Toowong Ward

Toowong Ward
QueenslandBrisbane City Council
Dates current1925–1973
1994–2016
NamesakeToowong

Toowong Ward was a Brisbane City Council ward from 1925 to 1973, and again from 1994 to 2016. Both incarnations were based in Brisbane's inner west, covering Toowong, Queensland and surrounding suburbs.

Across both its incarnations, the ward was almost exclusively represented by members of the Liberal Party/Liberal National Party or their precursors.

History

First incarnation

The first incarnation of Toowong 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.[1] The ward was created using the boundaries of the Electoral district of Toowong, as the city originally defined its wards on the state electoral districts that were fully or partially within its boundaries.[1] The ward also largely succeeded the Town of Toowong, which was one of 20 LGAs abolished to form the new city.[2]

The ward was one of only nine original wards to be contested at every election from 1925 to 1970; expansions of the Queensland Legislative Assembly in 1950 and 1960 having indirectly abolished a number of wards, and increased the total wards to 28.[2][3] However, ahead of the 1973 council election, the Country Party state government altered the City's electoral acts in a bid to remove incumbent Labor Lord Mayor Clem Jones.[3] This included a reduction from 28 to 21 wards, which meant the city could no longer define its ward boundaries using state districts. As such, all 28 wards were abolished and replaced by wards with different names to the state districts. The abolished Toowong Ward was split between the new wards of Auchenflower and Indooroopilly.

Second incarnation

The second incarnation of the ward was established for the 1994 election, and was created from parts of the abolished Taringa Ward and the second incarnation of Paddington Ward.[4]

The ward's was represented by Judy Magub from the 1994 election until her resignation in 2007.[4] Peter Matic was appointed to fill the resulting vacancy and represented the ward until its abolition.[4]

Successive redistributions saw the ward lose the majority of the suburb of Toowong to Walter Taylor Ward, leading to it being abolished ahead of the 2016 election. Its area largely became part of the third incarnation of Paddington Ward, with incumbent councillor Matic successfully contesting the new ward.[4]

Councillors for Toowong Ward

First incarnation

Image Member Party Term Notes
  Archibald Watson United 21 February 1925
12 May 1925
Served as the final mayor of the Town of Toowong.[5]

Vacated position upon becoming Lord Mayor.
  Nationalist Civic 12 May 1925 –
24 February 1931
  Harry Massey Civic Reform 2 May 1931
28 April 1934
Did not contest 1937 election.
  Independent 28 April 1934 –
1937
  William Richer Moon Citizens' Municipal Organisation 1937 –
30 April 1955
Did not contest 1955 election.
  Lex Ord Citizens' Municipal Organisation 30 April 1955 –
31 March 1973
Ward abolished. Successfully contested new Indooroopilly Ward at 1973 election.[6]

Second incarnation

Image Member Party Term Notes
  Judy Magub Liberal 26 March 1994 –
2007
Resigned.[4]
  Peter Matic Liberal 2007 –
26 July 2008
Appointed to fill vacancy.[4]

Ward abolished. Successfully contested new Paddington Ward at 2016 election.[4]
  Liberal National 26 July 2008 –
19 March 2016

Election results

2012 Brisbane City Council election: Toowong Ward[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal National Peter Matic 9,821 54.22 +2.14
Labor Yvonne Li 4,582 25.30 −1.10
Greens Robert Hogg 3,711 20.49 −1.03
Total formal votes 18,114 98.39 −0.32
Informal votes 296 1.61 +0.32
Turnout 18,410 75.32 −4.47
Two-party-preferred result
Liberal National Peter Matic 10,187 62.35 +0.59
Labor Yvonne Li 6,152 37.65 −0.59
Liberal National hold Swing +0.59
2008 Brisbane City Council election: Toowong Ward[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal National Peter Matic 10,197 52.08 −1.94
Labor Yvonne Li 4,582 26.40 −0.52
Greens Stuart Skabo 4,213 21.52 +2.45
Total formal votes 19,835 98.71 +0.24
Informal votes 256 1.29 −0.24
Turnout 19,579 79.79
Two-party-preferred result
Liberal National Peter Matic 10,502 61.76 −0.95
Labor Yvonne Li 6,502 38.24 +0.95
Liberal National hold Swing −0.95
2004 Brisbane City Council election: Toowong Ward[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal National Judy Magub 9,913 54.02 +0.69
Labor Martin Bradshaw 4,940 26.92 −19.75
Greens Stuart Skabo 3,499 19.07 +19.07
Total formal votes 18,352 98.47
Informal votes 286 1.53
Turnout 18,638
Two-party-preferred result
Liberal National Judy Magub 10,391 62.71 +9.28
Labor Martin Bradshaw 6,180 37.29 −9.28
Liberal National hold Swing
2000 Brisbane City Council election: Toowong Ward[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal National Judy Magub 9,350 53.33
Labor Christine Axelby 8,182 46.67
Total formal votes 17,532 98.47 98.05
Informal votes 349 1.95
Turnout 17,881
Liberal National hold Swing

References

  1. ^ a b Legislative Assembly of Queensland (1924-10-30). "City of Brisbane Act of 1924 (15 Geo V, No 32)". Retrieved 2025-10-28.
  2. ^ a b "City of Brisbane Act 1924" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-03-13.
  3. ^ a b Hensley, Melissa; Mateo-Babiano, Derlie; Minnery, John; Pojani, Dorina (2020). "How Diverging Interests in Public Health and Urban Planning Can Lead to Less Healthy Cities". Journal of Planning History. 19 (2): 11. doi:10.1177/1538513219873591.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Paddington (Key seat) - BCC Electorate, Candidates, Results". abc.net.au. 2024-04-02. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  5. ^ "GREATER BRISBANE CANDIDATES". The Daily Mail. No. 7159. Queensland, Australia. 6 February 1925. p. 11. Retrieved 28 October 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Legislative Assembly Hansard 1973" (PDF). 1973-10-12. p. 946. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
  7. ^ "2012 BCC Election Report" (PDF). Electoral Commission Queensland. Electoral Commission Queensland. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  8. ^ "2008 Brisbane City - Councillor Election - Toowong - Ward Summary". Electoral Commission Queensland. Electoral Commission Queensland. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  9. ^ "2004 Brisbane City Council Quadrennial Elections" (PDF). The Tally Room. Electoral Commission Queensland. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  10. ^ "BCC-2000-Council-Primary-Ward". The Tally Room. The Tally Room. Retrieved 22 August 2025.