The electoral district of Essendon is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. It was first created in 1904 after the abolition of the larger Essendon and Flemington electorate, and covers some of the north-western suburbs of Melbourne, including Essendon, Moonee Ponds and Ascot Vale.
The electorate was abolished in 1955, replaced by Ascot Vale, but in 1958, Ascot Vale was abolished, replaced by a re-created Essendon.
Essendon was held by the Liberals during the Bolte and Hamer governments, usually due to preferences from the Democratic Labor Party. The Liberals also won the seat after the Kennett landslide of 1992.
Nowadays, the electorate lies within the Labor heartland of western and northern Melbourne, and is considered to be a relatively safe seat for Labor. Judy Maddigan regained the seat for Labor at the 1996 election and retained the seat until her retirement in 2010, when it was won by the then Labor MLC, Justin Madden.
Following the 2012–2013 redivision of State electoral boundaries, Essendon lost electors from Aberfeldie to the electoral district of Niddrie and gained electors from Flemington and Travancore in the electoral district of Melbourne.
The current member for Essendon is Danny Pearson of the Labor Party, who was elected to the seat at the 2014 state election. Pearson has announced he will not contest the 2026 Victorian election.
Members for Essendon First incarnation (1904–1955)MemberPartyTerm William Watt Liberal 1904–1914 Maurice Blackburn Labor 1914–1917 Thomas Ryan Nationalist 1917–1924 Frank Keane Labor 1924–1927 Arthur Drakeford Labor 1927–1932 James Dillon United Australia 1932–1943 Samuel Merrifield Labor 1943–1945 Arthur Drakeford Jr Labor 1945–1947 Allen Bateman Liberal 1947–1950 George Fewster Labor 1950–1955 Labor (Anti-Communist) 1955
Second incarnation (1958–present)MemberPartyTerm Sir Kenneth Wheeler Liberal 1958–1979 Barry Rowe Labor 1979–1992 Ian Davis Liberal 1992–1996 Judy Maddigan Labor 1996–2010 Justin Madden Labor 2010–2014 Danny Pearson Labor 2014–present
Election results
Graphical summary
References
External links Electorate profile: Essendon District, Victorian Electoral Commission