Division of Paterson

See also Electoral division of Paterson, Tasmania.

Paterson Australian House of Representatives Division
Division of Paterson (green) within New South Wales
Created:	1949, 1993
Abolished:	1984
MP:	Bob Baldwin
Party:	Liberal
Namesake:	Banjo Paterson
Electors:	90,504
Area:	9,373 km² (3,619 sq mi)
Demographic:	Rural

The Division of Paterson is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located just north of Newcastle, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. It extends to the Hunter Valley in the south, the Manning River in the north, and the Great Dividing Range in the west. It includes the towns of Gloucester, Forster, Nelson Bay, Raymond Terrace and Paterson.

Paterson was originally created in 1949 and abolished in 1984. It was recreated after a redistribution in 1992.

The current Division is named after federation-era poet and author Banjo Paterson.

History

Paterson was first created at the redistribution of 11 May 1949. It was named after federation-era poet and author Banjo Paterson although there is conjecture that it was originally named after Colonel William Paterson who also gave his name to the Paterson River and the town of Paterson, both of which were situated within the electorate.^[1] It was first contested at the 1949 election. At the time it included the towns of Singleton, Maitland and Muswellbrook. Redistributions eventually moved the electorate north until it included Gunnedah and Mudgee. The original electorate was abolished at the 11 October 1984 redistribution.

At the redistribution of 31 January 1992 the electorate was recreated, covering a similar area to the original electorate. It was first contested at the 1993 Federal election and was narrowly won by Bob Horne (Labor). After 1993 the seat was continuously exchanged between Horne and Bob Baldwin (Liberal); the seat changed hands in 1996, in 1998 and again in 2001. During this period both Bobs became so well known that name recognition in the Division was often in excess of 90% in private party polling.

Horne did not contest the seat at the 2004 election at which Baldwin comfortably defeated a new Labor candidate, former Port Stephens councillor Giovanna Kozary, to retain the seat for the first time. Paterson is currently regarded as a marginal Liberal seat.

At the 2007 election, Baldwin defeated Labor candidate Jim Arneman, retaining the seat for the Liberal Party

Members

Election results

References

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

External links

• "Division of Paterson". Australian Electoral Commission Divisional Profiles. http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/p/paterson.htm.