Prior to its abolition, the district occupied an area of the Darling Downs, south and west of Toowoomba. Historically it was centred on the town of Clifton. The eastern portion of Cunningham drew voters from the southern suburbs of Toowoomba. There were also a number of small rural towns in the electorate, including Pittsworth, Millmerran and Cambooya, but no major centres. It was solidly conservative for its entire existence, and was held by the National Party without interruption from 1920 until the Nationals merged into the Liberal National Party of Queensland.