The division is named after Sir William Lyne, Premier of New South Wales at the time of Federation.

The division covers parts of southern Port Macquarie Hastings City and almost the entire Mid-Coast Council local government areas.

The area has recently undergone significant demographic changes with the arrival of a large number of retired people and city dwellers seeking a sea-change.

In 1993, after the exclusion of minor candidates, the Nationals' Mark Vaile led over the Liberals by only 233 votes on the third count.

Labor had taken a large first-count lead, which it held for most of the night, but Vaile won after Liberal preferences flowed overwhelmingly to him.