Division of Hotham

The Division of Hotham is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1969 and is named for Sir Charles Hotham, Governor of Victoria 1854-55. It is located in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Hotham covers an area of approximately 72 square kilometres from Oakleigh in the north to Dingley Village in the south. The main suburbs include Bentleigh East, Dingley Village, Moorabbin, and parts of Carnegie, Clarinda, Clayton, Clayton South, Cheltenham, Murrumbeena, Noble Park, Oakleigh, Oakleigh South, Springvale and Springvale South. It was originally created as a safe Liberal seat. However, demographic changes resulted in Labor taking it in 1980, and it is now considered a fairly safe Labor seat. Its current member, Simon Crean, was party leader from 2001 until December 2003, and is currently the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government.