Mitchell is a socially conservative electorate covering 101square kilometres in The Hills. It is considered a safe Liberal seat with Mr Hawke on a comfortable 9.7per cent margin. The electorate includes Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill, Winston Hills, parts of Northmead and North Rocks, as well as the formerly rural but now rapidly growing new housing estates around Kellyville and Rouse Hill.

In the 2009 redistribution of electoral boundaries, Mitchell lost parts of Dural, Kenthurst and Annangrove to neighbouring Berowra, while gaining parts of Winston Hills and Northmead from Parramatta.

Created in 1949, Mitchell is named after Sir Thomas Mitchell, a noted early explorer and surveyor.

Candidates

Alex Hawke, Liberal Party

Aged 33, Mr Hawke grew up in The Hills. A former president of both the NSW and National Young Liberals, he has been viewed as a member of the NSW right of the party. Mr Hawke worked on the staff of right-wing Liberal MLC David Clarke.

Nigel Gould, Australian Labor Party

A 50-year-old former plant operator from Castle Hill who also contested this seat at the 2007 election, Mr Gould says he will be running a grass- roots campaign and states that in 2007 he lost 7 kilos and wore out three pairs of shoes door-knocking.

Colin Dawson, Greens

Mr Dawson has lived in Sydney's north-west for 15 years and is interested in sustainable development and transport to the region. He has a background in aviation electronics and communication and currently manages a family business.