21 November 1968 and was first represented in 1969.
Biographical information about Sir Charles Hotham from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Indi is named for an Aboriginal name for the Murray River.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 26 September 1900 and was first represented in 1901.
The Division of Isaacs is named for Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs GCB GCMG KCMG PC QC, 1855–1948. Isaacs was an active member of the Constitutional Conventions that led to the Commonwealth of Australia, Member of the House of Representatives (1901–06), a Justice of the High Court (1906–30), Chief Justice of the High Court (1930–31) and the first Australian Governor-General of Australia (1931–36).
The first electoral division of this name was created on 11 May 1949 and was first represented in 1949.
Biographical information about Sir Isaac Isaacs from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Jagajaga is named for the three principal Aboriginal elders who signed a treaty with John Batman in 1835 which intended to give the white settlers 500,000 acres of land at the north-west end of Port Phillip Bay and 100,000 acres around Geelong.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 14 September 1984 and was first represented in 1984.
The Division of Kooyong is named for the geographic location covered at one time by the electoral division. 'Kooyong' is believed to be an Aboriginal word for camp or resting place or possibly derived from the word 'guyun' meaning fighting spear.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 26 September 1900 and was first represented 1901.
Information about Kooyong can be found by conducting a search on the VICNAMES website.
The Division of Lalor is named for Peter Lalor 1827–89, leader of the Eureka Stockade rebellion in 1854. In 1855 he was one of the first representatives from the goldfields elected to the Victorian Legislative Council.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 11 May 1949 and was first represented in 1949.
Biographical information about Peter Lalor from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of La Trobe is named for Charles Joseph La Trobe, 1801–75. La Trobe was the first Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Victoria (1851–54).
The first electoral division of this name was created on 11 May 1949 and was first represented in 1949.
Biographical information about Charles La Trobe from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Macnamara is named for Dame Annie Jean Macnamara DBE, 1899–1968. Macnamara was a medical researcher and doctor who discovered there was more than one type of the polio virus and worked extensively with children suffering from poliomyelitis, training doctors and physiotherapists in the management of the disease.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 13 July 2018 and was first represented in 2019.
Biographical information about Dame Annie Jean Macnamara from Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Mallee is named for the area in which it is located. Mallee is an Aboriginal word for dwarf eucalypts which grow in the area.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 11 May 1949 and was first represented in 1949.
The Division of Maribyrnong is named for the Maribyrnong River. The name 'Maribyrnong' is variously believed to be:
The first electoral division of this name was created on 13 July 1906 and was first represented in 1906.
Information about the Maribyrnong River can be found by conducting a search on the VICNAMES website.
The Division of McEwen is named for the Rt Hon. Sir John McEwen GCMG CH, 1900–80. McEwen was Prime Minister of Australia (1967–68) and a Member of the House of Representatives (1934–71).
The first electoral division of this name was created on 14 September 1984 and was first represented in 1984.
Biographical information about Sir John McEwen from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Melbourne is named for the City of Melbourne. The settlement of Port Phillip was named 'Melbourne' on 5 March 1837 in honour of Lord Melbourne who was the Prime Minister of Great Britain at the time.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 26 September 1900 and was first represented in 1901.
Information about the city of Melbourne can be found by conducting a search on the VICNAMES website.
The Division of Menzies is named for the Rt Hon. Sir Robert Gordon Menzies KT CH QC, 1894–1978. Menzies was Prime Minister of Australia (1939–41 and 1949–66) and a Member of the House of Representatives (1934–66).
The first electoral division of this name was created on 14 September 1984 and was first represented in 1984.
Biographical information about Sir Robert Menzies from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Monash is named for Sir John Monash CB(M) KCB(M) GCMG, 1865–1931. Monash was one of the foremost Allied military commanders of the First World War and was recognised for his outstanding contributions to the community.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 13 July 2018 and was first represented in 2019.
Biographical information about Sir John Monash from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
In recognition of their significant contribution in advocating for Aboriginal rights and welfare, the electoral division is jointly named in honour of:
The first electoral division of this name was created on 13 July 2018 and was first represented in 2019.
Biographical information about Sir Douglas Ralph Nicholls from the Australian Dictionary of Biography and from Aboriginal Victoria and about Lady Gladys Nicholls from Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll.
The Division of Scullin is named for the Rt Hon. James Henry Scullin, 1876–1953. Scullin was Prime Minister of Australia (1929–32) and a Member of the House of Representatives (1910–13 and 1922–49).
The first electoral division of this name was created on 10 August 1955 and was first represented in 1955.
Biographical information about James Scullin from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
The Division of Wannon is named for the Wannon River. The name 'Wannon' is believed to have been obtained by Major Mitchell from the local Jardwadjali people.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 26 September 1900 and was first represented in 1901.
Information about the Wannon River can be found by conducting a search on the VICNAMES website.
The Division of Wills is named for William John Wills, 1834–61. Wills was the surveyor and astronomer of an ultimately unsuccessful 1860 government expedition to cross Australia from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria.
The first electoral division of this name was created on 11 May 1949 and was first represented in 1949.
Biographical information about William Wills from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
Changes to federal electoral divisions as a result of this redistribution will apply from the day on which a notice of determination is published in the Commonwealth Notices Government Gazette. This notice will be published on 17 October 2024.
Electoral events will not be contested on these new federal electoral divisions until a writ is issued for a general election following the expiry or dissolution of the House of Representatives.
Should a writ for a general election be issued before the notice of determination is published, a mini-redistribution will be conducted. For further information, see:
The AEC acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.