It has traditionally been a marginal seat and has had more members than any other federal electorate.

Since 1984, federal electoral division boundaries in Australia have been determined at redistributions by a redistribution committee appointed by the Australian Electoral Commission.

It has always been based on the city of Launceston and surrounding rural areas, and its boundaries have changed very little in the century since its creation.

Its most notable member has been Lance Barnard, who was Deputy Prime Minister in the Whitlam government.

His resignation in 1975 was followed by Labor's heavy defeat in the Bass by-election, which is seen as the beginning of the end of the Whitlam government.