Created 1901 Electors 104,082 (2016) Founded 1901 Elector 104,082 | MP Darren Chester Demographic Rural Member of parliament Darren Chester Namesake Gippsland | |
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Area 33,264 km (12,843.3 sq mi) Party National Party of Australia | ||
The Division of Gippsland is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the Gippsland region of eastern Victoria, which in turn is named for Sir George Gipps, Governor of New South Wales 1838–46. It includes the towns of Bairnsdale, Morwell, Sale and Traralgon. It is one of two original divisions in Victoria to have never elected a Labor-endorsed member, the other being Kooyong. It has been held by the National Party and its predecessor, the Country Party, since 1922: it is the only seat the party has held continuously since its creation. On its new boundaries, however, it takes in most of the industrial Latrobe Valley.
Sitting MP Peter McGauran announced his resignation in April 2008, sparking a June 2008 by-election, with the three major parties all contesting the election. The Nationals retained the seat on an increased margin, electing Darren Chester.