Division of Menzies

Menzies
Australian House of Representatives Division
Map
Interactive map of electorate boundaries
Created1984
MPGabriel Ng
PartyLabor
NamesakeSir Robert Menzies
Electors121,052 (2025)
Area102 km2 (39.4 sq mi)
DemographicOuter metropolitan

The Division of Menzies is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria.

History

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Sir Robert Menzies, the division's namesake

The Division was proclaimed at the redistribution of 14 September 1984, and was first contested at the 1984 election. The division replaced the eastern half of the abolished Division of Diamond Valley, with the western half becoming the Division of Jagajaga. The division was named after Sir Robert Menzies, the longest serving Prime Minister of Australia, who represented the neighbouring division of Kooyong during his time in office.

A polling booth in Menzies at the 2025 federal election

The Division had always been a safe Liberal seat until the 2022 Australian federal election, with the Liberal Party nearly losing the seat for the first time in its history which was attributed to backlash against the Morrison Government by Chinese Australians.[1] It was first held by Neil Brown, a former minister who served in the Fraser government and who also served as deputy Liberal leader under John Howard from 1985 to 1987. Brown retired in 1991 and was replaced by Kevin Andrews, who held the seat from 1991 to 2022. Andrews was the Father of the House, with the longest continuous tenure of any then current MHR—although Warren Snowdon and Russell Broadbent were first elected earlier.

Boundaries

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Since 1984, federal electoral division boundaries in Australia have been determined at redistributions by a redistribution committee appointed by the Australian Electoral Commission. Redistributions occur for the boundaries of divisions in a particular state, and they occur every seven years, or sooner if a state's representation entitlement changes or when divisions of a state are malapportioned.[2]

The division is located in the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It is bordered by Koonung Creek to the south, and until redistribution in 2018 was also bordered by the Yarra River to the north. It covers the suburbs of Bulleen, Croydon Hills, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Donvale, Park Orchards, Templestowe, Templestowe Lower, North Warrandyte, Warrandyte and Warrandyte South. Additionally, parts of Box Hill, Blackburn, Mitcham, Ringwood North, Warranwood, Wonga Park and Eltham fall under the Division.[3]

Demographics

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The Division of Menzies has a diverse population, with around 45% of its residents being born overseas. Half of the population speak a language other than English at home, with Chinese Australians making around 27% of the population.[4] The seat has the third largest Chinese community of any electorate in all of Australia and the second largest in Victoria after neighbouring Chisholm.

Members

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Image Member Party Term Notes
  Neil Brown
(1940–)
Liberal 1 December 1984
25 February 1991
Previously held the Division of Diamond Valley. Resigned to retire from politics
  Kevin Andrews
(1955–2024)
Liberal 11 May 1991
11 April 2022
Served as minister under Howard and Abbott. Lost preselection and retired
  Keith Wolahan
(1977–)
Liberal 21 May 2022
3 May 2025
Lost seat
  Gabriel Ng
(1982–)
Labor 3 May 2025
present
Elected at the 2025 federal election

Election results

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2025 Australian federal election: Menzies[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Keith Wolahan 44,472 40.64 −0.30
Labor Gabriel Ng 38,012 34.74 +2.94
Greens Bill Pheasant 11,998 10.96 −1.94
Independent Stella Yee 6,967 6.37 +6.37
Trumpet of Patriots Amanda Paliouras 2,708 2.47 +1.67
One Nation Jhett Edwards-Scott 2,152 1.97 +0.01
Family First Ann Seeley 1,759 1.61 +1.61
Libertarian Joshua Utoyo 1,362 1.24 +1.24
Total formal votes 109,430 96.03 −0.54
Informal votes 4,523 3.97 +0.54
Turnout 113,953 94.14 +0.41
Two-party-preferred result
Labor Gabriel Ng 55,906 51.09 +0.67
Liberal Keith Wolahan 53,524 48.91 −0.67
Labor hold Swing +0.67
Results are not final. Last updated on 24 May 2025 at 1:00 AM AEST.

References

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  1. ^ Anthony, Galloway. "Inside the Liberal Party's debate on how to win back Chinese-Australians and teal voters". www.smh.com.au/. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  2. ^ Muller, Damon (14 November 2017). "The process of federal redistributions: a quick guide". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Menzies - Federal Electorate, Candidates, Results". abc.net.au.
  4. ^ "2021 Menzies, Census All persons QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics". Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  5. ^ Menzies, Vic, 2025 Tally Room, Australian Electoral Commission.
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37°45′47″S 145°11′28″E / 37.763°S 145.191°E / -37.763; 145.191