Division of Nicholls
| Nicholls Australian House of Representatives Division | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of electorate boundaries | |
| Created | 2019 |
| MP | Sam Birrell |
| Party | Nationals |
| Namesake | Sir Douglas Nicholls Lady Gladys Nicholls |
| Electors | 121,472 (2025) |
| Area | 14,116 km2 (5,450.2 sq mi) |
| Demographic | Rural |
The Division of Nicholls is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria, which was contested for the first time at the 2019 federal election. Nicholls is in northern Victoria.
Geography
[edit]Federal electoral division boundaries in Australia are 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.[1]
Nicholls is located in the north of the state, adjoining the Murray River, which forms Victoria's border with New South Wales and includes the towns of Shepparton, Yarrawonga, Seymour, Echuca, Broadford and Kilmore.[2]
History
[edit]
The division is named in honour of Sir Douglas and Lady Gladys Nicholls, in recognition of their contributions to the advocacy of Aboriginal rights.
The Division of Nicholls was created in 2019 after the Australian Electoral Commission oversaw a mandatory redistribution of divisions in Victoria.[3] Nicholls replaced the Division of Murray in the same location.
Prior to the 2019 election the seat was notionally held by the National Party on a margin of 22.3%, making it a very safe seat for the party.[4] Its predecessor had been safely conservative for nearly its entire existence since its creation in 1949, with the Liberal Party and the National Party holding it for long spells. Indeed, much of this region has been held by a conservative party since Federation; the area was part of the Division of Echuca from 1901 to 1937, then Indi from 1937 to 1949.
The final member for Murray, Damian Drum of the Nationals, followed most of his constituents into Nicholls and easily retained it, albeit with a small swing against him.
Members
[edit]| Image | Member | Party | Term | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
Damian Drum (1960–) |
Nationals | 18 May 2019 – 11 April 2022 |
Previously held the Division of Murray. Retired | |
|
Sam Birrell (1975–) |
21 May 2022 – present |
Incumbent | ||
Election results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National | Sam Birrell | 48,762 | 46.24 | +21.93 | |
| Labor | Kim Travers | 25,560 | 24.24 | +11.08 | |
| One Nation | Aaron Tyrrell | 12,095 | 11.47 | +4.87 | |
| Greens | Shelby Eade | 8,235 | 7.81 | +4.08 | |
| Trumpet of Patriots | Glenn Floyd | 4,999 | 4.74 | +4.24 | |
| Family First | Paul Bachelor | 4,717 | 4.47 | +4.47 | |
| Citizens | Jeff Davy | 1,082 | 1.03 | +0.66 | |
| Total formal votes | 105,450 | 94.99 | +2.63 | ||
| Informal votes | 5,556 | 5.01 | −2.63 | ||
| Turnout | 111,006 | 91.38 | +1.42 | ||
| Two-party-preferred result | |||||
| National | Sam Birrell | 67,887 | 64.38 | +1.87 | |
| Labor | Kim Travers | 37,563 | 35.62 | −1.87 | |
| National hold | Swing | +1.87 | |||
References
[edit]- ^ Muller, Damon (14 November 2017). "The process of federal redistributions: a quick guide". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ^ "Map: Division of Nicholls" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission. October 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ "Names and boundaries of federal electoral divisions in Victoria decided". Australian Electoral Commission. 20 June 2018.
- ^ "2017-18 Federal Redistributions - Victoria". ABC Elections. 20 June 2018.
- ^ Nicholls, Vic, 2025 Tally Room, Australian Electoral Commission.