Division of Newcastle

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The Division of Newcastle is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. The Division is centred around the city of Newcastle, after which it is named.

The Division was proclaimed in 1900, and was one of the original 75 divisions to be contested at the first Federal election. The Division was named after the city of Newcastle, around which the Division is centred. The seat is currently a fairly safe Labor seat. It has been held by the Australian Labor Party since it was created, and it is the only original Division to be held by just one party since the first Federal election.

[edit] Members

The Division of Newcastle has had just five members since 1901, the fewest of any of the original Divisions. Indeed, up until 1958 the seat had been held by the Watkins family, son David taking over from father David in 1935. Allan Morris' brother Peter Morris was also a Member of the House, holding the Division of Shortland, which lies immediately to the south. Chales Jones' brother Sam was the member for Waratah in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for much of the time that he was the member. The Division of Waratah lay within the boundaries of the Division of Newcastle