It was first created in 1990 as a replacement for the abolished seat of Ludmilla, and derives its name from Harold "Tiger" Brennan, a former member of the Legislative Council and Mayor of Darwin.

However, Brennan is located in what had long been reckoned as a particularly conservative area even by Palmerston standards, and it was the CLP's safest seat after the 2001 election.

Denis Burke, who served as Chief Minister of the Northern Territory from 1999 to 2001 and had just been reelected as Opposition Leader a few months before the election, was not expected to have any difficulty holding the seat in the foreseeable future.

Chandler picked up a massive swing in 2012, seemingly reverting Brennan to its traditional status as a safe CLP seat.

However, Chandler was swept out four years later by Labor's Tony Sievers amid the CLP's collapse in Palmerston.