Division of Gwydir

Gwydir Australian House of Representatives Division
Created:	1901
Abolished:	2007
Namesake:	Gwydir River

The Division of Gwydir was an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions 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.

Gwydir was named for the Gwydir River (which in turn was named by the explorer Allan Cunningham after his patron Lord Gwydir, 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 was usually held by the Australian Labor Party until the 1940s, but after 1949 it grew increasingly safe for the National Party of Australia. 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 the Division of Gwydir. The abolition took effect at the 2007 federal election. Most of the division became part of the Division of Parkes, whilst some towns in the Upper Hunter Shire (mainly Scone, Aberdeen, Merriwa and Murrurundi) were absorbed into the Division of Hunter.

Members

Member		Party	Term
	George Cruickshank	Protectionist	1901–1903
	William Webster	Labor	1903–1916
		Nationalist	1916–1919
	Lou Cunningham	Labor	1919–1925
	Aubrey Abbott	Country	1925–1929
	Lou Cunningham	Labor	1929–1931
	Aubrey Abbott	Country	1931–1937
	William Scully	Labor	1937–1949
	Thomas Treloar	Country	1949–1953
	Ian Allan	Country	1953–1969
	Ralph Hunt	Country, National	1969–1989
	John Anderson	National	1989–2007

Election results

Main article: Electoral results for the Division of Gwydir

References

• Psephos: Adam Carr's Election Archive
• The Poll Bludger
• ABC Elections
• Australian Electoral Commission