View source for Governor of New South Wales

{{Short description|Vice-regal representative}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Governor
| body = New South Wales
| flag = Flag of the Governor of New South Wales.svg
| flagsize = 150px
| flagcaption = Standard of the Governor
| insignia = 
| insigniasize = 
| insigniacaption = 
| image = 
| imagesize = 200px
| incumbent = [[Margaret Beazley]]<br>{{post-nominals|country=AUS|AC|KC}}
| incumbentsince = 2 May 2019
| department = [[Viceroy#Commonwealth realms|Viceregal]]
| style = [[Her Excellency]] [[the Honourable]]
| residence = [[Government House, Sydney]]
| seat = [[Sydney]]
| appointer = [[Monarchy of Australia|Monarch]]
| appointer_qualified = on the advice of the [[Premier of New South Wales|premier]]
| termlength = [[At His Majesty's pleasure]]
| termlength_qualified = (usually 5 years by [[Constitutional convention (political custom)|convention]])
| constituting_instrument = 
| formation = 7 February 1788
| first = [[Arthur Phillip]]
| deputy = [[Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales]]
| salary = $529,000
| website = {{URL|governor.nsw.gov.au}}
}}

The '''governor of New South Wales''' is the representative of the monarch, King [[Charles III]], in the state of [[New South Wales]]. In an analogous way to the [[governor-general of Australia|Governor-General of Australia]] at the national level, the [[governors of the Australian states|Governors of the Australian States]] perform constitutional and ceremonial functions at the state level. The governor is appointed by the monarch on the [[Advice (constitutional)|advice]] of the [[Premier of New South Wales]],<ref name=Mon>{{cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchAndCommonwealth/Australia/TheQueensroleinAustralia.aspx |last=The Royal Household |title=The Queen and the Commonwealth > Queen and Australia > The Queen's role in Australia |publisher=Queen's Printer |access-date=19 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417055732/http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchandCommonwealth/Australia/TheQueensroleinAustralia.aspx |archive-date=17 April 2015 }}</ref> and serves in office for an unfixed period of time—known as serving ''[[At His Majesty's pleasure]]''—though five years is the general standard of office term. The current governor is retired judge [[Margaret Beazley]], who succeeded [[David Hurley]] on 2 May 2019.

The office has its origin in the 18th-century colonial governors of New South Wales upon its settlement in 1788, and is the oldest continuous institution in Australia. The present incarnation of the position emerged with the [[Federation of Australia]] and the ''New South Wales Constitution Act 1902'', which defined the viceregal office as the governor acting by and with the advice of the [[Executive Council of New South Wales]].<ref name=Con>{{Citation| title=Constitution Act, 1902| publication-place=Sydney| publisher=Queen's Printer| url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ca1902188/| access-date=19 August 2010}}</ref> However, the post still ultimately represented the [[Government of the United Kingdom]] until, after continually decreasing involvement by the British government, the passage in 1942 of the [[Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942]] (see [[Statute of Westminster 1931|Statute of Westminster]]) and the [[Australia Act 1986]], after which the governor became the direct, personal representative of the sovereign.

== Appointment ==
[[File:John Northcott AWM 107728.jpg|thumb|upright|Sir [[John Northcott]], the first Australian-born governor (1946–57).]]

The office of governor is prescribed by the [[Constitution Act 1902|New South Wales Constitution]]. The [[Australian monarch|Monarch]], on the advice and recommendation of the [[Premier of New South Wales]], appoints the governor with a commission issued under the [[Royal sign-manual]] and [[Great Seal of Australia#New South Wales|Public Seal of the State]], who is from then until being sworn in by the premier and chief justice referred to as the ''governor-designate''.

Besides the administration of the oaths of office, there is no set formula for the swearing-in of a governor-designate. The constitution act stipulates: "Before assuming office, a person appointed to be Governor shall take the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance and the Oath or Affirmation of Office in the presence of the Chief Justice or another Judge of the Supreme Court."<ref name="Con" /> The sovereign will also hold an [[Audience (meeting)|audience]] with the appointee and will at that time induct the governor-designate as a [[Order of Australia|Companion of the Order of Australia]] (AC).

The incumbent will generally serve for at least five years, though this is only a developed convention, and the governor still technically acts [[at His Majesty's pleasure]] (or the ''Royal Pleasure''). The premier may therefore recommend to the King that the viceroy remain in his service for a longer period of time, sometimes upwards of more than seven years. A governor may also resign{{NoteTag|[[David Martin (Governor)|Sir David Martin]] resigned the viceregal post on 7 August 1990 due to health concerns. He died three days later.|name=Martin}} and three have died in office.{{NoteTag|The following governors died in office: Sir [[Robert Duff (politician, born 1835)|Robert Duff]] on 15 March 1895; Sir [[Walter Edward Davidson|Walter Davidson]] on 15 September 1923; and Sir [[David Anderson (Australian governor)|David Anderson]] on 30 October 1936.|name=died}} In such a circumstance, or if the governor leaves the country for longer than one month, the [[lieutenant governor of New South Wales|Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales]], concurrently held by the [[chief justice of New South Wales|Chief Justice of New South Wales]] since 1872, serves as [[Administrator of the Government]] and exercises all powers of the governor.{{NoteTag|When Sir David Anderson died in office on 30 October 1936, the lieutenant governor, Sir [[Philip Whistler Street|Philip Street]], served as Administrator until [[John Loder, 2nd Baron Wakehurst|Lord Wakehurst]] was sworn in on 8 April 1937.|name=Street}} Furthermore, if the lieutenant governor becomes incapacitated while serving in the office of governor or is also absent from the state, the next most senior judge of the Supreme Court is sworn in as the administrator.{{NoteTag|Sir [[Leslie Herron]], the lieutenant governor, died suddenly in May 1973 while the governor, Sir Roden Cutler, was overseas. Sir [[John Kerr (Governor-General)|John Kerr]] became the administrator until Cutler was able to return.|name=Kerr}}

=== Selection ===
Between 1788 and 1957, all governors were born outside New South Wales and were often members of the [[peerage]]. Historian [[A. J. P. Taylor]] once noted that "going out and governing New South Wales became the British aristocracy's 'abiding consolation'".<ref>{{cite book |author=Taylor, A. J. P. |author-link=A.J.P. Taylor |chapter=English History, 1914–1945 |year=1965 |pages=172–3  |editor=Cannadine, David |title=Aspects of Aristocracy |publisher=Yale University Press |publication-date=1994 }}</ref> However, the position eventually became filled by Australians, with the first Australian-born governor, Sir [[John Northcott]] on 1 August 1946, being the first Australian-born governor of any state. However, as Northcott was born in Victoria, it was not until Sir [[Eric Woodward]]'s appointment by Queen Elizabeth II in 1957 that the position was filled by a New South Welshman. This practice continued until 1996, when Queen Elizabeth II commissioned as her representative [[Gordon Samuels]], a London-born immigrant to Australia.

Early governors were frequently former politicians, many being members of the [[House of Lords]] by virtue of their peerage; however they were required by the tenets of [[constitutional monarchy]] to be [[non-partisan]] while in office. The first governors were all military officers and the majority of governors since have come from a military background, numbering 19.{{When|date=February 2024|reason=19 as of when?}} Samuels was the first governor in New South Wales history without a political or common public service background—a former justice of the [[Supreme Court of New South Wales]]. The first woman to hold this position is also the first Lebanese-Australian governor, [[Marie Bashir|Dame Marie Bashir]].

==Role ==
As the sovereign lives outside New South Wales, the Governor's primary task is to perform the Sovereign's constitutional duties on their behalf. 

[[File:Lord wakehust arrives.jpg|thumb|right|[[John Loder, 2nd Baron Wakehurst|Lord Wakehurst]] takes the oath of office upon his arrival in Sydney in 1937.]]
The Governor is enpowered by the ''Constitution Act 1902'' to appoint the ministers of the [[Government of New South Wales]]. Convention dictates that the governor must select as premier an individual from [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]] that has the [[Confidence and supply|confidence]] of that body. The premier then advises the governor on who to appoint as ministers. The executive branch of government exercises power formally through the governor-in-council, the governor acting with the advice of the [[Executive Council of New South Wales]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Governor of NSW |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/about/Pages/The-Governor-of-NSW.aspx |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.parliament.nsw.gov.au}}</ref> This council is made up of cabinet ministers and gives legal effect to decisions already reached in cabinet. While the governor must almost always act only on the advice of ministers, in exceptional circumstances they may act in the absence or contrary to advice—this is known as the [[reserve powers]]. The circumstances when these powers may be exercised is disputed, however in 1932 the governor justified the use of these powers to revoke the commission of premier [[Jack Lang (Australian politician)|Jack Lang]] during the [[1932 New South Wales constitutional crisis]] on the grounds of alleged illegal activity by the premier.

The Governor alone is constitutionally mandated to summon [[Parliament of New South Wales|Parliament]] and may also prorogue and [[Dissolution of parliament|dissolve]] it on the advice of the premier. The Governor grants [[royal assent|Royal Assent]] in the King's name to bills as the final step required to give them the force of law. While in the past Governors had the discretion to refuse or reserve assent to bills, usually where they were seen as unfavourable to imperial interests, now the only likely grounds on which a bill could be refused if it was passed contrary to manner and form requirements (for example the requirement to hold a referendum to approve of any law that abolished or changed the powers of either of the houses of Parliament).<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Twomey |first=Anne |title=The constitution of New South Wales |date=2004 |publisher=Federation Press |isbn=978-1-86287-516-6 |location=Sydney |pages=216–22 |language=en-AU}}</ref> A Governor's view that a bill is likely unconstitutional is not a ground for the reservation of royal assent as the legality of a bill is determined by the courts.<ref name=":0" /> With most constitutional functions delegated to Cabinet, the Governor acts in a primarily ceremonial fashion. The Governor hosts members of [[Australia's royal family|Australia's Royal Family]], as well as foreign royalty and heads of state. Also as part of international relations, the Governor receives [[Letter of credence|letters of credence and of recall]] from foreign Consuls-general appointed to Sydney. When they are the longest-serving State Governor, the governor of New South Wales holds a [[dormant commission]] to act as the [[Administrator (Australia)|Administrator of the Commonwealth]] when the [[governor-general of Australia|Governor-General of Australia]] is absent from Australia, a role currently held by Margaret Beazley, and previously by Marie Bashir.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ag.gov.au/portal/govgazonline.nsf/85B98B2949AD84ACCA256D580002A424/$file/S205.pdf |title=Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S205 dated 17 June 2003 |access-date=19 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121182757/http://www.ag.gov.au/portal/govgazonline.nsf/85B98B2949AD84ACCA256D580002A424/%24file/S205.pdf |archive-date=21 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Governor is also tasked with fostering unity and pride. The governor inducts individuals into the various [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Australia|national orders]] and present national medals and decorations, however the most senior awards such as ACs or the Victoria Cross are the sole prerogative of the governor general. The Governor also ''ex-officio'' serves as Honorary [[Colonel (United Kingdom)|Colonel]] of the [[Royal New South Wales Regiment]] (since 1960), Honorary [[Air Commodore]] of [[No. 22 Squadron RAAF|No. 22 (City of Sydney) Squadron]], [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (since 1937) and Honorary [[Commodore (rank)|Commodore]] of the [[Royal Australian Navy]], as well as the [[Scouting and Guiding in New South Wales|Chief Scout for New South Wales]].<ref name="patron">{{cite web|title=Patronage Listing|url=https://www.governor.nsw.gov.au/governor/patronages/patronage-listing/|website=Governor of New South Wales|publisher=Office of the Governor|access-date=7 March 2018}}</ref>

Although not a responsibility of the office of Governor of New South Wales, governors of New South Wales are - like all [[Governors of the Australian states]] - normally given a [[dormant commission]] to [[Administrator (Australia)|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 of Australia|Governor-General]] by the Sovereign.<ref>{{cite web |title=Commission to Administer the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia - His Excellency the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC Ret'd |url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2015G00433/asmade/text |website=Federal Register of Legislation |publisher=[[Office of Parliamentary Counsel (Australia)|Office of Parliamentary Counsel]] |access-date=5 October 2025 |date=26 March 2015}}</ref> New South Wales governors are often also appointed as a [[Governor-General of Australia#Deputies of the Governor-General|Deputy of the Governor-General]]<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Wright |editor1-first=B C |title=House of Representatives Practice |date=2012 |publisher=Department of the House of Representatives, Commonwealth of Australia |isbn=978-1-74366-656-2 |page=3 |edition=7th |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/-/media/05_About_Parliament/53_HoR/532_PPP/Practice7/combined.pdf |access-date=4 October 2025 |chapter=The Parliament and the role of the House}}</ref> to perform certain responsibilities of the Governor-General while the Governor-General is present in Australia, but unable to perform them personally.<ref>{{cite web |title=Appointment of Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC as Deputy of the Governor-General |url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2024G00553/asmade |website=Federal Register of Legislation |publisher=[[Office of Parliamentary Counsel (Australia)|Office of Parliamentary Counsel]] |access-date=5 October 2025 |date=3 September 2024}}</ref>

==Symbols and protocol==
The Governor is listed second in New South Wales' table of precedence, behind the Governor-General.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Department |first=Premier's |date=2023-06-01 |title=Table of Precedence for NSW |url=https://www.nsw.gov.au/about-nsw/nsw-protocol/table-of-precedence |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=NSW Government |language=en-AU}}</ref> The incumbent Governor is entitled to use the style of ''His'' or ''Her [[Excellency]]'', while in office. On 28 November 2013 the Premier of NSW announced that the Queen had given approval for the title of "[[The Honourable]]" to be accorded to the governors and former Governors of New South Wales.<ref>{{cite news|title=The title 'The Honourable' for Governors of New South Wales|url=http://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/government-gazette-6-december-2013_0.pdf|access-date=9 December 2013|newspaper=New South Wales Government Gazette|date=6 December 2013|page=5716|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212002246/http://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/government-gazette-6-december-2013_0.pdf|archive-date=12 December 2013}}</ref> Upon installation, the governor serves as a Deputy Prior of the [[Venerable Order of Saint John|Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem]] in Australia and is also traditionally invested as either a Knight or Dame of Justice or Grace of the Order.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} It is also customary that the Governor is made a [[Companion of the Order of Australia]], though this is not necessarily automatic. The use by the Governor of an elaborate [[Court uniform and dress in the United Kingdom#Foreign Service variants|uniform]], comprising a plain blue tailcoat, scarlet collar and cuffs (embroidered in silver), silver epaulettes, and a plumed bicorne hat, fell out of use with the appointment of the first Australian-born Governor, Sir John Northcott, in 1946.

The musical vice regal salute—composed of the first and last four bars of the national anthem ("[[Advance Australia Fair]]")—is played on the arrival and departure of the Governor from a formal event in which a military or service guard is present. It is optional to play if no guard is at the event.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Salutes and Anthems |url=https://www.governor.nsw.gov.au/protocol/vice-regal-guidelines/anthems-and-royal-salute/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Governor of New South Wales |language=en-AU}}</ref>

To mark the Governor's presence at any building, ship, aeroplane, or car in Australia, the Governor's standard or flag is employed. Following the example of other states adopting unique Governor's standards, in 1980 the Government of New South Wales sought to introduce a new standard for the Governor to replace the [[Union Flag]] that had been in use since 1788.<ref name="gov">{{cite web |title=Not Your Usual Standard |url=https://www.governor.nsw.gov.au/government-house/stories/not-your-usual-standard/#:~:text=In%20New%20South%20Wales%2C%20the,on%20the%20Vice%20Regal%20car. |publisher=Governor of New South Wales |access-date=11 September 2023}}</ref> Premier [[Neville Wran]] wrote to the Governor, Sir Roden Cutler, on 25 November 1980 advising: "His Excellency’s Ministers of State now consider that there should be a change in the Personal Standard of the Governor of New South Wales, such change to take effect at the conclusion of His Excellency’s term of office. The Premier therefore recommends for approval a change in the Governor’s distinctive flag from the Union Flag to the New South Wales State Flag with a Crown surmounting the State badge in the fly." However, Cutler did not agree with this change, and it was recommended that the change be undertaken after he had left office.<ref name="gov" /> The new Governor's Standard was designed and presented by the [[Garter King of Arms]] to the [[Agent-General for New South Wales]] in London on 8 January 1981, who then sought Royal assent of the new design, which was given on 15 January 1981.<ref name="gov" /> The flag was first flown on 20 January 1981 over [[Parliament House, Sydney|Parliament House]] for the official swearing-in of Governor Sir James Rowland, and was flown for the first time over Government House on 29 January 1981.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article125647951 |title=Three cheers for retiring Governor |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]]|location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=20 January 1981 |accessdate=11 September 2023 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=New flag for a new Governor |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=30 January 1981 |page=10 |quote=Government House, Sydney, has set a new standard. Sir James Rowland has broken with the tradition of a Union Jack, used by Governors since Phillip, and adopted a new flag. The caretaker, Mr Ron MacKillop, raised the new flag for the first time yesterday.}}</ref>  

;Past and present standards of the governor
<gallery class="center">
File:Flag of Great Britain (1707–1800).svg|1788–1800
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|1800–1981
File:Flag of the Governor of New South Wales.svg|1981–present
</gallery>

==History==
{{Expand section|date=August 2010}}
[[File:A view of Botany Bay A1475003h (cropped).jpg|thumb|The First Fleet in Botany Bay at voyage's end in 1788. Its arrival marked the establishment of the colony of New South Wales and the office of the governor.]]
Aside from the Crown itself, the office of Governor of New South Wales is the oldest constitutional office in Australia. Captain [[Arthur Phillip]] assumed office as Governor of New South Wales on 7 February 1788, when the Colony of New South Wales, the first British settlement in Australia, was formally proclaimed. The early colonial governors held an almost autocratic power due to the distance from and poor communications with Great Britain, until 1824 when the [[New South Wales Legislative Council]], Australia's first legislative body, was appointed to advise the governor.<ref>NSW Parliament. [http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/web/common.nsf/key/LCHistory History of the Legislative Council] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060409150820/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/web/common.nsf/key/LCHistory |date=9 April 2006 }}. Retrieved 10 August 2007.</ref>

Between 1850 and 1861, the Governor of New South Wales was titled Governor-General, in an early attempt at federalism imposed by [[Henry Grey, 3rd Earl Grey|Earl Grey]]. All communication between the Australian colonies and the British Government was meant to go through the Governor-General, and the other colonies had lieutenant-Governors. As South Australia (1836), [[Tasmania]] (January 1855) and [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] (May 1855) obtained responsible government, their lieutenant-Governors were replaced by Governors. Although he had ceased acting as a Governor-General, Sir [[William Denison]] retained the title until his retirement in 1861.<ref>{{cite book |last=Twomey |first=Anne |author-link=Anne Twomey (academic) |title=The chameleon Crown: The Queen and her Australian governors |url=http://www.federationpress.com.au/bookstore/book.asp?isbn=9781862876293 |year=2006 |publisher=The Federation Press |location=Sydney |isbn=978-1-86287-629-3 |access-date=10 August 2007 |archive-date=20 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320114258/https://www.federationpress.com.au/bookstore/book.asp?isbn=9781862876293 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The six British colonies in Australia joined to form the [[Commonwealth of Australia]] in 1901. New South Wales and the other colonies became states in the federal system under the [[Constitution of Australia]]. In 1902, the ''New South Wales Constitution Act'' 1902 confirmed the modern system of government of New South Wales as a state. Like the new federal [[Governor-General of Australia|Governor-General]] and the other state governors, in the first years after federation, the governor of New South Wales continued to act both in their constitutional role, and as a liaison between the local government and the imperial government in [[London]]. 

[[File:Australia Act 1986.jpg|thumb|right|The copy of the Australia Act 1986 (UK) bearing the Queen's signature, now displayed in [[Canberra]]]]
In 1942, the Commonwealth of Australia passed the ''[[Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942]]'', which rendered Australia dominion status under the [[Statute of Westminster 1931|Statute of Westminster]], and while Australia and Britain share the same person as monarch, that person acts in a distinct capacity when acting as the monarch of each dominion. The convention that the monarch acts in respect of Australian affairs on the advice of his or her Australian ministers, rather than his or her British ministers, became enshrined in law.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}} For New South Wales however, because the Statute of Westminster did not disturb the constitutional arrangements of the Australian states, the governor remained (at least formally) in New South Wales the representative of the British monarch. This arrangement seemed incongruous with the Commonwealth of Australia's independent dominion status conferred by the Statute of Westminster, and with the federal structure.

After much negotiation between the federal and state governments of Australia, the British government and [[Buckingham Palace]], the ''[[Australia Act 1986]]'' removed any remaining constitutional roles of the British monarch and British government in the Australian states, and established that the governor of New South Wales (along with the other state governors) was the direct, personal representative of the Australian monarch, and not the British monarch or the British government, nor the governor-general of Australia or the Australian federal government.

==Residences and household==
===Government House ===
{{main|Government House, Sydney|First Government House, Sydney}}
[[File:Government House, Sydney, Australia.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Government House, Sydney]], the official residence of the governor]]
On his arrival in Sydney in 1788, Governor Phillip resided in a temporary wood and canvas house before the construction of [[First Government House, Sydney|a more substantial house]] on a site now bounded by [[Bridge Street, Sydney|Bridge]] and [[Phillip Street]]s. This first Government House was extended and repaired by the following eight governors, but was generally in poor condition and was vacated when the governor relocated to the new building in 1845, designed by [[Edward Blore]] and [[Mortimer Lewis]].

With the federation of the Australian colonies in 1901, it was announced that Government House was to serve as the secondary residence of the new governor-general of Australia. As a consequence the NSW Government leased the residence of [[Cranbrook, Bellevue Hill]] as the residence of the governor. This arrangement lasted until 1913 when the NSW Government terminated the Commonwealth lease of Government House (the governor-general moved to the new Sydney residence of [[Admiralty House, Sydney|Admiralty House]]), the governor from 1913 to 1917, Sir [[Gerald Strickland, 1st Baron Strickland|Gerald Strickland]], continued to live in Cranbrook and on his departure his successor returned to Government House.

On 16 January 1996, Premier [[Bob Carr]] announced that the next governor would be [[Gordon Samuels]], that he would not live or work at Government House and that he would retain his appointment as chairman of the New South Wales Law Reform Commission. On these changes, Carr said: "The Office of the Governor should be less associated with pomp and ceremony, less encumbered by anachronistic protocol, more in tune with the character of the people."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=kY-Tk0-quyoC&dq=%22The+Office+of+the+Governor+should+be+less+associated+with+pomp+and+ceremony%2C+less+encumbered+by+anachronistic+protocol%2C+more+in+tune+with+the+character+of+the+people.%22&pg=PA165 ''The Queen's Other Realms: The Crown and Its Legacy in Australia, Canada and New Zealand''], Peter John Boyce, Federation Press, 2008, page 165</ref> The state's longest-serving governor, Sir [[Roden Cutler]], was also reported as saying: "It's a political push to make way in New South Wales to lead the push for a republic. If they decide not to have a Governor and the public agrees with that, and Parliament agrees, and the Queen agrees to it, that is a different matter, but while there is a Governor you have got to give him some respectability and credibility, because he is the host for the whole of New South Wales. For the life of me I cannot understand the logic of having a Governor who is part-time and doesn't live at Government House. It is such a degrading of the office and of the Governor."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161011025515/http://23.101.218.132/Prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20120919006?open&refNavID=HA8_1 Government House], [[Legislative Assembly of New South Wales|Legislative Assembly]], 19 September 2012</ref><ref name="smh">{{cite news |date=17 January 1996 |title=Editorial: A Governor on the side |newspaper=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/120432023/ |url-access=subscription |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

In October 2011, the new premier, [[Barry O'Farrell]], announced that the Governor, now Dame [[Marie Bashir]], had agreed with O'Farrell's offer to move back into Government House: "A lot of people believe the Governor should live at Government House. That's what it was built for ... [A]t some stage a rural or regional Governor will be appointed and we will need to provide accommodation at Government House so it makes sense to provide appropriate living areas".<ref name="return">{{cite news |last=Clennell |first=Andrew |date=7 October 2011 |title=Governor Marie Bashir makes a grand return home to Government House |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/governor-marie-bashir-makes-a-grand-return-home-to-government-house/news-story/50f1bb8f9185df0c360823b57a84aa2d}}</ref> With the Governor's return, management of the residence reverted to the Office of the Governor in December 2013.

===Summer residence===
{{main|Old Government House, Parramatta}}
[[File:(1)Old Government House 010.jpg|alt=|thumb|"Old" Government House, Parramatta.]]
In addition to the primary Sydney Vice-Regal residence, many Governors had also felt the need for a 'summer retreat' to escape the hard temperatures of the Sydney summers. In 1790, Governor Phillip had a secondary residence built in the township of [[Parramatta]]. In 1799 the second governor, [[John Hunter (Royal Navy officer)|John Hunter]], had the remains of Arthur Phillip's cottage cleared away, and [[Old Government House, Parramatta|a more permanent building]] erected on the same site. This residence remained occupied until the completion of the primary Government House in 1845, however the hard summers and growing size of Sydney convinced successive governors of the need for a rural residence.

The governor from 1868 to 1872, the [[Somerset Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl Belmore|Earl Belmore]], used Throsby Park in [[Moss Vale]] as his summer residence. His successor, Sir [[Hercules Robinson, 1st Baron Rosmead|Hercules Robinson]], often retired privately to the same area, in the [[Southern Highlands (New South Wales)|Southern Highlands]], for the same reason. In 1879 it was then decided that the colony should purchase a house at [[Sutton Forest]] for use as a permanent summer residence, and in 1881 the NSW Government purchased for £6000 a property known as "Prospect" that had been built by Robert Pemberton Richardson (of the firm [[Richardson & Wrench]]). This was renamed "[[Hillview, Sutton Forest|Hillview]]", and became the primary summer governor's residence from 1885 to 1957. In 1957, seen as unnecessary and expensive, Hillview was put up for sale and purchased from the state government by Edwin Klein. Hillview was returned to the people of NSW in 1985 and is currently leased under the ownership of the Environment and Heritage Group of the [[Department of Planning & Environment]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bowral.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/heritage-dispute-over-sutton-forest-mansion-hillview/1643291.aspx?storypage=0|title=Heritage dispute over Sutton Forest mansion Hillview|publisher=Southern highland News|access-date=19 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709053528/http://bowral.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/heritage-dispute-over-sutton-forest-mansion-hillview/1643291.aspx?storypage=0|archive-date=9 July 2012}}</ref>

===Household===
The viceregal household aids the governor in the execution of the royal constitutional and ceremonial duties and is managed by the Office of the Governor, whose current [[Official Secretary to the Governor of New South Wales|official secretary and chief of staff]] is Michael Miller LVO, RFD.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.governor.nsw.gov.au|title= Governor of New South Wales Official Website|access-date=26 November 2012}}</ref> These organised offices and support systems include [[Aide-de-camp#Australia|aides-de-camp]], [[News media|press officers]], financial managers, speech writers, trip organisers, event planners and protocol officers, chefs and other kitchen employees, waiters, and various cleaning staff, as well as tour guides. In this official and bureaucratic capacity, the entire household is often referred to as ''[[Government House, Sydney|Government House]]''. These departments are funded through the annual budget, as is the governor's salary of $529,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/maintop/view/inforce/subordleg+101+1990+cd+0+N|title=Constitution (Governor's Salary) Regulation 1990 (NSW)|access-date=5 June 2011}}</ref>

== List of Governors of New South Wales ==
The following individuals have served as a Governor of New South Wales:<ref>{{cite news |url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64689085 |title = GOVERNORS. |newspaper=[[Portland Guardian and Normanby General Advertiser|Portland Guardian and Normanby General Advertiser (Vic. : 1842 – 1876)]] |location=Vic. |date = 6 January 1868 |access-date=2 May 2012 |page = 4 |edition=Evenings |publisher=[[National Library of Australia]] }}</ref>
{| border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse;"
|- bgcolor=#dedede
! No. !! Portrait !! Governor !! Term start !! Term end !! Time in office
|-  bgcolor="#F5F5F5"
! colspan="9" align="left"|<span style="color:black;">Governors appointed by [[George III]] (1760–1820):</span>
|-
|1|| [[File:Arthur Phillip - Wheatley ML124 (cropped).jpg|94x94px]]|| Captain [[Arthur Phillip]] || 7 February 1788|| 10 December 1792 || {{age in years and days|1788|02|07|1792|12|10}}
|-
|2|| [[File:Gouverneur John Hunter.jpg|80px]]|| Captain [[John Hunter (Royal Navy officer)|John Hunter]]|| 11 September 1795|| 27 September 1800 || {{age in years and days|1795|09|11|1800|09|27}}
|-
|3|| [[File:Philip Gidley King SLNSW-FL3251488FXD.jpg|101x101px]]||  Captain [[Philip Gidley King]]|| 28 September 1800|| 12 August 1806 || {{age in years and days|1800|09|28|1806|08|12}}
|-
|4|| [[File:WilliamBligh.jpeg|80px]]||  Captain [[William Bligh]]|| 13 August 1806|| 26 January 1808 || {{age in years and days|1806|08|13|1808|01|26}}
|-
|5 || [[File:Ln-Governor-Lachlan macquarie.jpg|80px]]|| Major-General [[Lachlan Macquarie]]|| 1 January 1810 || 1 December 1821 || {{age in years and days|1810|01|01|1821|12|01}}
|-  bgcolor="#F5F5F5"
! colspan="9" align="left"|<span style="color:black;">Governors appointed by [[George IV]] (1820–1830):</span>
|-
|6|| [[File:Sir Thomas Brisbane, Governor of New South Wales.jpg|103x103px]]|| Major-General Sir [[Thomas Brisbane]]|| 1 December 1821 || 1 December 1825 || {{age in years and days|1821|12|01|1825|12|01}}
|-
|7|| [[File:Sir Ralph Darling by John Linnell.png|94x94px]]|| Lieutenant General Sir [[Ralph Darling]]|| 19 December 1825 || 21 October 1831 || {{age in years and days|1825|12|19|1831|10|21}}
|-  bgcolor="#F5F5F5"
! colspan="9" align="left"|<span style="color:black;">Governors appointed by [[William IV]] (1830–1837):</span>
|-
|8||[[File:Sir Richard Bourke by Martin Archer Shee c. 1837-1850.jpg|80px]]|| Major-General Sir [[Richard Bourke]]|| 3 December 1831 || 5 December 1837 || {{age in years and days|1831|12|03|1837|12|05}}
|-  bgcolor="#F5F5F5"
! colspan="9" align="left"|<span style="color:black;">Governors appointed by [[Queen Victoria]] (1837–1901):</span>
|-
|9|| [[File:Governor Gipps.jpg|80px]]|| Major Sir [[George Gipps]] || 24 February 1838 || 11 July 1846 || {{age in years and days|1838|02|24|1846|07|11}}
|-
|10|| [[File:Sir Charles FitzRoy by Henry Robinson Smith (ca. 1855).jpg|80px]]|| Lieutenant Colonel Sir [[Charles Augustus FitzRoy]]|| 3 August 1846 || 28 January 1855 || {{age in years and days|1846|08|03|1855|01|28}}
|-
|11|| [[File:William Denison 2.jpg|80px]]|| Sir [[William Denison]]|| 20 January 1855 || 22 January 1861 || {{age in years and days|1855|01|20|1861|01|22}}
|-
|12|| [[File:John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar.png|80px]]|| Sir [[John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar|John Young]]|| 16 May 1861 || 24 December 1867 || {{age in years and days|1861|05|16|1867|12|24}}
|-
|13|| [[File:4thEarlOfBelmore.jpg|80px]]|| [[Somerset Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl Belmore]]|| 8 January 1868 || 21 February 1872 || {{age in years and days|1868|01|08|1872|02|21}}
|-
|14|| [[File:LordRosmead.jpg|80px]]|| Sir [[Hercules Robinson]]|| 3 June 1872|| 19 March 1879 || {{age in years and days|1872|06|03|1879|03|19}}
|-
|15|| [[File:Augustus Loftus.jpg|80px]]|| [[Lord Augustus Loftus]]|| 4 August 1879 || 9 November 1885 || {{age in years and days|1879|08|04|1885|11|09}}
|-
|16|| [[File:1stMarquessOfLincolnshire.jpg|80px]]|| [[Charles Wynn-Carington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire|Charles Wynn-Carington, 3rd Baron Carrington]]|| 12 December 1885 || 3 November 1890 || {{age in years and days|1885|12|12|1890|11|03}}
|-
|17|| [[File:7thEarlOfJersey.jpg|80px]]|| [[Victor Child Villiers, 7th Earl of Jersey]]|| 15 January 1891|| 2 March 1893 || {{age in years and days|1891|01|15|1893|03|02}}
|-
|18|| [[File:Governor Duff.jpg|80px]]|| Sir [[Robert Duff (politician, born 1835)|Robert Duff]]|| 29 May 1893 || 15 March 1895 || {{age in years and days|1893|05|29|1896|03|15}}
|-
|19|| [[File:Henry Brand, 2nd Viscount Hampden.jpg|80px]]|| [[Henry Brand, 2nd Viscount Hampden]]|| 21 November 1895 || 5 March 1899 || {{age in years and days|1895|11|21|1899|03|05}}
|-
|20|| [[File:Earl beauchamp1900.jpg|80px]]|| [[William Lygon, 7th Earl Beauchamp]]|| 18 May 1899 || 30 April 1901 || {{age in years and days|1899|05|18|1901|04|30}}
|-  bgcolor="#F5F5F5"
! colspan="9" align="left"|<span style="color:black;">Governors appointed by [[Edward VII]] (1901–1910):</span>
|-
|21|| [[File:Rawson.jpg|80px]]|| Admiral Sir [[Harry Rawson]]|| 27 May 1902 || 27 May 1909 || {{age in years and days|1902|05|27|1909|05|27}}
|-
|22|| [[File:Chelmsford Governor.jpg|80px]]|| [[Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford|Frederic Thesiger, 3rd Baron Chelmsford]]|| 28 May 1909|| 11 March 1913 || {{age in years and days|1909|05|28|1913|03|11}}
|-  bgcolor="#F5F5F5"
! colspan="9" align="left"|<span style="color:black;">Governors appointed by [[George V]] (1910–1936):</span>
|-
|23 || [[File:Gerald Strickland 1930s (cropped).jpg|80px]] || Sir [[Gerald Strickland]]|| 14 March 1913 || 27 October 1917 || {{age in years and days|1913|03|14|1917|10|27}}
|-
|24 || [[File:WEDavidson.jpg|80px]] || Sir [[Walter Edward Davidson|Walter Davidson]] || 18 February 1918 || 4 September 1923{{NoteTag|name=died}} || {{age in years and days|1918|02|18|1923|09|04}}
|-
|25 || [[File:De Chair.jpg|80px]] || Admiral Sir [[Dudley de Chair]] || 28 February 1924 || 7 April 1930 || {{age in years and days|1924|02|28|1930|04|07}}
|-
|26 || [[File:Portrait Sir Philip Game 1947.jpg|80px]] || Air Vice Marshal Sir [[Philip Game]] || 29 May 1930 || 15 January 1935 || {{age in years and days|1930|05|29|1935|01|15}}
|-
|27|| [[File:Lordgowrie.jpg|80px]]|| [[Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie|Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Baron Gowrie]] || 21 February 1935 || 22 January 1936 || {{age in years and days|1935|02|21|1936|01|22}}
|-  bgcolor="#F5F5F5"
! colspan="9" align="left"|<span style="color:black;">Governors appointed by [[Edward VIII]] (1936):</span>
|-
|28
|[[File:David Murray Anderson.jpg|80px]] || Admiral Sir [[David Murray Anderson|Murray Anderson]] || 6 August 1936 || 30 October 1936{{NoteTag|name=died}}{{NoteTag|name=Street}} || {{age in years and days|1936|08|06|1936|10|30}}
|-  bgcolor="#F5F5F5"
! colspan="9" align="left"|<span style="color:black;">Governors appointed by [[George VI]] (1936–1952):</span>
|-
|29
| [[File:Wakehurst.jpg|80px]] || [[John Loder, 2nd Baron Wakehurst]] || 8 April 1937 || 8 January 1946 || {{age in years and days|1937|04|08|1946|01|08}}
|-
|30|| [[File:John Northcott AWM 107728.jpg|80px]]|| Lieutenant General Sir [[John Northcott]] || 1 August 1946 || 31 July 1957 || {{age in years and days|1946|08|01|1957|07|31}}
|-  bgcolor="#F5F5F5"
! colspan="9" align="left"|<span style="color:black;">Governors appointed by Queen [[Elizabeth II]] (1952–2022):</span>
|-
|31 || [[File:Ericwoodward.jpg|80px]] || Lieutenant General Sir [[Eric Woodward]] || 1 August 1957 || 31 July 1965 || {{age in years and days|1957|08|01|1965|07|31}} 
|-
|32 || [[File:VCArthurRodenCutler.jpg|80px]] || Sir [[Roden Cutler]] || 20 January 1966 || 19 January 1981 || '''{{age in years and days|1966|01|20|1981|01|19}}'''
|-
|33 || [[File:SUK11573Rowland.jpg|80px]] || Air Marshal Sir [[James Rowland (RAAF officer)|James Rowland]] || 20 January 1981
| 20 January 1989 || {{age in years and days|1981|01|20|1989|01|20}}
|-
|34 || [[File:Beazley1986 cropped.JPEG|80px]] || Rear Admiral Sir [[David Martin (governor)|David Martin]] || 20 January 1989 || 7 August 1990{{NoteTag|name=Martin}}
| {{age in years and days|1989|01|20|1990|08|07}}
|-
|35 || || Rear Admiral [[Peter Sinclair (governor)|Peter Sinclair]]|| 8 August 1990 || 29 February 1996 || {{age in years and days|1990|08|08|1996|02|29}}
|-
|36 || [[File:GordonSamuels.jpg|80px]] || [[Gordon Samuels]] || 1 March 1996 || 28 February 2001
| {{age in years and days|1996|03|01|2001|02|28}}
|-
|37 || [[File:Marie-bashir-in-wahroonga-2008 Crop.jpg|80px]] || Professor Dame [[Marie Bashir]] || 1 March 2001 || 1 October 2014 || {{age in years and days|2001|03|01|2014|10|01}}
|-
|38 || [[File:David Hurley official photo (cropped).jpg|80px]] || General [[David Hurley]] {{small|(Retd)}} || 2 October 2014 || 1 May 2019 ||{{age in years and days|2014|10|02|2019|05|01}}
|-
|39 || [[File:Margaret Beazley 2018.jpg|80px]]|| [[Margaret Beazley]] || 2 May 2019 || Incumbent ||{{age in years and days|2019|05|02}}
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|British Empire|Australia|New South Wales}}
* [[Spouse of the governor of New South Wales]]
* [[Governor-General of Australia]]
* [[Governors of the Australian states]]
* [[Governor's Body Guard of Light Horse]]

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Governors of New South Wales}}
* [http://www.governor.nsw.gov.au Governor of New South Wales official website]

{{-}}
{{Australian governors}}
{{Governors of New South Wales}}
{{Representatives of the monarch in Commonwealth realms and Dominions}}
{{Government of New South Wales}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Governor of New South Wales}}
[[Category:Governors of New South Wales| ]]
[[Category:Lists of viceroys in Australia|New South Wales]]
[[Category:Parliament of New South Wales]]
[[Category:New South Wales-related lists]]
[[Category:1788 establishments in Australia]]