Electoral district of Forrest

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Forrest
Western AustraliaLegislative Assembly
StateWestern Australia
Dates current1904–1950

Forrest was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1904 to 1950. It was based in the South West region of the state, in the timber milling areas near the town of Dwellingup.

From the first time it was contested at the 1904 state election, the district was always a reliable Labor Party seat. Its first member was Albert Wilson. He was succeeded at the 1908 state election by Peter O'Loghlen. O'Loughlen resigned the seat to contest the federal division of Swan at the 1913 Australian federal election. The by-election to replace him was won by Labor candidate Thomas Moore, who stood unopposed. But with O'Loughlen losing the contest for the federal seat of Swan, Moore resigned before he could be seated and O'Loughlen won a second by-election.

O'Loughlen's death in 1923 triggered a by-election that was won by Labor candidate John Holman. Holman himself died in 1925 and was succeeded at the subsequent by-election by his daughter May Holman. May Holman—the first female representative of an Australian parliament to belong to the Labor Party—held the seat until her death in a car accident on the day of the 1939 state election. The by-election to succeed her was won by her brother Edward Holman. He was succeeded at the 1947 state election by Alfred Reynolds, who held the seat until its abolition at the 1950 state election.

Members for Forrest[edit]

Member Party Term
  Albert Wilson Labor 1904–1906
  Independent 1906–1908
  Peter O'Loghlen Labor 1908–1910
  Dennis Jones Labor 1910
  Peter O'Loghlen Labor 1910–1913
  Thomas Moore Labor 1913
  Peter O'Loghlen Labor 1913–1923
  John Holman Labor 1923–1925
  May Holman Labor 1925–1939
  Edward Holman Labor 1939–1947
  Alfred Reynolds Labor 1947–1950

Election results[edit]