Paddington Ward

Paddington Ward
Dates current1925–1937
1985–1994
2016–present
CouncillorSeal Chong Wah
PartyGreens
NamesakePaddington
Electors33,366 (2024)[1]
Area16.7 km2 (6.4 sq mi)
Coordinates27°27′36″S 152°59′45″E / 27.4599°S 152.9959°E / -27.4599; 152.9959
Electorates around Paddington Ward:
The Gap The Gap Enoggera
Hamilton
Pullenvale Paddington Ward Central
Pullenvale Walter Taylor The Gabba
(across river)

Paddington Ward is a Brisbane City Council ward covering Paddington, Auchenflower, Kelvin Grove, Milton, Petrie Terrace, Red Hill, and parts of Bardon and Toowong.[2]

The current Paddington Ward was established for the 2016 election, and is the third Brisbane ward to bear the name. The ward previously existed from 1925 to 1937 (as one of the city's original 20 wards),[3] and again from 1985 to 1994.[4]

History

First incarnation

The first Paddington Ward was established with the creation of the City of Brisbane, and was one of the original 20 wards contested at the 1925 Brisbane City Council election.[3] The ward was created using the boundaries of the Electoral district of Paddington, as the city originally defined its wards on the state electoral districts that were fully or partially within its boundaries.[3]

John Fihelly of the Labor Party was elected at the 1925 election as the ward's first alderman.,[5] and was re-elected at the 1928 election.[6] Bill Power succeeded Fihelly for the Labor Party at the 1931 election.

Though a reduction in state districts ahead of the 1932 Queensland state election saw the Electoral district of Paddington]] abolished,[7] Paddington Ward was retained for the 1934 Brisbane election as the city still required 20 wards.[8] However, as the city needed 20 wards, Paddington Ward was retained for the 1934 council election.[9] Power was re-elected for the ward at the 1934 election.

As part of the redistribution prior to the 1935 Queensland state election, a new Electoral district of Baroona was established in a similar region to the abolished district of Paddington. Incumbent alderman Bill Power contested the new district at the 1935 election, and vacated the ward upon his election to the Legislative Assembly. Walter Russell Crampton was appointed to the casual vacancy.[10]

Following the state redistribution, the City of Brisbane returned to defining its wards on state district boundaries; abolishing Paddington Ward and establishing Baroona Ward for the 1937 Brisbane election.[11] Crampton successfully contested the new ward, and served as its alderman until his death in 1938.[10]

Second incarnation

The second Paddington Ward was established for the 1985 election as part of an increase from 21 to 26 wards.[4] It was created from the northern half of the abolished Auchenflower Ward and the western edge of the abolished Central City Ward. The ward covered the present suburbs of Milton, Paddington, Petrie Terrace, and Red Hill; almost all of Auchenflower and Bardon; and parts of Ashgrove, Brisbane City, Kelvin Grove, Newmarket, and Toowong.[4]

The ward was won by the Labor Party at the 1985 election, and retained at the 1988 election.[12] Helen Abrahams was elected at the 1991 election, retaining the ward again for the Labor Party.[12][13]

The ward was abolished for the 1994 election, with its area split between the new Central Ward and the second incarnation of Toowong Ward.

Third incarnation

For the history of Toowong Ward prior to 2016, see Toowong Ward § Second incarnation.

The second Toowong Ward was abolished ahead of the 2016 election after successive redistributions had seen it lose most of Toowong to Walter Taylor Ward.[14][15] The third incarnation of Paddington Ward was established slightly further north, taking in much of the abolished ward's area. Incumbent Toowong Ward councillor, Peter Matic, successfully contested the new ward for the Liberal National Party at the 2016 election.[14] Matic narrowly retained the ward at the 2020 election.[15]

In March 2023, Matic announced he would not re-contest the ward at the 2024 election and that he would step down prior to the election, allowing for a successor to be appointed to the vacancy.[16] Clare Jenkinson was confirmed as his successor in June 2023, and was officially oppointed on 22 June 2023.[17][16]

At the 2024 election, Seal Chong Wah won the ward for the Queensland Greens, narrowly defeating Jenkinson as the incumbent.[18] Chong Wah's election gave the Queensland Greens a second councillor in the City of Brisbane; having also held The Gabba Ward since 2016.

Councillors for Paddington Ward

First incarnation

Image Councillor Party Term Notes
  John Fihelly Labor 21 February 1925 –
2 May 1931
  Bill Power Labor 2 May 1931 –
11 May 1935 		Resigned upon election for the Electoral district of Baroona.[10]
  Walter Russell Crampton Labor After 11 May 1935 –
1937 		Appointed to fill casual vacancy.[10]
Ward abolished, successfully contested new Baroona Ward at 1937 election.[10]

Second incarnation

Image Councillor Party Term Notes
  Joe St Ledger Labor 30 March 1985 –
28 March 1991 		[12]
  Helen Abrahams Labor 28 March 1991 –
26 March 1994 		Ward abolished.

Third incarnation

Image Councillor Party Term Notes
  Peter Matic Liberal National 19 March 2016 –
22 June 2023 		Transferred from Toowong Ward. Resigned[16]
  Clare Jenkinson Liberal National 22 June 2023 –
16 March 2024 		Appointed to fill casual vacancy. Lost seat
  Seal Chong Wah Greens 16 March 2024 –
present 		Incumbent

Election results

2024

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2024 Queensland local elections § Paddington.[edit]
2024 Queensland local elections: Paddington Ward[19][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal National Clare Jenkinson 12,090 43.86 −1.64
Greens Seal Chong Wah 10,863 39.41 +1.11
Labor Sún Etheridge 4,613 16.73 +0.53
Total formal votes 27,566 98.57
Informal votes 400 1.43
Turnout 27,966 83.82
Two-candidate-preferred result
Greens Seal Chong Wah 13,241 50.76 +1.46
Liberal National Clare Jenkinson 12,845 49.24 −1.46
Greens gain from Liberal National Swing +1.46

2020

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2020 Queensland local elections § Paddington.[edit]
2020 Queensland local elections: Paddington Ward[21][22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal National Peter Matic 10,629 45.4 −3.2
Greens Donna Burns 8,984 38.4 +11.5
Labor Jeff Eelkema 3,775 16.1 −8.3
Total formal votes 23,388 98.5 +0.4
Informal votes 347 1.5 −0.4
Turnout 23,735 75.4 −3.2
Notional two-party-preferred count
Liberal National Peter Matic 11,489 58.4 +1.1
Labor Jeff Eelkema 8,196 41.6 −1.1
Two-party-preferred result
Liberal National Peter Matic 11,064 50.7 −5.1
Greens Donna Burns 10,753 49.3 +5.1
Liberal National hold Swing −5.1

2016

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2016 Queensland local elections § Paddington.[edit]
2016 Queensland local elections: Paddington Ward[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal National Peter Matic 11,326 48.9 −4.7
Greens Michael Kane 6,328 27.3 +6.0
Labor Jeff Eelkema 5,510 23.8 −1.3
Total formal votes 23,164 98.1 −0.2
Informal votes 437 1.9 +0.2
Turnout 23,601 78.6 +1.3
Notional two-party-preferred count
Liberal National Peter Matic 57.3
Labor Jeff Eelkema 42.7
Two-party-preferred result
Liberal National Peter Matic 11,736 55.8 −6.1
Greens Michael Kane 9,283 44.2 +6.1
Liberal National hold Swing −6.1

1931

This section is an excerpt from 1931 Brisbane City Council election § Paddington.[edit]
1931 Brisbane City Council election: Paddington Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor Bill Power 1,999 56.56
Civic Reform Benjamin Harding 1,056 29.88
Non-party Progressive James Leavy 241 6.82
Independent Citizens' Elizabeth Goldsmith 238 6.73
Total formal votes 3,534 91.34
Informal votes 335 8.66
Turnout 3,869 91.31
Labor hold Swing

1928

This section is an excerpt from 1928 Brisbane City Council election § Paddington.[edit]
1928 Brisbane City Council election: Paddington Ward[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor John Arthur Fihelly 2,321 59.12 −1.82%
Nationalist Civic Windham Harold Wilson 1,605 40.88 +1.82%
Total formal votes 3,926
Informal votes
Turnout
Labor hold Swing −1.82%

1925

This section is an excerpt from 1925 Brisbane City Council election § Paddington.[edit]
1925 Brisbane City Council election: Paddington Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor John Arthur Fihelly 2,917 60.94
United William John Smout 1,870 39.06
Total formal votes 4,787 95.38
Informal votes 232 4.62
Turnout 5,019 80.34
Labor win (new seat)

References

  1. ^ "Electoral Commission of Queensland". results.elections.qld.gov.au. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Paddington Ward". Brisbane City Council. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Legislative Assembly of Queensland (30 October 1924). "City of Brisbane Act of 1924 (15 Geo V, No 32)". Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Department of Mapping and Surveying (1984). The North Brisbane Zone and the South Brisbane Zone (PDF) (Map). Brisbane: QueenslGovernment Printing Office. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  5. ^ "PADDINGTON". The Brisbane Courier. No. 20, 931. Queensland, Australia. 23 February 1925. p. 7. Retrieved 29 October 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "The Brisbane Courier (QLD. : 1864 - 1933) - 20 Feb 1928 - p13". The Brisbane Courier. No. 21, 862. Queensland, Australia. 20 February 1928. p. 13. Retrieved 29 October 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Queensland Parliamentary Record THE 57TH PARLIAMENT" (PDF). June 2025. p. 284.
  8. ^ "Queensland Parliamentary Record THE 57TH PARLIAMENT" (PDF). June 2025. p. 284.
  9. ^ "BRISBANE COUNCIL - Labour Secures Majority BRISBANE, April 29. - The Central Queensland Herald (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1930 - 1956) - 3 May 1934". Central Queensland Herald. 3 May 1934. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  10. ^ a b c d e "DEATH OF LABOUR STALWART". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane, QLD. 21 October 1938. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  11. ^ "City of Brisbane Acts Amendment Act of 1936 (1 Edw VIII, No 5)". 5 October 1936.
  12. ^ a b c Stockwell, S. E. (1997). Rhetoric and democracy : deliberative opportunities in current electoral processes (Thesis thesis).
  13. ^ Atfield, Cameron (17 July 2015). "The Gabba Labor councillor Helen Abrahams to retire". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Full list of Brisbane City Council candidates by ward". couriermail.com.au. 19 April 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  15. ^ a b "Electorate: Paddington". ABC News. ABC Corporation. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  16. ^ a b c "MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS". Brisbane City Council. 22 June 2023. Archived from the original on 10 March 2025. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  17. ^ McKay, Jack (18 June 2023). "Labor announces councillor candidates to run on Brisbane's north side in 2024 poll". ABC News.
  18. ^ Queensland, Electoral Commission of (1 July 2019). "Electoral Commission of Queensland". results.elections.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  19. ^ "Electoral Commission of Queensland". July 2019.
  20. ^ "Paddington (Key seat) - BCC Electorate, Candidates, Results". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 March 2024.
  21. ^ "Electorate: Paddington". ABC News. ABC Corporation. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  22. ^ "Electoral Commission of Queensland". results1.elections.qld.gov.au. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  23. ^ "Electorate: Paddington". ABC News. ABC Corporation. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  24. ^ "FOR ALDERMEN". The Brisbane Courier. No. 21, 862. Queensland, Australia. 20 February 1928. p. 13. Retrieved 3 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
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