Overview
The Division of Page is a federal electoral division located in the far north-east of the state of New South Wales. It lies close to the border with Queensland and fronts the Tasman Sea along parts of its eastern edge. Created in 1984, the division combines coastal towns, river valleys and rural hinterland.
History and name
The seat was named after the Right Honourable Sir Earle Page, a long-serving farmer, parliamentarian and the first leader of the Australian Country Party. Page served as caretaker Prime Minister following the death of Joseph Lyons in 1939. The division’s creation in 1984 reflected population growth and redistribution in northern New South Wales.
Geography and communities
Page covers a mix of coastal and inland terrain: sandy beaches, estuaries, subtropical hinterlands and river floodplains. Principal towns within the division include:
- Ballina — coastal centre and local service hub
- Lismore — regional city on rich river flats
- Grafton — historic river town upriver
- Casino, Tyringham, Bonalbo, Nimbin and Iluka — smaller towns and villages
Economy and environment
The division’s economy blends agriculture (beef, dairy, horticulture), forestry and coastal tourism. Rivers such as the Richmond and Clarence support farming and fisheries while wide coastal reserves and national parks preserve important habitats. The area experiences subtropical weather and is prone to heavy rainfall and occasional flooding.
Political significance
As a largely rural electorate with growing coastal population centres, Page reflects the tensions between agricultural interests and expanding tourism and lifestyle development. Redistributions and demographic change have influenced electoral margins; the division’s representation at federal level has changed over time with candidates from different parties and independents contesting the seat.
Notable facts
Page illustrates how regional electorates can combine distinct communities — coastal towns, river valley cities and remote hinterland villages — within a single federal division. For authoritative maps, election results and current representation consult the Australian Electoral Commission and related sources via the division’s official pages and profiles.
Electoral information | State context | New South Wales | Bordering Queensland | Coastal region | Sir Earle Page | Country Party history | Caretaker prime minister | Joseph Lyons | Ballina | Lismore | Grafton