Hotham covers an area of approximately 83 square kilometres from Oakleigh in the north to Keysborough in the south.

The division includes the suburbs of Bentleigh East, Clarinda, Clayton South, Coatesville, Huntingdale, Noble Park, Oakleigh East, Oakleigh South, Springvale,Waverley Park, Westall in their entirety; as well as parts of Bentleigh, Clayton, Hughesdale, Keysborough, Mulgrave, Noble Park North, Oakleigh and Springvale South.

He ended up quitting the party in 1977 due to personal animosity towards Fraser to form the Australian Democrats, and shortly thereafter transferred to the Senate.

Chipp's Liberal successor Roger Johnston finally lost Hotham to Labor in 1980.

Crean retired at the 2013 election and was succeeded by fellow Labor member Clare O'Neil.