It includes the suburbs of Broadmeadows, Dallas, Coolaroo, Greenvale, Meadow Heights, Roxburgh Park, Craigieburn and Mickleham.

The division was created in 1984 and is named for Arthur Calwell, who was Minister for Immigration 1945–1949 and Leader of the Australian Labor Party 1960–1967.

After failing to retain Labor preselection due to issues of criminality, Theophanous unsuccessfully contested the 2001 election as an Independent, polling 9.6% of the vote.

It covers an area of approximately 265 square kilometres (102 sq mi) from Kalkallo in the north to Keilor Park in the south and from Oaklands Junction in the west to Somerton in the east.

[7] The incumbent MP, Maria Vamvakinou, is herself a migrant from the Greek island of Lefkada and her parents migrated to Melbourne when she was four.