Cheltenham was created in the 1998 electoral distribution as a safe Labor seat, replacing the abolished seat of Price. In August 2001 the 17-year Price incumbent Murray De Laine was defeated in a factional preselection in favour of future premier Jay Weatherill.[2] De Laine subsequently contested the 2002 election as an independent with 9.7% of the primary vote.
In the 2016 electoral boundary redistribution, the suburbs of Beverley and Woodville Park were added to the seat from Croydon district, while Athol Park was lost to Croydon district, Royal Park was lost to Lee district and portions of Port Adelaide and Rosewater shifted into Port Adelaide district.