| Aston |
Division of Ballarat | Banks |
 Catherine King (ALP) Her electorate website |  |
Location: Central Vic: Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Ballarat, Daylesford Division named for: The City of Ballarat, named in 1838. The name is an Indigenous word meaning "resting place." Median weekly family income: $825 (109th highest) Persons born in non English speaking countries: 4.1% (129th highest) Persons in professional occupations: 25.1% (77th highest) Persons aged 65 and over: 12.8% (84th highest) Couple families with dependent children: 39.4% (57st highest) Dwellings being purchased: 30.5% (42nd highest) Sitting member: Catherine King (Labor), elected 2001, 2004, 2007 Born: 2.6.1966, Melbourne. Career: Social worker, research officer, policy officer Australia New Zealand Food Authority, senior positions in Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, senior manager KPMG Consulting 1996 two-party majority: Liberal 03.7 1998 two-party majority: Liberal 02.8 2001 two-party majority: Labor 02.7 Effect of 2004 redistribution: 00.5 shift to Labor 2004 two-party majority: Labor 02.2 2007 two-party majority: Labor 08.2 
2004 enrolment: 90,409 2007 enrolment: 93,624 (+03.6%) Ballarat (which was spelled Ballaarat until 1977) has existed since Federation, and has always taken in a block of territory centering on the regional city of Ballarat. Like most regional seats, it has a fairly low relative income level, and a low proportion of people born in non English speaking countries. Being close to Melbourne and subject to suburbanisation, it also has a high proportion of families with dependent children and dwellings being purchased. Labor's strength lies the eastern and southern parts of the city of Ballarat, plus smaller centres such as Daylesford and Creswick which have been heavily colonised by exurbanites and pursuers of alternative lifetsyles. Ballarat has been held by both Labor and non-Labor members for extended periods. Its most distinguished member has been Prime Minister Alfred Deakin. In recent years the seat has been trending towards Labor as the area fills up with Melbourne commuters and suburban developments. Catherine King won Ballarat in 2001: Ballarat was the only seat captured by Labor from the Howard government at that election. In 2007 King gained a swing of nearly 6% and is now fairly secure in the seat. She polled 76% of the two-party vote at Wendouree West, and over 70% at Blackwood, Drummond and Mt Egerton. She also carried most of the city of Ballarat booths. The Liberals polled 80% at Ascot and over 65% at Bungaree and Clarks Hill. Most of the strongest Liberal booths were in small rural centres. | |  Two-party vote by booth, 2007
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