About Gippsland South

Gippsland South is a country electorate covering 7,444 square kilometres and is part of Gippsland Province. It includes Foster, Korumburra, Leongatha, Mirboo North, Port Albert, Port Welshpool, Rosedale, Sale, Venus Bay and Yarram. Features include Wilson's Promontory and Corner Inlet at the southern end and a number of lakes and islands along the coast and border. Agriculture, timber production, secondary industries (including the Longford natural gas and oil refinery) and tourism are major activities in the area.

Sale is a major centre of retail, commercial, recreational, cultural, tourism and industrial activities, while Leongatha and Korumburra are the major centres in the south and west of the electorate, servicing an important dairy and beef cattle area, a thriving commercial and retail sector and a growing retiree and lifestyle population.

Gippsland was named in 1840 by the explorer Paul Edmund de Strzelecki after Governor Sir George Gipps. Notable past Parliamentary representatives include Angus McMillan an explorer and pastoralist, who was the first Member for Gippsland South from 1859-60 and Sir Herbert Hyland who held the seat for 41 years (1929-70). He was Minister for a range of portfolios for thirteen years between 1936 and 1952, and was leader of the Country Party from 1955-64.