2001 Profile of the division of New England

Updated: 9 February 2011

State:

New South Wales

Name Derivation:

Named after the area of New England, the largest highland area in Australia. The area was discovered by explorer John Oxley in 1818.

Area and Location Description:

It covers an area of approximately 53 858 sq km from the Queensland border in the north to Tamworth in the south.

The main towns include Armidale, Barraba, Bingara, Delungra, Glen Innes, Guyra, Inverell, Minilla, Tamworth, Tenterfield, Uralla, Urbanville and Walcha.

Products/Industries of the area:

Cattle, sheep, grain, forestry, dairying, oats, maize, fruit, vegetables, tin-mining, bricks, trout hatchery, tourism, concrete pipeworks, Leather goods, tannery, gemstones, tobacco, lucerne, honey, grain processing, rubber industry, plaster works and concrete.

First Proclaimed

1900/1901

Members

  • Tony Windsor (IND) 2001–
  • S St Clair (NP) 1998–2001
  • I Sinclair (CP/NCP/NP) 1963–98
  • D H Drummond (CP) 1949–63
  • J P Abbott (CP) 1940–49
  • V C Thompson (CP) 1922–40
  • A Hay (NAT & FARMERS/CP/IND) 1919–22
  • P P Abbott (LIB/NAT) 1913–19
  • F J Foster (ALP) 1906–13
  • E Lonsdale (FT) 1903–06
  • W B S C Sawers (PROT) 1901–03

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

AEC – Divisional Office Contact Numbers and Addresses

Demographic Rating

Rural

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

Enrolment: 74 637

Informal Vote: 3.62%

Turnout: 95.18%

Seat Status: Safe National

Two Party Preferred:

  • ALP: 37.07%
  • NP: 62.93%

Enrolment: 75 295

Informal Vote:

  • Republic Question 0.65%
  • Preamble Question 0.68%

Turnout:

  • Republic Question 95.62%
  • Preamble Question 95.64%

Enrolment: 84 941

Informal Vote: 1.97%

Turnout: 95.96%

Seat Status: Fairly Safe National

Two Party Preferred:

  • ALP: 36.15%
  • NP: 63.85%

Two Candidate Preferred*:

  • IND: 58.30%
  • NP: 41.70%
* Based on distribution of preferences between NP and IND candidates.