Division of Melbourne

The Division of Melbourne is an Australian Electoral Division of Victoria. It is represented by Adam Bandt of the Australian Greens.

Created at Federation in 1900 the division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. Melbourne division encompasses the City of Melbourne and the suburbs of Abbotsford, Ascot Vale, Carlton, Clifton Hill, Colllingwood, Docklands, North Melbourne, West Melbourne, East Melbourne, Fitzroy, Fitzroy North, Flemington, Kensington, Parkville and Richmond. Brunswick and Brunswick East are shared with the Division of Wills. The area has heavy and light engineering, extensive manufacturing, commercial and retail activities (including Melbourne markets and central business district), dockyards, clothing and footwear industries, warehousing and distributing of whitegoods, building and other general goods.

This capital city electorate's northern boundary is formed by Maribyrnong Road, Ormond Road, Park Street, Sydney Road and Glenlyon Road between the Yarra River, Maribyrnong River and Merri Creek.

Traditionally a very safe Labor seat, Melbourne was held by the ALP from 1904 to 2010, with former Opposition Leader Arthur Calwell the highest profile member. At the 2007 election, Melbourne became a marginal seat for the first time, with the Greens candidate Adam Bandt taking second place on a two candidate preferred basis, leaving Labor with 54.71 percent of the vote. On a two party preferred basis with the Liberals, Labor finished with 72.27, an increase of 1.13 percentage points. At the 2010 federal election however, following the retirement of former member and Minister for Finance Lindsay Tanner, Labor lost the division of Melbourne to the Greens, with Bandt securing victory over Labor candidate Cath Bowtell.