The Macarthur Electorate

State: New South Wales

Name Derivation: The electorate of Macarthur was named after Captain John Macarthur (1767-1834) and his wife Elizabeth Macarthur (1766-1850) who were influential early settlers in New South Wales. John Macarthur is considered to be the founder of the Australian merino wool industry.

Description: Macarthur covers an area of approximately 573 sq km stretching from east of the Nepean River to Luddenham, Badgerys Creek and Leppington in the north, to the south through Cobbity and Cawdor, along the Camden and Campbelltown sides of Woodbridge Road and Onslow Creek at Menangle and east to Gilead, Wedderburn, Kentlyn, Leumeah and Kearns. Macarthur shares common boundaries with the Division of Lindsay in the north, Werriwa, Hughes and Cunningham in the east, and Hume in the south. The main towns include Bringelly, Camden, Campbelltown, Cobbitty, Harrington Park, Mount Annan, Narellan, St Helens Park, Wedderburn and Woodbine.

Products/Industries: The area contains residential, commercial, small business, semi-rural and light industrial activities. It produces fruit, vegetables, fodder crops, wine, dairy cattle and is a centre for horse-breeding, agistment and tourism. Oran Park Raceway, the Macarthur Campus of the University of Western Sydney, the University of Sydney farms and the Mount Annan Botanic Gardens are also located here.

First Proclaimed/Election: 1949

Demographic Rating: Rural

Members:

FARMER, P (LP) 2001-
FAHEY, J (LP) 1996-2001
HAVILAND, C D (ALP) 1993-1996
MARTIN, S P (ALP) 1984-1993
HOLLIS, C (ALP) 1983-1984
BAUME, M E (LP) 1975-1983
KERIN, J C (ALP) 1972-1975
BATE, H J (LP) 1949-1972

2004 Federal Election Results:

Enrolment: 84,285; Informal Vote: 7.37%; Turnout: 95.15%; Seat Status: Fairly safe Liberal; Two Party Preferred: LP: 59.51% and ALP: 40.49%. (Information supplied by the Australian Electoral Commission)