2004 Profile of the division of Ballarat

Updated: 29 September 2011

State:

Victoria

Name Derivation:

Named after the city of Ballarat. The name is apparently derived from the Aboriginal word 'balaarat' meaning a resting or camping place.

Area and Location Description:

Ballarat covers an area of approximately 4 652 sq km from Ballarat in the west to Bacchus Marsh in the east. The division's main centres are Ballarat, the State's largest inland city, and Bacchus Marsh. It also includes the towns of Ballan, Blackwood, Burrumbeet, Buninyong, Clunes, Creswick, Daylesford, Myrniong and Trentham. Ballarat shares boundaries with the divisions of Bendigo in the north, Lalor and McEwen in the east, Corangamite and Corio in the south and Wannon in the west.

Map of Division:

Products/Industries of the Area:

Primary industries include beef cattle, sheep, potatoes, apples, mineral water, market gardening and gold mining. Secondary industries include tourism, clothing and fabrics, sawmilling, engineering and confectionery.

First Proclaimed/Election:

1901

Demographic Rating:

Provincial

Members:

  • KING, C (ALP) 2001–
  • RONALDSON, M (LP) 1990–2001
  • MILDREN, J B (ALP) 1980–1990
  • SHORT, J R (LP) 1975–1980
  • ERWIN, G D (LP) 1955–1975
  • JOSHUA, R (ALP) 1951–1955
  • PITTARD, A C (LP) 1949–1951
  • POLLARD, R T (ALP) 1937–1949
  • FISKEN, A C W (UAP) 1934–1937
  • MCGRATH, D C (ALP/UAP) 1920–1934
  • KERBY, E T J (NAT) 1919–1920
  • MCGRATH, D C (ALP) 1913–1919
  • DEAKIN, A (PROT/LIB) 1901–1913

Current Member Details:

See the Parliament of Australia website

AEC Divisional Office Address:

See Divisional Office Contact Details

2004 Federal Election Results:

  • Enrolment: 90 409
  • Informal Vote: 3.34%
  • Turnout: 95.96%
  • Seat Status: Marginal Labor
  • Two Party Preferred: LP: 47.77% | ALP: 52.23%

Further information:

For supporting information, see Party Codes, Demographic Ratings and Seat Status.