Barcoo was an

electoral district An electoral district, also known as an election district, legislative district, voting district, constituency, riding, ward, division, or (election) precinct is a subdivision of a larger state (a country, administrative region, or other polity ...

of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

from 1885 to 1972. It was created in 1885, by dividing the district of Mitchell, with Barcoo taking up its western area. It was named after the

Barcoo River The Barcoo River in western Queensland, Australia rises on the northern slopes of the Warrego Range, flows in a south-westerly direction and unites with the Thomson River to form Cooper Creek. The first European to see the river was Thomas M ...

, and covered remote rural areas in Southwest Queensland. Barcoo was mostly a safe seat for the Labor Party The death of

Frank Murphy William Francis Murphy (April 13, 1890July 19, 1949) was an American politician, lawyer and jurist from Michigan. He was a Democrat who was named to the Supreme Court of the United States in 1940 after a political career that included serving ...

created a by-election on 5 March 1892. A shearer,

Tommy Ryan Tommy Ryan (born Joseph Youngs; March 31, 1870 – August 3, 1948) was an American World Welterweight and World Middleweight boxing champion who fought from 1887 to 1907. His simultaneously holding records in both weight classes was a rar ...

(not to be confused with

Premier Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier. A premier will normally be a head of governm ...

T. J. Ryan Thomas Joseph Ryan (1 July 1876 – 1 August 1921) was an Australian politician who served as Premier of Queensland from 1915 to 1919, as leader of the state Labor Party. He resigned to enter federal politics, sitting in the House of Represe ...

), became the first endorsed Labor candidate in Queensland, and won the seat against opponent William Henry Campbell, the editor and proprietor of the local newspaper,

The Western Champion ''The Western Champion'' was a newspaper published initially in Blackall and later in nearby Barcaldine, Queensland, Australia. History The newspaper was initially published under the name ''The Western Champion'' from 1879 to 1891 by J. Mon ...

. The seat was later held by the Premier,

. Remarkably, his win in

1909 Events January–February * January 4 – Explorer Aeneas Mackintosh of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition escaped death by fleeing across ice floes. * January 7 – Colombia recognizes the independence of Panama. * Januar ...

was the last time a member was elected for the seat at a general election. All subsequent members were the victors in by-elections. The electorate was abolished in the redistribution preceding the 1972 state election.

Members for Barcoo

Election results

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barcoo Former electoral districts of Queensland 1885 establishments in Australia 1972 disestablishments in Australia Constituencies established in 1885 Constituencies disestablished in 1972

Members for Barcoo

Election results

See also

References