Division of Darling

The Division of Darling was an Australian electoral division in the state of New South Wales. The division was proclaimed in 1900, and was one of the original 65 divisions to be contested at the first federal election. From 1901 until 1922 it was based on Bourke, Cobar, Nyngan, Coonamble and Gilgandra. From 1906, it also included Dubbo. The 1922 redistribution increased the number of voters in some rural electorates and as a result the division of Barrier was abolished with most of its population, including the large mining town of Broken Hill, Wentworth and Balranald, was absorbed by Darling along with Hay from Riverina. Dubbo was transferred to Gwydir in 1922 but returned to Darling in 1934. In 1948, Dubbo, Gilgandra and Coonamble were transferred to the new division of Lawson and Hay and Balranald were transferred to Riverina. In 1955 Coonamble returned to Darling. In 1977 it was abolished with Broken Hill and Wentworth going to Riverina and Bourke, Cobar, Nyngan and Coonamble going to Gwydir.[1]

For the former New South Wales state electorate, see Electoral district of The Darling.

Darling
Australian House of Representatives Division
Created1901
Abolished1977
NamesakeDarling River

Darling was named for the Darling River. It was a safe seat for the Australian Labor Party throughout its history. Its most prominent member was William Spence, one of the founders of the Labor Party and the Australian Workers' Union.

Members
Image Member Party Term Notes
  William Spence
(1846–1926)		 Labor 29 March 1901 –
14 November 1916		 Previously held the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Cobar. Served as minister under Fisher and Hughes. Lost seat. Later elected to the Division of Darwin in 1917
  National Labor 14 November 1916 –
17 February 1917
  Nationalist 17 February 1917 –
5 May 1917
  Arthur Blakeley
(1886–1972)		 Labor 5 May 1917 –
15 September 1934		 Served as minister under Scullin. Lost seat
  Joe Clark
(1897–1992)		 Labor (NSW) 15 September 1934 –
February 1936		 Retired
  Labor February 1936 –
29 September 1969
  John FitzPatrick
(1915–1997)		 Labor 25 October 1969 –
10 December 1977		 Transferred to the Division of Riverina after Darling was abolished in 1977

Election results
Main article: Electoral results for the Division of Darling

References
  1. Rhodes, Glenn (1989). Commonwealth of Australia 1901-1988 Electoral Distributions. Commonwealth of Australia. ISBN 0-644-08083-3.

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