Division of O'Connor
Encyclopedia
The Division of O'Connor is an Australian Electoral Division in the state
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...

 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...

. It is one of Western Australia's three rural seats.

The Division was named after C. Y. O'Connor
C. Y. O'Connor
Charles Yelverton O'Connor CMG was an Irish engineer who is best-known for his work in Australia, especially the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme.-Early life:...

, the Engineer-in-Chief of Western Australia who designed Fremantle Harbour
Fremantle Harbour
Fremantle Harbour is Western Australia's largest and busiest general cargo port and an important historical site. The inner harbour handles a large volume of sea containers, vehicle imports and livestock exports, cruise shipping and naval visits, and operates 24 hours a day.The harbour is also...

 and the Goldfields Pipeline
Goldfields Water Supply Scheme
The Goldfields Water Supply Scheme is a pipeline and dam project which delivers potable water to communities in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields, particularly Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie...

. The Division was proclaimed at the redistribution of 28 February 1980, and was first contested at the 1980 federal election
Australian federal election, 1980
Federal elections were held in Australia on 18 October 1980. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives, and 34 of the 64 seats in the Senate, were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Malcolm Fraser with coalition partner the National Country Party led by Doug...

. The seat was a safe Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...

 seat. It was held by Wilson Tuckey
Wilson Tuckey
Charles Wilson Tuckey , a former Australian federal politician, was a Member of the Australian House of Representatives representing the seat of O'Connor in Western Australia for the Liberal Party from 1980 until 2010.-Biography:...

 from 1980
Australian federal election, 1980
Federal elections were held in Australia on 18 October 1980. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives, and 34 of the 64 seats in the Senate, were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Malcolm Fraser with coalition partner the National Country Party led by Doug...

 before being defeated at the 2010 election by Nationals WA
National Party of Western Australia
The National Party of Western Australia is a political party in Western Australia. It is affiliated with the National Party of Australia but maintains a separate structure and identity....

 candidate Tony Crook
Tony Crook (politician)
Anthony John "Tony" Crook is an Australian politician. He has been the member of the Australian House of Representatives seat of O'Connor for the National Party of Western Australia since the 2010 federal election...

 with a large swing.

It has always been a rural seat, and was historically based in the Mid West, Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions of Western Australia with major population centres in Geraldton and Albany
Albany, Western Australia
Albany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, some 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. As of 2009, Albany's population was estimated at 33,600, making it the 6th-largest city in the state....

. A major redistribution in 2008, taking effect at the 2010 election, saw it lose its northern half to the new seat of Durack
Division of Durack
-References:*...

 whilst absorbing large parts of the former Kalgoorlie
Division of Kalgoorlie
The Division of Kalgoorlie was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Western Australia, named after the city of Kalgoorlie. The Division, which was proclaimed in 1900 as one of the original 75 divisions to be contested at the first Federal election, covered most of the land area of...

. As of 2010, it is centred on the Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions of the state (while incorporating the southern Wheatbelt), with major population centres in Albany, Kalgoorlie and Esperance
Esperance, Western Australia
Esperance is a large town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, located on the Southern Ocean coastline approximately east-southeast of the state capital, Perth. The shire of Esperance is home to 9,536 people as of the 2006 census, its major industries are tourism, agriculture,...

. Local government areas within the electorate include Albany
Shire of Albany
The Shire of Albany was a Local Government Area in the Great Southern region of Western Australia centred on the town of Albany, located south-southeast of the capital, Perth and covering an area of .-History:...

, Boyup Brook
Shire of Boyup Brook
The Shire of Boyup Brook is a Local Government Area located in the South West region of Western Australia, about southeast of Perth, the state capital. The Shire covers an area of and its seat of government is the town of Boyup Brook.-History:...

, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Brookton
Shire of Brookton
The Shire of Brookton is a Local Government Area located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about southeast of Perth, the state capital...

, Broomehill
Shire of Broomehill
The Shire of Broomehill was a Local Government Area in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, about south of Katanning and about south-southeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covered an area of , and its seat of government was the town of Broomehill.The Broomehill Road Board was...

, Bruce Rock
Shire of Bruce Rock
The Shire of Bruce Rock is a Local Government Area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about south of Merredin and about east of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Bruce Rock.-History:...

, Coolgardie
Shire of Coolgardie
The Shire of Coolgardie is a Local Government Area in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, lying roughly west and south of the city of Kalgoorlie...

, Corrigin
Shire of Corrigin
The Shire of Corrigin is a Local Government Area located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about east of the state capital, Perth. Its seat of government is the town of Corrigin...

, Cranbrook
Shire of Cranbrook
The Shire of Cranbrook is a Local Government Area in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, about north of Albany and about south-southeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Cranbrook.-History:The Cranbrook Road Board was...

, Cuballing
Shire of Cuballing
The Shire of Cuballing is a Local Government Area located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about north of the town of Narrogin and southeast of the capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of and its seat of government is the small town of Cuballing.Over 10% of its area contains...

, Denmark
Shire of Denmark
The Shire of Denmark is a Local Government Area in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, about west of Albany and about south-southeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Denmark....

, Dumbleyung
Shire of Dumbleyung
The Shire of Dumbleyung is a Local Government Area located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about east of Wagin and about southeast of Perth, the state capital. The Shire covers an area of , and is involved in grain and livestock production and various biodiversity industries...

, Dundas
Shire of Dundas
The Shire of Dundas is a Local Government Area in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, between Norseman and the South Australian border generally along the Eyre Highway, between 700 and 1,500 kilometres east of the state capital, Perth...

, Esperance
Shire of Esperance
The Shire of Esperance is a Local Government Area in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, about south of the city of Kalgoorlie and about east-southeast of the state capital, Perth...

, Gnowangerup
Shire of Gnowangerup
The Shire of Gnowangerup is a Local Government Area in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, about north of Albany and about southeast of the capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Gnowangerup....

, Jerramungup
Shire of Jerramungup
The Shire of Jerramungup is a relatively new Local Government Area in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, about northeast of Albany and about southeast of the state capital, Perth...

, Kalgoorlie-Boulder
City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder
The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is a Local Government Area in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, about east of the state capital, Perth. The City covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Kalgoorlie; all but 244 of the city's population live either in...

, Katanning
Shire of Katanning
The Shire of Katanning is a Local Government Area in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, about north of Albany and about southeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Katanning....

, Kent, Kojonup
Shire of Kojonup
The Shire of Kojonup is a Local Government Area in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, about southeast of the state capital, Perth, along Albany Highway. The Shire covers an area of and its seat of government is the town of Kojonup.-History:...

, Kondinin
Shire of Kondinin
The Shire of Kondinin is a Local Government Area in the Eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about east of the state capital, Perth. The Shire's land area of forms a narrow east-west band, located between the Shire of Narembeen to the north and the Shire of Kulin to the south...

, Kulin
Shire of Kulin
The Shire of Kulin is a Local Government Area in the Eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about ESE of the state capital, Perth. The Shire's land area of forms a narrow east-west band, located between the Shire of Kondinin to the north and the Shire of Lake Grace to the south. Its seat...

, Lake Grace
Shire of Lake Grace
The Shire of Lake Grace is a Local Government Area in the Eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about ESE of the state capital, Perth. The Shire has a land area of and its seat of government is the town of Lake Grace.-History:...

, Laverton
Shire of Laverton
The Shire of Laverton is a Local Government Area in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, about northeast of the city of Kalgoorlie and about east-northeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Laverton.-History:The...

, Leonora
Shire of Leonora
The Shire of Leonora is a Local Government Area in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, about north of the city of Kalgoorlie and about northeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Leonora.-History:Leonora was...

, Manjimup
Shire of Manjimup
The Shire of Manjimup is a Local Government Area in the South West region of Western Australia, about south of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Manjimup. It has an estimated population of 10,159 .-History:The Shire area was first...

, Menzies
Shire of Menzies
The Shire of Menzies is a Local Government Area in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia located to the north of Kalgoorlie. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Menzies.-History:...

, Narembeen
Shire of Narembeen
The Shire of Narembeen is a Local Government Area in the Eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about east of the state capital, Perth, and between the shires of Merredin to the north, and Kondinin to the south...

, Narrogin
Shire of Narrogin
The Shire of Narrogin is a Local Government Area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about south-east of the state capital, Perth. Curiously, the town of Narrogin serves as the Shire's seat of government, despite the fact that it is not part of the shire itself...

, Ngaanyatjarraku, Pingelly
Shire of Pingelly
The Shire of Pingelly is a Local Government Area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about southeast of the state capital, Perth, between the Shires of Brookton and Cuballing along the Great Southern Highway. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of...

, Plantagenet, Quairading
Shire of Quairading
The Shire of Quairading is a Local Government Area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about east of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Quairading.-History:...

, Ravensthorpe
Shire of Ravensthorpe
The Shire of Ravensthorpe is a Local Government Area in the southern Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, about halfway between the city of Albany and the town of Esperance and about southeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the...

, Tambellup
Shire of Tambellup
The Shire of Tambellup was a Local Government Area in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, about south of Katanning and about south-southeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government was the town of Tambellup.The Tambellup Road Board was...

, Wagin
Shire of Wagin
The Shire of Wagin is a Local Government Area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about southeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of about , and its seat of government is the town of Wagin.-History:...

, Wandering
Shire of Wandering
The Shire of Wandering is a Local Government Area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, and, with a population of 318 as at the 2001 census, is one of the nation's smallest. It covers an area of generally to the east of Albany Highway about south-east of Perth, the state capital...

, West Arthur, Westonia
Shire of Westonia
The Shire of Westonia is a Local Government Area in the Eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about east of Perth, the state capital. Its seat of government is the small town of Westonia....

, Wickepin
Shire of Wickepin
The Shire of Wickepin is a Local Government Area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, east of Narrogin and about southeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Wickepin.-History:...

, Williams
Shire of Williams
The Shire of Williams is a Local Government Area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about southeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Williams.-History:...

, Woodanilling
Shire of Woodanilling
The Shire of Woodanilling is a Local Government Area in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, about south of Wagin and about south-southeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Woodanilling.-History:The Woodanilling Road...

, and Yilgarn.

Members

MemberPartyTerm
  Wilson Tuckey
Wilson Tuckey
Charles Wilson Tuckey , a former Australian federal politician, was a Member of the Australian House of Representatives representing the seat of O'Connor in Western Australia for the Liberal Party from 1980 until 2010.-Biography:...

Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...

1980
Australian federal election, 1980
Federal elections were held in Australia on 18 October 1980. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives, and 34 of the 64 seats in the Senate, were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Malcolm Fraser with coalition partner the National Country Party led by Doug...

–2010
  Tony Crook
Tony Crook (politician)
Anthony John "Tony" Crook is an Australian politician. He has been the member of the Australian House of Representatives seat of O'Connor for the National Party of Western Australia since the 2010 federal election...

Nationals WA
National Party of Western Australia
The National Party of Western Australia is a political party in Western Australia. It is affiliated with the National Party of Australia but maintains a separate structure and identity....

2010–present

Election results

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