Electoral district of Avon
Encyclopedia
Avon was an electoral district
of the Legislative Assembly
in the Australia
n state of Western Australia
from 1911 to 2008. The name of the district was changed to Avon Valley in 1950, but reverted back to its original name in 1962.
For most of its history, Avon was a Country Party
(now Nationals) seat. However, at the 1974 state election
, when it merged with the neighbouring safe Labor
seat of Northam
, Avon was held by Labor's Ken McIver until 1986, when it was won by the newly-reunified Nationals. A boundary redistribution occasioned by electoral reforms in 1987 brought in more rural areas and ensured its continuing safety for the National Party.
Avon was abolished when the number of rural seats was reduced as a result of the one vote one value
reforms. Almost all of its area moved into the new seat of Central Wheatbelt
.
. Its main population centres included Northam
, York
, Beverley
, Brookton
, Pingelly
, Boddington
, Wandering
, Popanyinning
, Cuballing
and Wickepin
.
Electoral districts of Western Australia
The Western Australian Legislative Assembly is elected from 59 single-member electoral districts. These districts are often referred to as electorates or seats....
of the Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
in the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n state of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
from 1911 to 2008. The name of the district was changed to Avon Valley in 1950, but reverted back to its original name in 1962.
For most of its history, Avon was a Country Party
National Party of Western Australia
The National Party of Western Australia is a political party in Western Australia. It is affiliated with the National Party of Australia but maintains a separate structure and identity....
(now Nationals) seat. However, at the 1974 state election
Western Australian state election, 1974
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 30 March 1974 to elect all 51 members to the Legislative Assembly and 15 members to the 30-seat Legislative Council...
, when it merged with the neighbouring safe Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
seat of Northam
Electoral district of Northam
Northam was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1890 to 1974.The district was based on the town of Northam lying to the east of Perth. It was one of the original 30 seats contested at the 1890 state election. The district was abolished...
, Avon was held by Labor's Ken McIver until 1986, when it was won by the newly-reunified Nationals. A boundary redistribution occasioned by electoral reforms in 1987 brought in more rural areas and ensured its continuing safety for the National Party.
Avon was abolished when the number of rural seats was reduced as a result of the one vote one value
One vote one value
In Australia, one vote one value is a legislative principle of democracy whereby each electorate has the same population within a specified percentage of variance. In the case of the Commonwealth, the maximum variance for the House of Representatives is 10% above or below the mean...
reforms. Almost all of its area moved into the new seat of Central Wheatbelt
Electoral district of Central Wheatbelt
Central Wheatbelt is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia.As the name suggests, the district is centrally located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia....
.
Geography
At the time of its abolition Avon was a rural electorate covering the eastern side of the Darling ScarpDarling Scarp
The Darling Scarp, also referred to as the Darling Range or Darling Ranges, is a low escarpment running north-south to the east of the Swan Coastal Plain and Perth, Western Australia...
. Its main population centres included Northam
Northam, Western Australia
Northam is a town in Western Australia, situated at the confluence of the Avon and Mortlock Rivers, about north-east of Perth in the Avon Valley. At the 2006 census, Northam had a population of 6,009. Northam is the largest town in the Avon region...
, York
York, Western Australia
York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia, situated 97 km east of Perth in the Avon Valley near Northam, and is the seat of the Shire of York...
, Beverley
Beverley, Western Australia
Beverley is a town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, south-east of the state capital, Perth, between York and Brookton on the Great Southern Highway...
, Brookton
Brookton, Western Australia
Brookton is a town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, Australia, from the state capital, Perth via the Brookton Highway where it crosses the Great Southern Highway. The town is also located on the Great Southern railway line. It is located within, and is the seat of government...
, Pingelly
Pingelly, Western Australia
Pingelly is a town and shire located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, from Perth via the Brookton Highway and Great Southern Highway. The town is also located on the Great Southern railway line...
, Boddington
Boddington, Western Australia
Boddington is a town and shire in the Peel region of Western Australia, located south-east of Perth. The town sits on the road from Pinjarra to Williams on the Hotham River...
, Wandering
Wandering, Western Australia
Wandering is a town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, approximately from the state capital, Perth, just off the Albany Highway. It is the main town in the Shire of Wandering...
, Popanyinning
Popanyinning, Western Australia
Popanyinning is a small town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, along Great Southern Highway between Pingelly and Narrogin. At the 2006 census, Popanyinning had a population of 87.-History:...
, Cuballing
Cuballing, Western Australia
Cuballing is a town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, on Great Southern Highway, between Pingelly and Narrogin. At the 2006 census, Cuballing had a population of 335.-History:...
and Wickepin
Wickepin, Western Australia
Wickepin is a town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, south-east of Perth and east of Narrogin. At the 2006 census, Wickepin had a population of 244.-History:...
.
Members
| Avon (1911–1950) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Party | Term | |
| Thomas Bath | Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia... |
1911–1914 | |
| Tom Harrison | Country National Party of Western Australia The National Party of Western Australia is a political party in Western Australia. It is affiliated with the National Party of Australia but maintains a separate structure and identity.... |
1914–1923 | |
| Country (MCP) | 1923–1924 | ||
| Harry Griffiths | Country (ECP) | 1924 | |
| Country | 1924–1935 | ||
| Ignatius Boyle Ignatius Boyle Ignatius George Boyle was a politician from Western Australia. He was educated at Christian Brothers College, Perth and left school in 1897 for a job in the Western Australian Government Railways.... |
Country | 1935–1943 | |
| William Telfer | Labor | 1943–1947 | |
| George Cornell | Country | 1947–1950 | |
| Avon Valley (1950–1962) | |||
| Member | Party | Term | |
| James Mann | Liberal Liberal Party of Australia The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office... |
1950–1962 | |
| Avon (1962–2008) | |||
| Member | Party | Term | |
| Harry Gayfer | Country | 1962–1974 | |
| Ken McIver | Labor | 1974–1986 | |
| Max Trenorden Max Trenorden Maxwell Wayne "Max" Trenorden is an Australian politician. He was a Nationals member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1986 to September, representing the electorate of Avon... |
National National Party of Western Australia The National Party of Western Australia is a political party in Western Australia. It is affiliated with the National Party of Australia but maintains a separate structure and identity.... |
1986–2008 | |