Giles

2026–2030 electoral district map

2022 Electoral District of Giles (PDF - 1,183 KB)

Features of the district

Location

This vast, remote country district extends from the Iron Triangle cities of Port Augusta and Whyalla on the Spencer Gulf, north-west to the borders with Western Australia and the Northern Territory and encompasses several councils, pastoral leases, and Crown Land.

Area

Approximately 335,186 km2

Localities

Giles incorporates the City of Whyalla, Flinders Ranges Council, Port Augusta City Council (including Port Augusta West), and the Pastoral Unincorporated Area (including the localities of Marla and Oodnadatta).

History

Giles was contested and represented for the first time in 1993, following its creation at the 1991 boundaries redistribution. Originally anchored to the city of Whyalla as its single significant urban population base, at the 2020 boundaries redistribution its boundaries were extended to also incorporate part of the city of Port Augusta.

Origin of the name

The district is named after William Ernest Giles (1835–1897) who arrived in Adelaide in 1850, and in later life explored much of the hinterland of this rural district. He led the 1872 and 1873 expeditions into Central Australia to find a practicable route to Western Australia, ‘discovering’ Lake Amadeus and Mount Olga. His third major expedition in 1875 crossed the Great Victoria Desert to WA, returning across the Gibson Desert. This won him a gold medal from the Royal Geographical Society, London, in 1880. He also explored the Musgrave Ranges in 1882.

Key boundary changes following the 2024 redistribution

Giles gains the remainder of Port Augusta City Council.
Giles loses the localities of Andamooka, Coober Pedy, Oodnadatta, Roxby Downs, and the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands.

For full details see the 2024 Report of the Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission (PDF, 3.0MB)

Representation and results

Members since first represented in 1993
MemberAffiliationPeriod
Frank T. Blevins ALP 1993–1997
Lynette R. Breuer ALP 1997–2014
Edward (Eddie) Hughes ALP 2014–present

Election results