Governor of South Australia

The governor of South Australia is the representative in South Australia of the monarch, currently Template:Current Australian monarch. The governor performs the same constitutional and ceremonial functions at the state level as does the governor-general of Australia at the national level. In accordance with the conventions of the Westminster system of parliamentary government, the governor nearly always acts solely on the advice of the head of the elected government, the premier of South Australia. Nevertheless, the governor retains the reserve powers of the Crown, and has the right to dismiss the premier. As from June 2014, Queen Elizabeth II, upon the recommendation of the premier, accorded all current, future and living former governors the title 'The Honourable' for life.<ref>SA Government Gazette</ref> The first six governors oversaw the colony from proclamation in 1836, until self-government and an elected Parliament of South Australia was granted in the year prior to the inaugural 1857 election.

The first Australian-born governor of South Australia was Major-General Sir James Harrison (appointed 1968), and most subsequent governors have been Australian-born. The first South Australian-born governor was Sir Mark Oliphant (appointed 1971), and the first Aboriginal governor was Sir Douglas Nicholls (appointed 1976).

The current governor is diplomat Frances Adamson who was sworn in at Government House, Adelaide on 7 October 2021,<ref name=adam>Frances Adamson announced as South Australia's new governor, replacing Hieu Van Le – ABC News, ABC News, 19 May 2021</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> replacing Hieu Van Le,<ref name=hvle>Former refugee Hieu Van Le sworn in as South Australia's governor during official ceremony, ABC News, 1 September 2014.</ref> who held the role from 2014 to 2021.<ref>Hieu Van Le to be next SA Governor, from war-torn Vietnam to vice-regal post: ABC 26 June 2014</ref><ref>Kevin Scarce appointed SA governor by Premier Mike Rann Template:Webarchive, Press release, 3 May 2007, www.ministers.sa.gov.au</ref>

The governor's official residence is Government House, in Adelaide, the state's capital.

Role

Prior to self-government, the governor was responsible to the Government of the United Kingdom and was charged with implementing laws and policy. Currently, the governor is responsible for safeguarding the South Australian Constitution and facilitating the work of the Parliament and state government.

The governor exercises power on the advice of ministers, conveyed through the Executive Council. Constitutional powers bestowed upon the governor and used with the consent and advice of the Executive Council include:

• to appoint and dismiss ministers.
• exercising the prerogative of mercy.
• issuing regulations and proclamations under existing laws.
• giving royal assent to bills passed by Parliament.
• appointing judges, royal commissioners and senior public servants.
• dissolving Parliament and issuing writs for elections.

The governor additionally maintains 'reserve powers' which can be used without the consent of the Executive Council. These powers relate to the appointment and dismissal of ministers and Parliament.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Although not a responsibility of the office of Governor of South Australia, governors of South Australia are - like all Governors of the Australian states - normally given a dormant commission to administer the government of the Commonwealth of Australia in the absence from Australia, or the death, incapacity or removal from office of the Governor-General by the Sovereign.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Some South Australian governors are also appointed as a Deputy of the Governor-General<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> to perform certain responsibilities of the Governor-General while the Governor-General is present in Australia, but unable to perform them personally.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Governor's standard

The governor standard of South Australia is the same design as the British blue ensign with the Union Flag at the upper left quarter. On the right side, the State Badge of South Australia, comprising a piping shrike in a golden disc, is surmounted by a crown. In 2024, this representation changed from a St Edward's Crown to a Tudor Crown.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

If the standard is flying at Government House, on a vehicle or at an event, this indicates that the governor is present.

Past and present standards of the governor

• 1870–1876
  1870–1876
• 1876–1904
  1876–1904
• 1904–1975
  1904–1975
• 1975–2024
  1975–2024
• 2024-present
  2024-present

Governor's awards and commendations

Awards

The governor of South Australia supports outstanding achievers within the South Australian community through the presentation of a number of annual awards:<ref name=awards>Template:Cite web File:CC-BY icon.svg Text may have been copied from this source, which is available under a Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0 AU) licence.</ref>

• The Governor's Multicultural Awards recognise and celebrate South Australians who promote multiculturalism and increase the understanding of the benefits of cultural diversity in our community; administered by the Department of the premier and Cabinet through Multicultural Affairs. They are presented by the governor on the advice of an independent judging panel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• The Governor's Aboriginal Youth Awards recognise young Aboriginal South Australians, aged between 15 and 29 years, who are showing potential and determination to achieve success, or who are excelling in their chosen field in one of three areas: Sport, Arts and Higher Education; delivered through a partnership between the Department of the Premier and Cabinet’s Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation division and the Office of the Governor.
• The Governor’s Civics Awards for Schools provide the opportunity for young South Australians to develop their understanding of the role citizenship plays in a multicultural and democratic society. The inaugural awards in 2019 had two categories: an individual and a group award for Year 5 students; in 2020, they expanded to include students from Years 5–12.

Commendations

The governor also awards a series of commendations for excellence in the SACE year 12 exams, including:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Governor of South Australia Commendation – Excellence Award
• Governor of South Australia Commendation – Aboriginal Student SACE Excellence Award
• Governor of South Australia Commendation – Excellence in Modified SACE Award.

List of governors of South Australia

No.	Portrait	Governor<ref name="table a">Template:Cite web</ref>	Term begin	Term end	Time in office
Governor appointed by King William IV (1830–1837):
1	File:Governor John Hindmarsh.jpg	Rear Admiral Sir John Hindmarsh	28 December 1836	16 July 1838	Template:Age in years and days
Governors appointed by Queen Victoria (1837–1901):
2	File:George Gawler.jpg	Lieutenant-Colonel George Gawler	17 October 1838	15 May 1841	Template:Age in years and days
3	File:GeorgeEdwardGrey02.jpg	Sir George Grey	15 May 1841	25 October 1845	Template:Age in years and days
4	File:Frederick Robe.jpg	Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Holt Robe	25 October 1845	2 August 1848	Template:Age in years and days
5	File:Sir Henry Young.jpg	Sir Henry Fox Young	2 August 1848	20 December 1854	Template:Age in years and days
6	File:Richard Graves MacDonnell.jpg	Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell	8 June 1855	4 March 1862	Template:Age in years and days
7	File:DominickDaly.jpg	Sir Dominick Daly	4 March 1862	19 February 1868	Template:Age in years and days
8	File:Sir James Fergusson.jpg	Sir James Fergusson, 6th Baronet	16 February 1869	18 April 1873	Template:Age in years and days
9	File:AnthonyMusgrave.jpg	Sir Anthony Musgrave	9 June 1873	29 January 1877	Template:Age in years and days
10	File:William Jervois.jpg	Lieutenant-General Sir William Jervois	2 October 1877	9 January 1883	Template:Age in years and days
11	File:Williamrobinson.jpg	Sir William Robinson	19 February 1883	5 March 1889	Template:Age in years and days
12	File:Algernon Keith-Falconer.jpg	Algernon Keith-Falconer, 9th Earl of Kintore	11 April 1889	10 April 1895	Template:Age in years and days
13	File:ThomasFowellBuxton.jpg	Sir Fowell Buxton, 3rd Baronet	29 October 1895	29 March 1899	Template:Age in years and days
14	File:Ac.tennyson.jpg	Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson	10 April 1899	17 July 1902	Template:Age in years and days
Governors appointed by King Edward VII (1901–1910):
15	File:GeorgeLeHunte.jpg	Sir George Le Hunte	1 July 1903	18 February 1909	Template:Age in years and days
16	File:Day Bosanquet.jpg	Admiral Sir Day Bosanquet	18 February 1909	22 March 1914	Template:Age in years and days
Governors appointed by King George V (1910–1936):
17	File:Henry Galway.jpg	Lieutenant Colonel Sir Henry Galway	18 April 1914	30 April 1920	Template:Age in years and days
18	File:William Weigall.jpg	Lieutenant Colonel Sir Archibald Weigall	9 June 1920	30 May 1922	Template:Age in years and days
19	File:Tom Bridges 1918.jpg	Lieutenant-General Sir Tom Bridges	4 December 1922	4 December 1927	Template:Age in years and days
20	File:Lordgowrie.jpg	Brigadier Sir Alexander Hore-Ruthven	14 May 1928	26 April 1934	Template:Age in years and days
21	File:Winston Dugan.jpg	Major-General Sir Winston Dugan	28 July 1934	23 February 1939	Template:Age in years and days
Governors appointed by King George VI (1936–1952):
22	File:Malcolm Barclay-Harvey.jpg	Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey	12 August 1939	26 April 1944	Template:Age in years and days
23	File:Willoughby Norrie.jpg	Lieutenant-General Sir Willoughby Norrie	19 December 1944	19 June 1952	Template:Age in years and days
Governors appointed by Queen Elizabeth II (1952–2022):
24	File:Robert George 1956.jpg	Air Vice-Marshal Sir Robert George	23 February 1953	7 March 1960	Template:Age in years and days
25		Lieutenant-General Sir Edric Bastyan	4 April 1961	1 June 1968	Template:Age in years and days
26		Major General Sir James Harrison	4 December 1968	16 September 1971	Template:Age in years and days
27	File:Sir Mark Oliphant.jpg	Professor Sir Mark Oliphant	1 December 1971	30 November 1976	Template:Age in years and days
28	File:Douglas nicholls.jpg	Sir Douglas Nicholls	1 December 1976	30 April 1977	Template:Age in years and days
29		Reverend Sir Keith Seaman	1 September 1977	28 March 1982	Template:Age in years and days
30		Lieutenant General Sir Donald Dunstan	23 April 1982	5 February 1991	Template:Age in years and days
31	File:Roma Mitchell 1965.jpg	Dame Roma Mitchell	6 February 1991	21 July 1996	Template:Age in years and days
32	File:Sir Eric Neal in Adelaide, South Australia 2016.jpg	Sir Eric Neal	22 July 1996	3 November 2001	Template:Age in years and days
33	File:Marjorie Jackson.jpg	Marjorie Jackson-Nelson	3 November 2001	31 July 2007	Template:Age in years and days
34	File:Kevin Scarce in 2008.jpg	Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce	8 August 2007	7 August 2014	Template:Age in years and days
35	File:Hieu Van Le 2015.jpg	Hieu Van Le	1 September 2014	31 August 2021	Template:Age in years and days
36	File:Frances Adamson (1).jpg	Frances Adamson	7 October 2021		Template:Age in years and days

Administrators and Lieutenant Governors

These people administered the government in the absence of the official governor.<ref name="table a"/>

Administrator	Term
George Milner Stephen	1838
Boyle Travers Finniss	1854–55
Lt.-Col. Francis Gilbert Hamley	1868–69
Major James Harwood Rocke	1870
Sir Richard Davies Hanson, Chief Justice	1872–73
Sir William Wellington Cairns	1877
Samuel James Way, Chief Justice, Lt.-Gov.	1877 to 1915 (on 65 separate occasions)
James Penn Boucaut, Judge of Supreme Court	1885, 1886, 1888, 1890, 1891, 1897
William Henry Bundey, Judge of Supreme Court	1888
Sir George John Robert Murray, Chief Justice, Lt.-Gov.	1916–24, 1926–42 (on 103 separate occasions)
Thomas Slaney Poole, Judge of Supreme Court	1925 (on 2 occasions)
Sir Herbert Angas Parsons, Judge of Supreme Court	1935 to 1942 (on 6 separate occasions)
Sir John Mellis Napier, Chief Justice, Lt.-Gov.	1942 to 1973 (on 179 separate occasions)
Sir Herbert Mayo, Judge of Supreme Court	1946 to 1965 (on 25 separate occasions)
Sir Geoffrey Sandford Reed, Judge of Supreme Court	1951 to 1957 (on 5 separate occasions)
John Jefferson Bray, Chief Justice	1968 to 1973 (on 8 separate occasions)
David Stirling Hogarth, Judge of Supreme Court	1971
Sir Walter Crocker, Lt.-Gov.	1973 to 1982 (on 29 separate occasions)
Sir Condor Laucke, Lt.-Gov.	1982 to 1992 (on 43 separate occasions)
Leonard James King, Chief Justice	1987
Basil Hetzel, Lt.-Gov.	1992 to 2000 (on 32 separate occasions)
John Doyle, Chief Justice	1999–2012 (on 10 separate occasions)
Bruno Krumins, Lt.-Gov.	2000–2007 (on 60 separate occasions)
John William Perry, Judge of Supreme Court	2002
Hieu Van Le, Lt.-Gov.	2007–2014
Brenda Wilson, Lt.-Gov.	2014–2022
James Muecke, Lt.-Gov.	2022–February 2024
Richard Harris, Lt-Gov.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	9 February 2024–

External links

• The Official Website of the Governor of South Australia
• Previous governors on official website