[1] It was first contested in the 1983 election at which Labor member Bob Pearce, who had previously represented Gosnells, was successful.

It was held from 1996 until 2010 by Alannah MacTiernan, the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure in the Gallop and Carpenter governments.

On 25 June 2010, MacTiernan resigned from the Western Australian Legislative Assembly to run for the federal seat of Canning.

In the latter election, he increased his majority to 25.2 percent, making Armadale the safest seat in the legislature.

[3] The 2007 redistribution, which took effect at the 2008 election, resulted in the seat losing eastern Kelmscott as well as Wungong and Forrestdale.