The Gabba Ward is a Brisbane City Council ward covering Woolloongabba, Dutton Park, East Brisbane, Highgate Hill, Kangaroo Point, South Brisbane and West End.
This was the first ward ever won by the Queensland Greens. It is currently held by Trina Massey, who succeeded Jonathan Sriranganathan in 2023 and was elected in her own right in 2024.
History First incarnation The Gabba Ward was first established for the 1985 election, as part of an increase from 21 to 26 wards.
It largely succeeded the abolished Woolloongabba Ward, and covered the current suburbs of Dutton Park, East Brisbane, Highgate Hill, Kangaroo Point, South Brisbane, Stones Corner, West End, and Woolloongabba, along with parts of Annerley, Coorparoo, Greenslopes, and Norman Park.
The ward was won by Tim Quinn for the Labor Party at the 1985 election. Quinn retained the ward at the 1988 and 1991 elections, and represented it until its abolition in 1994.
The 1994 election saw The Gabba Ward largely split between two new wards, Dutton Park and East Brisbane. Incumbent Quinn successfully contested the new Dutton Park ward for the Labor Party, which he represented until becoming Lord Mayor in 2003.
Second incarnartion The 2008 election saw the abolition of both Dutton Park and East Brisbane wards, with The Gabba being re-established on similar boundaries to its first incarnation.
Helen Abrahams, the incumbent councillor for the abolished Dutton Park Ward, won the ward for the Labor Party at the 2008 election. Abrahams retained the ward for the party at the 2012 election.
Greens candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan (then known as Sri) won the ward in 2016, with a 14% gain in primary votes. The ward was retained by the Greens at the 2020 election, with a swing towards Sriranganathan of 12.4% in first preference votes, achieving a total of 62.3% of two-party preferred votes.
Councillors for The Gabba Ward First incarnation ImageMemberPartyTermNotes Tim Quinn Labor 30 March 1985 – 26 March 1994 Ward abolished, successfully contested new Dutton Park Ward at 1994 election.
Second incarnation ImageMemberPartyTermNotes Helen Abrahams Labor 15 March 2008 – 19 March 2016 Councillor for Paddington Ward from 1991–1994. Retired Jonathan Sriranganathan Greens 19 March 2016 – 21 April 2023 Known as Jonathan Sri until 2022. First ever Queensland Greens councillor. Resigned to run for Lord Mayor at 2024 election Trina Massey Greens 21 April 2023 – present Incumbent
Results 2024
2020
2016
2012
2008
References