Division of Barrier

Barrier Australian House of Representatives Division
Created	1901
Abolished	1922
Namesake	Barrier Ranges

The Division of Barrier was an Australian electoral division in the state of New South Wales. The division was proclaimed in 1900, and was one of the original 65 divisions to be contested at the first federal election. It was named for the Barrier Ranges near the city of Broken Hill in western New South Wales. In 1901, it included Broken Hill, Wilcannia, White Cliffs and Tibooburra and the surrounding pastoral areas. In 1906, it gained Menindee, Wentworth from Riverina and in 1913, it gained Balranald and Deniliquin from Riverina. It was abolished in 1922 with Broken Hill, Wentworth and Balranald being transferred to Darling and Deniliquin transferred to Riverina. It was a very safe seat for the Australian Labor Party, although both its members left the ALP at the end their terms: Josiah Thomas to join the Nationalists, and Michael Considine (a radical socialist) to sit as an independent.

Members

	Image	Member	Party	Term	Notes
		Josiah Thomas (1863–1933)	Labor	29 March 1901 – 14 November 1916	Previously held the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Alma. Served as minister under Fisher. Transferred to the Senate
			National Labor	14 November 1916 – 17 February 1917
			Nationalist	17 February 1917 – 5 May 1917
		Michael Considine (1885–1959)	Labor	5 May 1917 – 1920	Failed to win the Division of Darling after Barrier was abolished in 1922
			Socialist Labor	1920 – 1921
			Industrial Labor	1921 – 16 December 1922

Election results

Main article: Electoral results for the Division of Barrier