[1][2] Riverton was first contested at the 1989 election, at which Liberal Party member Graham Kierath was successful.

He served as a minister in the Court government, and held the seat until his unexpected defeat at the 2001 election on a 10.16% swing.

Mike Nahan retired at the 2021 election, and the seat was won back by the Labor party with a 13.3% swing towards them.

Its boundaries include the suburbs of Parkwood, Riverton, Shelley, Willetton, Bull Creek and the Canning Vale industrial area and markets.

[4] The 2007 redistribution, which took effect at the 2008 election, resulted in the seat losing Ferndale in the northeast and eastern Leeming in the southwest, while gaining the unpopulated Canning Vale industrial area.