Dr Walpole, who is the deputy director of anaesthesia at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne, owns a property at Whorouly South.

He was the third nomination for pre-selection before the deadline on Friday, joining former member Sophie Mirabella and Wodonga-based businessman Kevin Ekendahl in the race to be the party’s candidate at the next election.

Dr Walpole graduated from Melbourne University in 1979 and has worked in Britain and Perth.

As part of his work at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Dr Walpole is involved in developing clinical decision support systems.

He is also a member of the Country Fire Authority.

Dr Walpole declined to comment when contacted last night.

The Liberal Party’s Victorian division administrative committee confirmed the three nominations yesterday and also announced the pre-selection convention would be held at Benalla on June 28.

The last time pre-selection was held in Indi was ahead of the 2001 election after the retirement of Lou Lieberman, who had previously made the switch from state to federal politics to replace Ewen Cameron.

The party pre-selected Mrs Mirabella, who won the 2001 election and held the seat for 12 years before her shock defeat in 2013 at the hands of independent Cathy McGowan.

The pre-selection hopes of Mrs Mirabella, Mr Ekendahl and Dr Walpole will be determined by about 260 party delegates.

The seat of Indi is expected to be even more hotly contested at the election due in 2016.

Labor has already chosen its candidate, Wodonga councillor Eric Kerr, and Ms McGowan is expected to re-contest the seat, even though she is yet to confirm she will do so.

The National Party will also field a candidate with its pre-selection expected to open once the Liberals have settled on their candidate.

Indigo Shire councillor Don Chambers was the last Nationals candidate to contest Indi, in 2001.