The electorate was first created prior to the 1967 election and the Liberal Party held the seat until the Cain landslide of 1982.

Population increases, however, meant the seat was abolished in 1985 and replaced by two electorates—Frankston South and Frankston North.

It became very safe for the Liberal Party, who won it with margins well over 10%.

However the adjoining Labor-held seat of Frankston East—which had been created mostly out of the old Frankston North—was abolished prior to the 2002 election and much of its territory was incorporated into the seat.

He was returned at the 2006 election with a reduced majority, but was defeated in 2010 by Geoff Shaw.