Division of Parramatta

The Division of Parramatta is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1900 for the first federal election in 1901. It is named for the locality of Parramatta. The name Parramatta is an Aboriginal word for "the place where the eels lie down". 

The division is in the western suburbs of Sydney.  It includes Constitution Hill, Dundas Valley, Granville, Harris Park, Holroyd, Mays Hill, North Parramatta, Oatlands, Old Toongabbie, Parramatta, Rosehill, Rydalmere, Telopea, Wentworthville, Westmead and parts of Dundas, Ermington, Guildford, Merrylands, Merrylands West, Northmead, North Rocks, Pendle Hill, South Granville and South Wentworthville.

The division lies between Labor voting areas of western Sydney and the  Liberal areas on the North Shore.  Because of this, any change to the boundary can change the political balance in the seat.  For example, in the 2006 boundary change, Parramatta shifted from marginally Labor to marginally Liberal (as defined by the Australian Electoral Commission). Nevertheless, as was expected  Julie Owens held the seat for the ALP with an increased majority.

Members

MemberPartyTerm (Sir) Joseph Cook Free Trade, Anti-Socialist 1901–1909  Commonwealth Liberal 1909–1917  Nationalist 1917–1921  Herbert Pratten Nationalist 1921–1922  Eric Bowden Nationalist 1922–1929  Albert Rowe Labor 1929–1931  (Sir) Frederick Stewart United Australia 1931–1946  Howard Beale Liberal 1946–1958  Sir Garfield Barwick Liberal 1958–1964  Nigel Bowen Liberal 1964-1973  Philip Ruddock Liberal 1973–1977  John Brown Labor 1977–1990  Paul Elliott Labor 1990–1996  Ross Cameron Liberal 1996–2004  Julie Owens Labor 2004–2022  Andrew Charlton Labor 2022–present

From 1901 to 1921 the Division was represented by Sir Joseph Cook who was the Prime Minister of Australia from 1913–14. There have been several by-elections for Parramatta when the members have resigned. In 1921 Cook resigned to became Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, in 1958 Beale resigned to become Australian Ambassador to the United States, in 1964 Barwick resigned to become Chief Justice of the High Court, Bowen resigned in 1973 to become a judge in the NSW Court of Appeal.

Election results

|-
| bgcolor="#118080" |  
| style="text-align:left;"| Independent OLC
| style="text-align:left;"| Steve Christou
| style="text-align:right;"| 2,982
| style="text-align:right;"| 3.54
| style="text-align:right;"| +3.54
|-

References

Division of Parramatta – Australian Electoral Commission

Other websites
 Julie Owens' website

Category:Electoral divisions of New South Wales
Category:1901 establishments in Australia