2004 Profile of the division of Wide Bay

Updated: 9 February 2011

State: Queensland

Name Derivation: Named after the district which takes its name from the bay sighted by Captain Cook on 18 May 1770.

Area and Location Description: Wide Bay covers an area of approximately 19 604 sq km from Gympie and Rainbow Beach in the SE; from the city of Hervey Bay in the NE; from the township of Biggenden in the NW to the township of Boondooma in the SW and the towns of Wondai and Murgon in the south. Major population centres are Hervey Bay, Maryborough and Gympie. It also includes the World Heritage listed Fraser Island (the world's largest sand island).

Map of Division: Wide Bay [PDF 150KB]

Products/Industries of the Area: Eco-tourism (Fraser Island), whale watching (Hervey Bay), historical attractions (Maryborough), natural attractions (Cooloola Coast) timber, dairying, grain, grazing, sugar, tropical fruit orchards, and railway rolling stock (including Queensland's 'tilt' trains).

First Proclaimed/Election: 1900/1901

Demographic Rating: Rural

Members:

  • TRUSS, W (NP) 1990–
  • MILLAR, P C (CP/NCP/NP) 1974–1990
  • HANSEN, B P (ALP) 1961–1974
  • BANDIDT, H N C (CP) 1958–1961
  • BRAND, W A (CP) 1954–1958
  • CORSER, B H (CP) 1928–1954
  • CORSER, E B C (LIB/NAT) 1915–1928
  • FISHER, A (ALP) 1901–1915

Current Member Details: See the Parliament of Australia website

AEC Divisional Office Address: See Divisional Office Contact Details

2004 Federal Election Results:

  • Enrolment: 90 867
  • Informal Vote: 4.78%
  • Turnout: 94.63%
  • Seat Status: Safe National
  • Two Party Preferred: NP: 62.89% | ALP: 37.11%

Further information:

For supporting information, see Party Codes, Demographic Ratings and Seat Status.