It was named for Jim Fraser, who was the Member for Australian Capital Territory from 1951 to 1970.

It also generally included the land in the ACT north of the Molonglo River and Lake Burley Griffin, although at one time it included some suburbs in the inner south and immediately prior to its abolition it had lost Reid and Campbell to the division of Canberra.

The Australian Electoral Commission decided that, with effect from the 2016 election, the seat name would be changed to Fenner, to honour scientist Frank Fenner.

[1][2] The proposed name change met with opposition from a number of ACT residents.

For instance, former ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said that the name change "traduces" the legacy of Fraser, a man "close to the heart of Canberrans."