Division of Gwydir

The Division of Gwydir 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. As a result of the electoral redistribution of 13 September 2006, Gwydir was abolished and ceased to exist at the 2007 federal election.

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

Gwydir
Australian House of Representatives Division
Created1901
Abolished2007
NamesakeGwydir River

Gwydir was named for the Gwydir River (which in turn was named by the explorer Allan Cunningham after his patron Peter Burrell, Baron Gwydyr, who took his title from Gwydir Castle in Wales). The division was located in western New South Wales, and at the time of its abolition included the towns of Bourke, Moree, Mudgee and Brewarrina.

The seat was a stronghold of the Australian Workers' Union, and until the 1940s was one of the few country seats where the Australian Labor Party usually did well. It was in Labor hands for all but six terms from 1903 to 1949. However, it was held by the National Party from 1949 onward, and from the mid-1970s onward it was usually fairly safe for that party.

Its last Labor member, William Scully, was a Cabinet minister in the Ben Chifley government. The final member, John Anderson, was Leader of the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister in the Howard Government until he resigned the position.

In September 2006 the New South Wales redistribution commissioners decided to abolish Gwydir. The abolition took effect at the 2007 federal election. Most of the division became part of the Division of Parkes, while some towns in the Upper Hunter Shire (mainly Scone, Aberdeen, Merriwa and Murrurundi) were absorbed into the Division of Hunter.

Members
Image Member Party Term Notes
  George Cruickshank
(1853–1904)		 Protectionist 29 March 1901 –
23 November 1903		 Previously held the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Inverell. Retired
  William Webster
(1860–1936)		 Labor 16 December 1903 –
14 November 1916		 Previously held the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Moree. Served as minister under Hughes. Lost seat
  National Labor 14 November 1916 –
17 February 1917
  Nationalist 17 February 1917 –
13 December 1919
  Lou Cunningham
(1889–1948)		 Labor 13 December 1919 –
14 November 1925		 Lost seat
  Aubrey Abbott
(1886–1975)		 Country 14 November 1925 –
12 October 1929		 Served as minister under Bruce. Lost seat
  Lou Cunningham
(1889–1948)		 Labor 12 October 1929 –
19 December 1931		 Lost seat. Later elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Coogee in 1941
  Aubrey Abbott
(1886–1975)		 Country 19 December 1931 –
28 March 1937		 Resigned in order to become Administrator of the Northern Territory
  William Scully
(1883–1966)		 Labor 8 May 1937 –
10 December 1949		 Previously held the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Namoi. Served as minister under Curtin, Forde and Chifley. Lost seat
  Thomas Treloar
(1892–1953)		 Country 10 December 1949 –
15 November 1953		 Died in office
  Ian Allan
(1916–2000)		 Country 19 December 1953 –
30 April 1969		 Resigned in order to retire from politics
  Ralph Hunt
(1928–2011)		 Country 7 June 1969 –
2 May 1975		 Served as minister under Gorton, McMahon and Fraser. Resigned in order to retire from politics
  National Country 2 May 1975 –
16 October 1982
  Nationals 16 October 1982 –
24 February 1989
  John Anderson
(1956–)		 Nationals 15 April 1989 –
17 October 2007		 Served as minister and Deputy Prime Minister under Howard. Retired after Gwydir was abolished in 2007

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

References

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