Previously names had been chosen for towns or suburbs within the electorate, but this gets problematic when boundaries change and those towns are no longer in the electorate.

Instead, the new electorate names are taken from significant landmarks, local Aboriginal words, or the names of prominent Queenslanders.

Seven have been named in honour of women, five have been given Aboriginal names, and most of them have interesting stories.

Oodgeroo

Formerly known as Cleveland, the electorate of Oodgeroo has been named in honour of Oodgeroo Noonuccal. Born in 1920 and also known as Kath Walker until the 1980s, she was an acclaimed poet, educator and Aboriginal rights activist.

Her family and the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation said they were "delighted" with the decision to rename Cleveland in her honour.

"That this electorate, which covers her own precious Quandamooka Country where her 'children's children' still live, has been named after her is a fitting acknowledgement of her wonderful contribution to our national life," said QYAC chief executive Cameron Costello.

Bonney

Maude 'Lores' Bonney was a pioneering aviator. Photo: Wikipedia Commons

A new Gold Coast electorate, Bonney, is named after Maude Rose 'Lores' Bonney AM.

Born in 1897 in South Africa, she was a pioneer in aviation, and learnt to fly in secret before becoming the first Australian woman to hold a commercial pilot's licence in 1932.

In 1933 Ms Bonney became the first woman to fly solo from Australia to England, and she died in 1994 aged 96 after spending her later years living on the Gold Coast.

Cooper

A new central Brisbane electorate, Cooper has been named in honour of Brisbane's first female doctor Lilian Cooper (1861-1947).

Described as a tall, brusque woman who was "prone to bad language", she specialised in diseases of women and children.

In 1928 she became a foundation fellow of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.

D'Aguilar

Formerly Pine Rivers, D'Aguilar has been named after the D'Aguilar mountain range which includes Mount Mee, Mount Glorious, Mount Nebo and Camp Mountain.

Macalister

A new electorate between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, it is named after Arthur Macalister.

Born in 1818 the solicitor and politician was premier of Queensland three times during his career. He first became premier in 1866 and earned the nickname 'Slippery Mac' for regularly changing his political attitudes and allegiances.

The former Glass House electorate has been renamed Tibrogargan, after Mount Tibrogargan. Photo: Rachel Clun

McConnel

Another central Brisbane electoral, McConnel has been named after Mary McConnel who established Queensland's first children's hospital.

She campaigned for 15 years for funds to build the hospital, and in 1878 was able to oversee its opening. She also founded Queensland's first public school.

McMaster

Formerly Burdekin, the electorate is named after grazier Sir Fergus McMaster, who was also one of the founders of the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd (or Qantas as we now know it).

Born in 1879, he was knighted in 1941 and was director of a number of companies.

Maiwar

Maiwar (pronounced may-wah) combines parts of the existing Mount Coot-tha and Indooroopilly electorates. Maiwar is a word used by some Aboriginal people for the Brisbane River.

Miller

Created by merging parts of the old Yeerongpilly electorate with Indooroopilly, Miller is named after one of Queensland's earliest suffragettes Emma Miller.

Born in 1839 and widowed three times, Ms Miller was a passionate unionist who became known as 'the grand old labor woman of Queensland', she championed equal pay and opportunity for women.

Sir Fergus McMaster, left, and Arthur Macalister, right. Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Toohey

Previously Sunnybank, the electorate of Toohey takes its name from the Toohey Forest Park.

The park was named after wealthy Irishman James Toohey who bought the land in 1872 with money earned in the Californian gold rush. The park was acquired by the Brisbane City Council in 1945.



Hill

The new North Queensland electorate is named after geologist and palaeontologist Dorothy Hill.

Born in 1907, Ms Hill was the country's first female research professor and served as secretary to the Great Barrier Reef Committee between 1945 and 1955.

Jordan

This new Ipswich electorate is named in honour of Ellen Violet Jordan OAM. A talented musician, she was born in Ipswich in 1913.

In 1961 she was the first woman elected to the Ipswich City Council, and in 1966 she became the second woman in the state to be elected into the Queensland Parliament.

Ninderry

This new Sunshine Coast electorate is named after Mount Ninderry. An Aboriginal expression for scrub leeches, Ninderry is also the name of a warrior who legend says was turned into the mountain.

Theodore

The electorate of Albert has been renamed Theodore, after Edward Granville Theodore.

Born in South Australia in 1884, he became premier of Queensland in 1919, and then Deputy Prime Minister of Australia in 1929. Mr Theodore was also a state and federal treasurer before losing his seat and retiring from politics in 1931.

The electorate of Sunnybank has been renamed Toohey, after Toohey Forest Park. Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Tibrogargan

The Glass House electorate has been renamed Tibrogargan after a boundary change, and it gets its name from Mount Tibrogargan.

Local aboriginal mythology says Tibrogargan and his wife Beerwah are the parents of the other Glass House mountains.

Bancroft

The new electorate of Bancroft takes its name from Joseph Bancroft.

Prominent in medicine during his time (1836-1894), he also made valuable contributions to stock and agricultural medical issues.

Scenic Rim

Formerly known as Beaudesert, public suggestions to the commission requested a change of name in line with the name of the district.

Traeger

The former electorate of Mount Isa has been renamed Traeger in honour of Alfred Hermann Traeger due to his contribution to those living in remote and rural areas.

Born in 1895, he invented pedal-powered radio which was a vital resource to the Royal Australian Flying Doctor Service, but also revolutionary for Queenslanders living far apart.

Kurwongbah

This electorate has been named after Lake Kurwongbah, which was created when Sideling Creek was dammed.

The lake's name, chosen after a newspaper competition in the 1950s, is the Aboriginal name for Sideling Creek and it means 'black duck'.