Electoral district of Belmont
Encyclopedia
The Electoral district of Belmont is an electoral district
of the Legislative Assembly
in the Australia
n state of Western Australia
. Belmont is named for the inner eastern Perth
suburb of Belmont
which falls within its borders. It is considered to be a safe seat for the Australian Labor Party
, and in its present incarnation has only had one member, current Opposition Leader and former Deputy Premier Eric Ripper
.
. In 1911, just 50 people voted at the Belmont and Welshpool Road booths, and by 1950, this had grown to 410 at Belmont, 685 at Welshpool and 692 at Queens Park
. However, the area grew rapidly following the Second World War as industry developed at Belmont, Kewdale
and Forrestfield
, and Housing Commission areas were built to support them. At the 1955 redistribution, the new electorate of Beeloo
was created—the only district to be so created. The previous member for Canning, Labor
member Colin Jamieson
who was first elected in 1953, secured the seat at the 1956 election.
At the 1962 election
, Beeloo moved further south into Cannington
and Queens Park
, whilst a new seat of Belmont was created with boundaries not dissimilar to the present seat. It was represented by former Speaker
James Hegney until 1968.
At the redistribution taking effect from the 1968 election
, Beeloo was abolished, and a new seat of Ascot
was created north and south of the Swan River
. Belmont shifted southwards and was won by Jamieson at the election. When the electorate lost the suburb of Belmont
to Ascot in the distribution prior to the 1974 election
, the electorate was renamed Welshpool
. Ascot, initially represented by Merv Toms until his death while presiding as Speaker
on 8 October 1971, was then won by schoolteacher Mal Bryce
who went on to become Deputy Premier to Brian Burke
from 1983 to 1988. At the by-election held to replace him on 17 February 1988, schoolteacher and union organiser Eric Ripper
was successful.
At the 1988 redistribution, both Welshpool and Ascot were abolished, and Belmont was recreated, with Ripper transferring into the seat.
to the northwest, the Helena River
to the north, the freight railway to the east, Welshpool Road to the south and Orrong Road to the southwest. Its boundaries include the suburbs of Ascot
, Belmont
, Cloverdale
, Kewdale
, Redcliffe
, Rivervale
, South Guildford
and Welshpool
, as well as Perth Airport
.
The 2007 redistribution, which took effect at the 2008 election
, only removed a section of High Wycombe
which had been added in 2005.
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...
. Belmont is named for the inner eastern Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
suburb of Belmont
Belmont, Western Australia
The City of Belmont is a Local Government Area in the inner eastern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, located about east of Perth's central business district on the south bank of the Swan River...
which falls within its borders. It is considered to be a safe seat for the Australian 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...
, and in its present incarnation has only had one member, current Opposition Leader and former Deputy Premier Eric Ripper
Eric Ripper
Eric Stephen Ripper is the Leader of the Opposition and leader of the Labor Party in Western Australia.He grew up on a wheat/sheep farm near Nyabing. Ripper later attended Churchlands Senior High School and the University of Western Australia, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts and a...
.
History
Belmont was initially within the vast electorate of CanningElectoral district of Canning
The Electoral district of Canning was an electorate in the state of Western Australia. The electorate, which was named for the Canning River which ran through the electorate, was first contested at the 1897 elections and was abolished in the 1988 redistribution...
. In 1911, just 50 people voted at the Belmont and Welshpool Road booths, and by 1950, this had grown to 410 at Belmont, 685 at Welshpool and 692 at Queens Park
Queens Park, Western Australia
Queens Park is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Canning. Its postcode is 6107.-History:The suburb derives its name from the former Queens Park Road Board that was incorporated into the Canning and Belmont Road Boards....
. However, the area grew rapidly following the Second World War as industry developed at Belmont, Kewdale
Kewdale, Western Australia
Kewdale is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Belmont. Kew Street was one of the first roads in this district, hence the naming of the suburb....
and Forrestfield
Forrestfield, Western Australia
Forrestfield is a suburb of the Shire of Kalamunda in Western Australia. It lies 15 km to the southeast of Perth at the base of the Darling Scarp and the Southern border of the International Airport. There is authority to suggest it is named after Western Australia's first premier, John Forrest...
, and Housing Commission areas were built to support them. At the 1955 redistribution, the new electorate of Beeloo
Electoral district of Beeloo
Beeloo was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1956 to 1968. Beeloo was named for one of the three clans of Nyungar people who inhabited the Perth metropolitan area prior to European settlement...
was created—the only district to be so created. The previous member for Canning, 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...
member Colin Jamieson
Colin Jamieson
Colin John Jamieson, AO JP , was a politician in Western Australia. A member of the Australian Labor Party, he served as a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1953 until 1986, as the Minister for Works and Water Supplies in the Tonkin Ministry and as Leader of the Opposition...
who was first elected in 1953, secured the seat at the 1956 election.
At the 1962 election
Western Australian state election, 1962
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 31 March 1962 to elect all 50 members to the Legislative Assembly. The Liberal-Country coalition government, led by Premier Sir David Brand, won a second term in office against the Labor Party, led by Opposition Leader Bert Hawke.The election...
, Beeloo moved further south into Cannington
Cannington, Western Australia
Cannington is a southern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Canning.-History:Cannington's name derives from the Canning River, which forms part of the southwestern boundary of the suburb...
and Queens Park
Queens Park, Western Australia
Queens Park is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Canning. Its postcode is 6107.-History:The suburb derives its name from the former Queens Park Road Board that was incorporated into the Canning and Belmont Road Boards....
, whilst a new seat of Belmont was created with boundaries not dissimilar to the present seat. It was represented by former Speaker
Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly is the presiding officer in the Legislative Assembly. The office has existed since the creation of the Legislative Assembly in 1890 under the Constitution Act 1889...
James Hegney until 1968.
At the redistribution taking effect from the 1968 election
Western Australian state election, 1968
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 23 March 1968 to elect all 51 members to the Legislative Assembly and 15 members to the 30-seat Legislative Council...
, Beeloo was abolished, and a new seat of Ascot
Electoral district of Ascot
Ascot was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1968 to 1989.The district was based in the eastern suburbs of Perth. First contested at the 1968 state election, its first member was Merv Toms, hitherto the member for Bayswater, who...
was created north and south of the Swan River
Swan River (Western Australia)
The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow....
. Belmont shifted southwards and was won by Jamieson at the election. When the electorate lost the suburb of Belmont
Belmont, Western Australia
The City of Belmont is a Local Government Area in the inner eastern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, located about east of Perth's central business district on the south bank of the Swan River...
to Ascot in the distribution prior to the 1974 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...
, the electorate was renamed Welshpool
Electoral district of Welshpool
Welshpool was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1974 to 1989.The district was based in the south-eastern suburbs of Perth. First contested at the 1974 state election, its first member was Colin Jamieson, hitherto the member for Belmont...
. Ascot, initially represented by Merv Toms until his death while presiding as Speaker
Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly is the presiding officer in the Legislative Assembly. The office has existed since the creation of the Legislative Assembly in 1890 under the Constitution Act 1889...
on 8 October 1971, was then won by schoolteacher Mal Bryce
Mal Bryce
Malcolm John "Mal" Bryce AO was the Labor member for Ascot in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1971 to 1988. He was Deputy Premier to Brian Burke from 1983 to 1988.-References:...
who went on to become Deputy Premier to Brian Burke
Brian Burke
Brian Thomas Burke was Labor premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988...
from 1983 to 1988. At the by-election held to replace him on 17 February 1988, schoolteacher and union organiser Eric Ripper
Eric Ripper
Eric Stephen Ripper is the Leader of the Opposition and leader of the Labor Party in Western Australia.He grew up on a wheat/sheep farm near Nyabing. Ripper later attended Churchlands Senior High School and the University of Western Australia, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts and a...
was successful.
At the 1988 redistribution, both Welshpool and Ascot were abolished, and Belmont was recreated, with Ripper transferring into the seat.
Geography
Belmont is bounded by the Swan RiverSwan River (Western Australia)
The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow....
to the northwest, the Helena River
Helena River
The Helena River is a tributary of the Swan River in Western Australia. The river rises in country east of Mount Dale and moves to the north west to Mundaring Weir, where it is dammed...
to the north, the freight railway to the east, Welshpool Road to the south and Orrong Road to the southwest. Its boundaries include the suburbs of Ascot
Ascot, Western Australia
Ascot is a suburb of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, covering a narrow strip of land along the southern bank of the Swan River approximately east of Perth's central business district...
, Belmont
Belmont, Western Australia
The City of Belmont is a Local Government Area in the inner eastern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, located about east of Perth's central business district on the south bank of the Swan River...
, Cloverdale
Cloverdale, Western Australia
Cloverdale is a suburb of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, and is located east of Perth's central business district in the City of Belmont.-History:...
, Kewdale
Kewdale, Western Australia
Kewdale is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Belmont. Kew Street was one of the first roads in this district, hence the naming of the suburb....
, Redcliffe
Redcliffe, Western Australia
Redcliffe is a suburb of Perth and is located within the City of Belmont local government area.The story of its name is ambiguous: while some claim it was named after steep red clay deposits that lined the banks of the Swan River when settlers first arrived, others claim that it was named after the...
, Rivervale
Rivervale, Western Australia
Rivervale, near the Swan River in Australia, is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia and 5 km from Perth's central business district.Rivervale was known as Barndon Hill until 1884....
, South Guildford
South Guildford, Western Australia
South Guildford is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located in the City of Swan local government area....
and Welshpool
Welshpool, Western Australia
Welshpool is an inner southeastern suburb of Perth, located mostly within the City of Canning. The area is considered to be one of the main industrial areas of Perth, along with Kewdale, Kwinana, Henderson, Malaga, O'Connor, Canning Vale and Osborne Park....
, as well as Perth Airport
Perth Airport
Perth Airport is an Australian domestic and international airport serving Perth, the capital and largest city of Western Australia. The airport itself is located in the suburb of Perth Airport....
.
The 2007 redistribution, which took effect at the 2008 election
Western Australian state election, 2008
A general election was held in the state of Western Australia on Saturday 6 September 2008 to elect 59 members to the Legislative Assembly and 36 members to the Legislative Council...
, only removed a section of High Wycombe
High Wycombe, Western Australia
High Wycombe is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the Shire of Kalamunda. High Wycombe lies east of the Perth CBD at the base of the Darling Scarp ....
which had been added in 2005.
Members for Belmont
| First incarnation (1962–1974) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Party | Term | |
| James Hegney | 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... |
1962–1968 | |
| Colin Jamieson Colin Jamieson Colin John Jamieson, AO JP , was a politician in Western Australia. A member of the Australian Labor Party, he served as a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1953 until 1986, as the Minister for Works and Water Supplies in the Tonkin Ministry and as Leader of the Opposition... |
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... |
1968–1974 | |
| Second incarnation (1989–present) | |||
| Eric Ripper Eric Ripper Eric Stephen Ripper is the Leader of the Opposition and leader of the Labor Party in Western Australia.He grew up on a wheat/sheep farm near Nyabing. Ripper later attended Churchlands Senior High School and the University of Western Australia, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts and a... |
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... |
1989–present | |
Results
- The 2007 redistribution resulted in a notional Labor majority of 11.7%. Therefore, the swings presented are based on the ABCAustralian Broadcasting CorporationThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
's calculation of redistributed results, rather than the actual results at the 2005 election.
External links
- Electorate Profile (Antony Green, ABC)