It was named for the Diamond Creek area.
It was located in the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, including Doncaster, Watsonia, Eltham and Templestowe.
Always held by the government of the day, for most of its existence the seat was marginal between the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal Party.
Its eastern half was strongly pro-Liberal, while its western half voted equally as strongly for Labor.
This is reflected by the state of its successor seats; Menzies has been held at all times by the Liberals, while Jagajaga has been held at all times by Labor.