2001 Profile of the division of Bendigo

Updated: 9 February 2011

State:

Victoria

Name Derivation:

Named after the provincial city which is its main centre. Bendigo was named after a shepherd who tended sheep close to where gold was found (Bendigo's Flat); a fighter of some notoriety, he was given the nickname 'Bendigo' after Abendnego Thompson, a famous English fighter of the time.

Area and Location Description:

Situated on the northern foothills of the Great Dividing Range in North Central Victoria and providing the southern gateway to the Murray Darling Basin, the seat of Bendigo covers an area of approximately 9939 sq km.

Products/Industries of the area:

Coming from the status of one of the world's great gold-rush towns and the greatest goldfield in Victoria, the City of Bendigo is now the administrative, commercial and educational centre for North Central and Northern Victoria. The opulent endowment of streets lined with grand nineteenth century buildings provides for a strong tourist industry while the rural area of the electorate supports a diverse range of farming, agricultural and viticultural activities along with continuing gold mining and other extractive industries.

First Proclaimed

1901

Members

  • Steve Gibbons (ALP) 1998–
  • B Reid (LP) 1990–98
  • J M Brumby (ALP) 1983–90
  • J W Bourchier (LP) 1972–83
  • A D Kennedy (ALP) 1969–72
  • N L Beaton (ALP) 1960–69
  • P J Clarey (ALP) 1949–60
  • G J Rankin (ST CP/UCP/CP) 1937–49
  • E F Harrison (UAP) 1931–37
  • R V Kean (ALP) 1929–31
  • G Hurry (NAT) 1922–29
  • W M Hughes (NAT) 1917–22
  • A J Hampson (ALP) 1915–17
  • J A Arthur (ALP) 1913–14
  • (Sir) J Quick (PROT/IND PROT/LIB) 1901–13

For Current Members information, browse the Parliament of Australia Members page.

AEC – Divisional Office Contact Numbers and Addresses

Demographic Rating

Provincial

Statistical information
3 October 1998 Election 6 November 1999 Referendum 10 November 2001 Election

Enrolment: 83 912

Informal Vote: 4.13%

Turnout: 97.01%

Seat Status: Marginal Labor

Two Party Preferred:

  • ALP: 53.47%
  • LP: 46.53%

Enrolment: 85 625

Informal Vote:

  • Republic Question 0.72%
  • Preamble Question 0.78%

Turnout:

  • Republic Question 96.43%
  • Preamble Question 96.44%

Enrolment: 88 150

Informal Vote: 3.72%

Turnout: 96.55%

Seat Status: Marginal Labor

Two Party Preferred:

  • ALP: 53.57%
  • LP: 46.43%