Electoral district of Merredin
Encyclopedia
Merredin was an electoral district
of the Legislative Assembly
in the Australia
n state of Western Australia
from 1950 to 2008.
Originally known as Merredin-Yilgarn, the name was shortened in 1977. The district was located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia and was named for the town of Merredin
.
Merredin was abolished in 2008 as a result of the reduction in rural seats made necessary by the one vote one value
reforms. Its former territory was largely incorporated into the new seat of Central Wheatbelt
, with parts also added to the districts of Moore
and Wagin
.
At various times, Merredin was held by all three of the major parties. The district was held by the Labor Party
for all but three of its first 24 years. In its final decades however, the seat had become very safe for the National Party
.
, Dalwallinu
, Wongan Hills
, Cunderdin
, Kellerberrin
, Quairading
, Bruce Rock
and Corrigin
.
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 1950 to 2008.
Originally known as Merredin-Yilgarn, the name was shortened in 1977. The district was located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia and was named for the town of Merredin
Merredin, Western Australia
-Economy:The agricultural land around Merredin produces 40% of Western Australia’s wheat quota. As a focal point for the region, Merredin’s local bulk handling co-operative receives and processes in excess of a million tonnes of grain every year...
.
Merredin was abolished in 2008 as a result of the reduction in rural seats made necessary by 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. Its former territory was largely incorporated 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....
, with parts also added to the districts of Moore
Electoral district of Moore
Moore is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia.Moore has had three incarnations as an electorate. It its first incarnation, Moore was one of the original 30 seats contested at the 1890 state election....
and Wagin
Electoral district of Wagin
Wagin is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia.Wagin is named for the rural town of Wagin. The district covers a vast expanse of territory in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region....
.
At various times, Merredin was held by all three of the major parties. The district was held by the Labor Party
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...
for all but three of its first 24 years. In its final decades however, the seat had become very safe for the National 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....
.
Geography
At its aboltion, Merredin covered several inland rural shires. Its towns included MerredinMerredin, Western Australia
-Economy:The agricultural land around Merredin produces 40% of Western Australia’s wheat quota. As a focal point for the region, Merredin’s local bulk handling co-operative receives and processes in excess of a million tonnes of grain every year...
, Dalwallinu
Dalwallinu, Western Australia
Dalwallinu is a town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, located 248 km from Perth via the Great Northern Highway. Agriculture and supporting industries are the town's primary economic activities. The town is also the first town on The Wildflower Way, a world-famous Western...
, Wongan Hills
Wongan Hills, Western Australia
Wongan Hills is a town in the Shire of Wongan-Ballidu, in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. The town is approximately 182 km north of the State capital Perth, at an altitude of 286 metres....
, Cunderdin
Cunderdin, Western Australia
Cunderdin is a town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia 156 km east of Perth, on Great Eastern Highway.- History :The first European visitor to the area was Charles Cooke Hunt, who explored the area in 1864 and recorded the name Cunderdin, from the Aboriginal name of a nearby...
, Kellerberrin
Kellerberrin, Western Australia
Kellerberrin is a town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, east of Perth on the Great Eastern Highway.The railway line from Northam to Southern Cross was constructed through here in 1893-94, and this section opened for traffic in 1895. Kellerberrin was one of the original stations when...
, Quairading
Quairading, Western Australia
Quairading is a Western Australian town located in the Wheatbelt region. It is the seat of government for the Shire of Quairading.-History:The town was named for Quairading Spring, derived from a local Aboriginal word recorded in 1872 by surveyor Alexander Forrest. The first European settler in the...
, Bruce Rock
Bruce Rock, Western Australia
Bruce Rock is a town located in the Eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, approximately east of Perth and southwest of Merredin. It is the main town in the Shire of Bruce Rock....
and Corrigin
Corrigin, Western Australia
Corrigin is a town located in the central Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, east-southeast of the state capital, Perth, Western Australia, along State Route 40...
.
Members for Merredin
| Merredin-Yilgarn (1950–1977) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Party | Term | |
| Lionel Kelly | 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... |
1950–1968 | |
| Jack Stewart Jack Stewart (politician) John Julius Thomas Stewart was an Australian politician who represented the Electoral district of Kahibah and the Charlestown for the Australian Labor Party.-Early life:... |
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... |
1968–1971 | |
| James Brown | Labor | 1971–1974 | |
| Hendy Cowan Hendy Cowan Hendy John Cowan is a former Australian politician who served in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly as the Member for Merredin-Yilgarn from 30 March 1974 and the Member for Merredin from 19 February 1977... |
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.... |
1974–1977 | |
| Merredin (1977–2008) | |||
| Member | Party | Term | |
| Hendy Cowan | 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.... |
1977–2001 | |
| Brendon Grylls Brendon Grylls Brendon John Grylls is an Australian politician and is currently the Member for Central Wheatbelt in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, as well as the Leader of the National Party of Western Australia. Grylls has been the Minister for Regional Development and Minister for Lands in the... |
National | 2001–2008 | |