To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Unlock with Patreon
Greens do really well in the Bulli part of the seat.
As well as in pockets such as Bundeena and Thirroul.
I do genuinely want to know exactly what happened in this seat in 2023 and elections since then. The Sutherland area booths went from safe or relatively blue to safe Labor in one stroke, and then it happened at council elections in 2024 and then in Hughes in 2025. Even as a Sydney resident, I’m very much perplexed. There isn’t any rapid population growth nor are there obvious signs of demographic change.
@SpaceFish @CJ – with regards to Bulli and Thirroul, the are is pretty popular with sea-changers and WFH professionals who move here for the coastal climate and close distance to the bush.
With Bundeena, I was there recently and couldn’t really notice any factors that might obviously contribute to the Greens vote. I’d suggest it’s likely the bush setting has made many voters more environmentally conscious? Just my thoughts.
@James much of the Shire was pretty strong for Labor federally before 1996; the Nationals won Werriwa in 1931 (Werriwa covered the Sutherland shire up until 1955, when Hughes was created), and then the Liberals won Hughes in 1966. So two very high tide elections for the Coalition.
After Cook got created/re-created to cover Cronulla, that seat was held by the Liberals except for the Whitlam years, it was marginal until 1996, which turned Cook into a safe Liberal seat and flipped Hughes simultaneously.
I just asked AI to discribe the Shire and this is what it comes up with
Coastal villages (Bundeena, Maianbar): Attract artists, environmentalists, and commuters — more progressive voting patterns.
Inner suburbs (Sylvania, Menai, Bangor): Wealthier, family-oriented, car-dependent — strong Liberal support.
Engadine/Heathcote: Proximity to the Royal National Park fosters environmental activism, giving Greens/Labor more influence.
Cronulla: Conservative reputation, but younger surf culture and renters add some progressive votes.
This feels like two seats in one with Royal National Park separating the two sides.
The Greens poll quite strongly in the northern suburbs of Wollongong (Wollongong’s CBD to Bulli to Stanwell Park) at state and federal elections. With the decline of the blue collar workforce, the city of Wollongong is gentrifying. Sea-changers, young professionals, the WFH and hybrid white-collar workers, hipsters and creative types have moved in. It has a bit of a Byron Bay vibe but with fewer backpackers. I have heard of people who live around here but commute to Sydney for work or education.
The Sutherland Shire is quite varied. For example, Como and Sutherland, to a lesser extent, are teal-ish. Suburbs along the Illawarra Line and Princes Highway are better connected to the rest of cosmopolitan Sydney and Wollongong’s northern suburbs. My hypothesis is that this connectivity makes the area more attractive to younger adults, renters and first-home buyers and also more open to voting for progressive parties. I believe that due to the proximity to Royal National Park, there are some cohorts of Tree Tories or environmentally conscious voters.