The Division of Parramatta is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the locality of Parramatta. The name Parramatta has been sourced to an Aboriginal word for the area. The Darug people had lived in the area for many generations, and regarded the area as a food bowl, rich in food from the river and forests. They called the area Baramada or Burramatta ('Parramatta') which means "the place where the eels lie down".^[1]

The division has always been based in the western suburbs of Sydney, including the suburbs of Parramatta, Carlingford, Westmead and Rydalmere. It has existed since Federation and is currently one of the most marginal electorates in the Australian House of Representatives, a fact reinforced during the 2004 election when the sitting Liberal Member was defeated despite a state-wide swing towards his party.

In the 2006 redistribution, Parramatta again changed its status, becoming notionally marginally Liberal (as defined by the Australian Electoral Commission). Nevertheless, as was widely expected^[2] at the federal election held in November 2007, the incumbent Labor member, Julie Owens, held the seat ahead of Liberal candidate Colin Robinson, a member of the Electrical Trades Union.^[2] with an increased majority.

Members

Election results

References

• Psephos: Adam Carr's Election Archive
• The Poll Bludger
• Australian Electoral Commission

External links

• Divisional Map of Parramatta