It was located in the western part of the Gippsland region, which extends for the length of Victoria's eastern Bass Strait coastline.

The seat traded hands between the conservative parties from its creation until Labor finally won it in 1980.

The change at the 2004 election was attributed to the redistribution of 29 January 2003, which removed the traditionally Labor-voting cities of Traralgon and Morwell from the Division.

[3] This allowed Liberal Russell Broadbent to win the seat once again; he had previously held it from 1996 to 1998.

The 1972 federal election saw Country Party candidate Arthur Hewson win the seat from third place and a primary vote of 16.6%.