Governor of South Australia

The governor of South Australia is the representative in South Australia of the monarch, currently King Charles III. 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.^[1] 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.

Governor of South Australia
Badge of the governor
Flag of the governor[needs update]
Incumbent Frances Adamson since 7 October 2021
Viceregal
Style	Her Excellency the Honourable
Residence	Government House, Adelaide
Seat	Adelaide
Appointer	Monarch on the advice of the premier
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure (usually 5 years by convention)
Formation	28 December 1836
First holder	Captain John Hindmarsh
Website	governor.sa.gov.au

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,^[2][3] replacing Hieu Van Le,^[4] who held the role from 2014 to 2021.^[5][6]

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.^[7]

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.^[8]

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^{[needs update]}

• 
  1870–1876
• 
  1876–1904
• 
  1904–1975
• 
  1975–2024

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:^[9]

• 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.^[10]
• 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:^[11]

• 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[12]	Term begin	Term end	Time in office
Governor appointed by King William IV (1830–1837):
1		Rear Admiral Sir John Hindmarsh KH	28 December 1836	16 July 1838	1 year, 200 days
Governors appointed by Queen Victoria (1837–1901):
2		Lieutenant-Colonel George Gawler KH	17 October 1838	15 May 1841	2 years, 210 days
3		Sir George Grey KCB	15 May 1841	25 October 1845	4 years, 163 days
4		Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Holt Robe	25 October 1845	2 August 1848	2 years, 282 days
5		Sir Henry Fox Young KCMG	2 August 1848	20 December 1854	6 years, 140 days
6		Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell KCMG, CB	8 June 1855	4 March 1862	6 years, 269 days
7		Sir Dominick Daly	4 March 1862	19 February 1868	5 years, 352 days
8		The Rt Hon. Sir James Fergusson Bt	16 February 1869	18 April 1873	4 years, 61 days
9		Sir Anthony Musgrave KCMG	9 June 1873	29 January 1877	3 years, 234 days
10		Lieutenant-General Sir William Jervois GCMG, CB	2 October 1877	9 January 1883	5 years, 99 days
11		Sir William Robinson GCMG	19 February 1883	5 March 1889	6 years, 14 days
12		The Rt Hon. Earl of Kintore GCMG	11 April 1889	10 April 1895	5 years, 364 days
13		Sir Fowell Buxton Bt, GCMG	29 October 1895	29 March 1899	3 years, 151 days
14		The Rt Hon. Lord Tennyson GCMG	10 April 1899	17 July 1902	3 years, 98 days
Governors appointed by King Edward VII (1901–1910):
15		Sir George Le Hunte KCMG	1 July 1903	18 February 1909	5 years, 232 days
16		Admiral Sir Day Bosanquet GCVO, KCB	18 February 1909	22 March 1914	5 years, 32 days
Governors appointed by King George V (1910–1936):
17		Lieutenant Colonel Sir Henry Galway KCMG, DSO	18 April 1914	30 April 1920	6 years, 12 days
18		Lieutenant Colonel Sir Archibald Weigall KCMG	9 June 1920	30 May 1922	1 year, 355 days
19		Lieutenant-General Sir Tom Bridges KCB, KCMG, DSO	4 December 1922	4 December 1927	5 years, 0 days
20		Brigadier The Hon. Sir Alexander Hore-Ruthven VC, KCMG, CB, DSO*	14 May 1928	26 April 1934	5 years, 347 days
21		Major-General Sir Winston Dugan KCMG, CB, DSO	28 July 1934	23 February 1939	4 years, 210 days
Governors appointed by King George VI (1936–1952):
22		Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey KCMG	12 August 1939	26 April 1944	4 years, 258 days
23		Lieutenant-General Sir Willoughby Norrie KCMG, CB, DSO, MC	19 December 1944	19 June 1952	7 years, 183 days
Governors appointed by Queen Elizabeth II (1952–2022):
24		Air Vice-Marshal Sir Robert George KCMG, KCVO, KBE, CB, MC	23 February 1953	7 March 1960	7 years, 13 days
25		Lieutenant-General Sir Edric Bastyan KCMG, KCVO, KBE, CB	4 April 1961	1 June 1968	7 years, 58 days
26		Major General Sir James Harrison KCMG, CB, CBE	4 December 1968	16 September 1971	2 years, 286 days
27		Professor Sir Mark Oliphant AC, KBE	1 December 1971	30 November 1976	4 years, 365 days
28		Sir Douglas Nicholls KCVO, OBE	1 December 1976	30 April 1977	150 days
29		Reverend Sir Keith Seaman KCVO, OBE	1 September 1977	28 March 1982	4 years, 208 days
30		Lieutenant General Sir Donald Dunstan AC, KBE, CB	23 April 1982	5 February 1991	8 years, 288 days
31		The Hon. Dame Roma Mitchell AC, DBE, CVO, QC	6 February 1991	21 July 1996	5 years, 166 days
32		Sir Eric Neal AC, CVO	22 July 1996	3 November 2001	5 years, 104 days
33		Marjorie Jackson-Nelson AC, CVO, MBE	3 November 2001	31 July 2007	5 years, 242 days
34		Rear Admiral The Hon. Kevin Scarce AC, CSC	8 August 2007	7 August 2014	6 years, 364 days
35		The Hon. Hieu Van Le AC	1 September 2014	31 August 2021	6 years, 364 days
36		Frances Adamson AC	7 October 2021		3 years, 22 days

Administrators and lieutenant-governors

These people administered the government in the absence of the official governor.^[12]

Administrator	Term
George Milner Stephen	1838
Boyle Travers Finniss	1854–55
Lt.-Col. Francis Gilbert Hamley	1868–69
Major James Harwood Rocke	1870
Hon. Sir Richard Davies Hanson, Chief Justice	1872–73
Sir William Wellington Cairns, K.C.M.G	1877
Hon. Samuel James Way, Chief Justice, Lt.-Gov.	1877 to 1915 (on 65 separate occasions)
Hon. James Penn Boucaut, Judge of Supreme Court	1885, 1886, 1888, 1890, 1891, 1897
Hon. William Henry Bundey, Judge of Supreme Court	1888
Hon. Sir George John Robert Murray, Chief Justice, Lt.-Gov.	1916–24, 1926–42 (on 103 separate occasions)
Hon. Thomas Slaney Poole, Judge of Supreme Court	1925 (on 2 occasions)
Hon. Sir Herbert Angas Parsons, Judge of Supreme Court	1935 to 1942 (on 6 separate occasions)
Hon. Sir John Mellis Napier, Chief Justice, Lt.-Gov.	1942 to 1973 (on 179 separate occasions)
Hon. Sir Herbert Mayo, Judge of Supreme Court	1946 to 1965 (on 25 separate occasions)
Hon. Sir Geoffrey Sandford Reed, Judge of Supreme Court	1951 to 1957 (on 5 separate occasions)
Hon. John Jefferson Bray, Chief Justice	1968 to 1973 (on 8 separate occasions)
Hon. David Stirling Hogarth, Judge of Supreme Court	1971
Sir Walter Crocker, Lt.-Gov.	1973 to 1982 (on 29 separate occasions)
Hon. Sir Condor Laucke, Lt.-Gov.	1982 to 1992 (on 43 separate occasions)
Hon. Leonard James King, A.C., Chief Justice	1987
Hon. Dr. Basil Hetzel, Lt.-Gov.	1992 to 2000 (on 32 separate occasions)
Hon. John Doyle, Chief Justice	1999–2012 (on 10 separate occasions)
Hon. Bruno Krumins, Lt.-Gov.	2000–2007 (on 60 separate occasions)
Hon. John William Perry, Judge of Supreme Court	2002
Hon. Hieu Van Le, Lt.-Gov.	2007–2014
Hon. Brenda Wilson, Lt.-Gov.	2014–2022
Hon. Dr James Muecke AM, Lt.-Gov.	2022–February 2024
Hon. Dr Richard Harris OAM, Lt-Gov.[13]	9 February 2024–

External links

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

References

1. SA Government Gazette
2. Frances Adamson announced as South Australia's new governor, replacing Hieu Van Le – ABC News, ABC News, 19 May 2021
3. "Frances Adamson sworn in as South Australia Governor". Sky News. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
4. Former refugee Hieu Van Le sworn in as South Australia's governor during official ceremony, ABC News, 1 September 2014.
5. Hieu Van Le to be next SA Governor, from war-torn Vietnam to vice-regal post: ABC 26 June 2014
6. Kevin Scarce appointed SA governor by Premier Mike Rann Archived 31 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Press release, 3 May 2007, www.ministers.sa.gov.au
7. "Role of the Governor". Government House South Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
8. "Governor's Instruments" (PDF). South Australian Government Gazette. No. 9. 22 February 2024. p. 188.
9. "Governor's Awards". Governor of South Australia. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2022. Text may have been copied from this source, which is available under a Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0 AU) licence.
10. "Governor's Multicultural Awards". Department of the Premier and Cabinet (South Australia). 15 August 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
11. "Commendations and awards". South Australian Certificate of Education. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
12. "Table A: Governors and Administrators" (PDF). Parliament of South Australia. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
13. "Dr Richard Harris appointed Lieutenant Governor". Premier of South Australia. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.