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Governor of Queensland facts for kids

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Governor of Queensland
Flag of the Governor of Queensland.svg
Flag of the governor of Queensland
Coat of Arms of Queensland.svg
Jeannette Young, Chief Health Officer, Queensland Government, 2020 (cropped) 2.jpg
Incumbent
Jeannette Young AC PSM

since 1 November 2021
Viceregal
Style Her Excellency the Honourable
Residence Government House, Brisbane
Appointer Monarch on the advice of the premier
(by commission under the royal sign-manual)
Term length At His Majesty's pleasure
(typically 5 years)
Formation 10 December 1859
First holder Sir George Bowen
Salary
  • £5,000 (1900)
  • A$488,686 (2019)

The Governor of Queensland is a very important person in the state of Queensland, Australia. They represent the King, currently King Charles III. Think of them like the King's special helper in Queensland.

The Governor has important jobs, both official and ceremonial. They can appoint or remove the Premier of Queensland and other ministers. They also help start elections for the state parliament.

The current Governor of Queensland is Jeannette Young. She used to be Queensland's Chief Health Officer. She started her role on November 1, 2021.

If the Governor is away, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland steps in. Currently, that is Helen Bowskill. In 2014, Queen Elizabeth II decided that all past, present, and future Governors would be called The Honourable.

Where the Governor Lives

The Governor has lived at Government House, Brisbane since 1910. This big house is also known as Fernberg. It sits on 14 hectares (about 35 acres) of gardens and bushland. It is located in the Paddington area of Brisbane.

The very first Government House was built for this purpose. It was used from 1862 to 1910. You can still see that old building today. It is on the grounds of Queensland University of Technology's city campus.

What the Governor Does

The Governor's job was first created by Queen Victoria in 1867. This was done through special documents called "letters patent." For a long time, Queensland's laws didn't fully explain the Governor's powers. These powers came from the letters patent and other old British rules.

After a big political event in 1975, Queensland's Premier, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, changed the state's laws. He made sure the Governor's powers were clearly written into Queensland's own Constitution Act. This was done to make sure Queensland had full control over its own government.

The Constitution Act 2001 brought all these rules together. Now, the Governor's role is fully defined by Australian law.

Usually, the Governor follows the advice of the Premier. This is part of the Westminster system of government. However, the Governor has special "reserve powers" for rare situations. These powers allow them to act without or against the Premier's advice.

For example, in 1987, Premier Bjelke-Petersen tried to remove some ministers. But Governor Sir Walter Campbell did not agree. This showed that the Governor has independent power in certain situations.

The Governor also leads the Executive Council of Queensland. This council is made up of government ministers. The Governor appoints judges, like the Chief Justice, based on the Council's advice.

The Governor's Flag

The Governor has a special flag called the Governor's standard. It has a Union Jack (the British flag) in the corner. In the middle, there is a white circle with Queensland's state badge. This badge is a light blue Maltese cross with a royal crown and laurel leaves.

This flag design for British governors was approved in 1869. Queensland's specific design has been used since 1876.

When this flag is flying at Government House, on a car, or at an event, it means the Governor is there.

Past and present flags of the Governor

Queensland's Governors: A List

The first Australian-born Governor of Queensland was Lieutenant-General Sir John Lavarack. He was appointed in 1946. His successor, Sir Henry Abel Smith, was British. After that, all Governors have been Australian-born. The only exception is Leneen Forde, who was born in Canada but moved to Australia when she was young.

Before Queensland became a separate state in 1859, it was part of New South Wales. It was governed by the Governors of New South Wales.

There have been 26 Governors before the current one.

No. Portrait Title
Governor
Office
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Monarch
1 Portrait The Right Honourable
Sir George Bowen
GCMG
(1821–1899)
10 December
1859
4 January
1868
Victoria

Victoria in her Coronation (cropped).jpg

(1837–1901)

8 years and 26 days
2 Portrait Colonel the Honourable
Samuel Blackall
(1809–1871)
14 August
1868
2 January
1871
2 years and 142 days
3 Portrait The Right Honourable
George Phipps
Earl of Mulgrave
GCB, GCMG
(1819–1890)
12 August
1871
12 November
1874
3 years and 93 days
4 Portrait The Honourable
Sir William Cairns
KCMG
(1828–1888)
23 January
1875
14 March
1877
2 years and 51 days
5 The Honourable
Sir Arthur Kennedy
GCMG, CB
(1809–1883)
20 July
1877
2 May
1883
5 years and 287 days
6 Portrait The Honourable
Sir Anthony Musgrave
GCMG
(1828–1888)
6 November
1883
9 October
1888
4 years and 339 days
7 Portrait Field Marshal the Honourable
Sir Henry Norman

GCB, GCMG, CIE
(1826–1904)
1 May
1889
31 December
1895
6 years and 245 days
8 Portrait The Right Honourable
Charles Cochrane-Baillie

2nd Baron Lamington
(1860–1940)
9 April
1896
19 December
1901
5 years and 255 days Edward VII

Edward VII in coronation robes (cropped).jpg

(1901–1910)

9 Photograph Lieutenant General the Honourable
Sir Herbert Chermside
GCMG, CB
(1850–1929)
24 March
1902
10 October
1904
2 years and 201 days
10 Photograph The Honourable
Frederic Thesiger
3rd Baron Chelmsford
KCMG
(1868–1933)
30 November
1905
26 May
1909
3 years and 178 days
11 Photograph The Right Honourable
Sir William MacGregor
GCMG, CB, AM
(1846–1919)
2 December
1909
16 July
1914
4 years and 227 days George V

George V of the united Kingdom (cropped).jpg

(1910–1936)

12 Photograph Major The Honourable
Sir Hamilton Goold-Adams
GCMG, CB
(1858–1920)
15 March
1915
3 February
1920
4 years and 326 days
13 Photograph Lieutenant Colonel the Honourable
Sir Matthew Nathan
GCMG
(1862–1939)
3 December
1920
17 September
1925
4 years and 289 days
14 Photograph Lieutenant General the Honourable
Sir John Goodwin
KCB, KCMG, DSO
(1871–1960)
13 July
1927
7 April
1932
4 years and 270 days
15 Photograph Lieutenant Colonel the Right Honourable
Sir Leslie Wilson
GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, DSO
(1876–1955)
13 June
1932
23 April
1946
Edward VIII

(1936)

13 years and 315 days George VI

King George VI crop (cropped).jpg

(1936–1952)

16 Photograph Lieutenant General the Honourable
Sir John Lavarack
KCMG, KCVO, KBE, CB, DSO
(1885–1957)
1 October
1946
4 December
1957
11 years and 65 days Elizabeth II

The Queen of Australia.jpg

(1952–2022)

17 Photograph Colonel the Honourable
Sir Henry Abel Smith
KCMG, KCVO, DSO
(1900–1993)
18 March
1958
18 March
1966
8 years and 1 day
18 Photograph The Honourable
Sir Alan Mansfield
KCMG, KCVO
(1902–1980)
21 March
1966
21 March
1972
6 years and 1 day
19 Photograph Air Marshal the Honourable
Sir Colin Hannah
KCMG, KBE, CB
(1914–1978)
21 March
1972
20 March
1977
5 years and 0 days
20 Photograph Commodore the Honourable
Sir James Ramsay
KCMG, KCVO, CBE, DSC, RAN
(1916–1986)
22 April
1977
21 July
1985
8 years and 91 days
21 Photograph Flight Lieutenant the Honourable
Sir Walter Campbell
AC, QC
(1921–2004)
22 July
1985
29 July
1992
7 years and 8 days
22 Photograph The Honourable
Leneen Forde
AC
(b. 1935)
29 July
1992
29 July
1997
5 years and 1 day
23 Photograph Major General the Honourable
Peter Arnison
AC, CVO
(b. 1940)
29 July
1997
29 July
2003
6 years and 1 day
24 Photograph The Honourable
Quentin Bryce
AC
(b. 1942)
29 July
2003
29 July
2008
5 years and 1 day
25 Photograph The Honourable
Penelope Wensley
AC
(b. 1946)
29 July
2008
29 July
2014
6 years and 1 day
26 Photograph Lieutenant the Honourable
Paul de Jersey
AC, CVO, QC
(b. 1948)
29 July
2014
1 November
2021
7 years and 96 days
27 Photograph Her Excellency the Honourable
Jeannette Young
AC, PSM
(b. 1963)
1 November
2021
Incumbent
Charles III

King Charles III (July 2023).jpg

(2022–present)

3 years and 266 days

Helping the Governor: Administrators and Lieutenant-Governors

Sometimes the Governor is not available. This might be because they are traveling or unwell. In these cases, an Administrator or Lieutenant-Governor steps in. These are like deputy roles. If no one is appointed, the Chief Justice of Queensland takes over.

Here is a list of some of the people who have served in these important temporary roles:

Name Term Notes
Maurice Charles O'Connell 4 January 1868 – 14 August 1868 Administrator
Maurice Charles O'Connell 2 January 1871 – 12 August 1871 Administrator
Maurice Charles O'Connell 12 November 1874 – 23 January 1875 Administrator
Maurice Charles O'Connell 14 March 1877 – 10 April 1877 Administrator
Arthur Edward Kennedy 10 April 1877 – 20 July 1877 Administrator
Joshua Peter Bell 19 March 1880 – 22 November 1880 Administrator
Arthur Hunter Palmer 2 May 1883 – 6 November 1883 Administrator
Arthur Hunter Palmer 20 April 1886 – 13 December 1886 Administrator
Arthur Hunter Palmer 9 October 1888 – 1 May 1889 Administrator
Arthur Hunter Palmer 15 November 1895 – 9 April 1896 Lieutenant Governor Administrator
Samuel Griffith 21 June 1901 – 24 March 1902 Lieutenant Governor
Hugh Muir Nelson 10 October 1904 – 30 November 1905 Lieutenant Governor
Arthur Morgan 27 May 1909 – 2 December 1909 Lieutenant Governor
Arthur Morgan 16 July 1914 – 15 March 1915 Lieutenant Governor
William Lennon 3 February 1920 – 3 December 1920 Lieutenant Governor
William Lennon 17 September 1925 – 13 June 1927 Lieutenant Governor
William Lennon 8 May 1929 – 2 June 1929 Lieutenant Governor
James William Blair 7 April 1932 – 1 June 1932 Administrator
James William Blair 17 May 1937 – 18 November 1944 Administrator/Lieutenant Governor
Frank Cooper 24 April 1946 – 30 September 1946 Lieutenant Governor
Alan Mansfield 25 January 1957 – 18 March 1958 Administrator
Alan Mansfield 31 March 1960 – 24 May 1960 Administrator
Alan Mansfield 18 April 1963 – 18 October 1963 Administrator
William Mack 10 March 1966 – 21 March 1966 Administrator
William Mack 20 March 1969 – 30 June 1969 Administrator
Joseph Aloysius Sheehy 30 June 1969 – 18 September 1969 Administrator
Mostyn Hanger 9 March 1972 – 21 March 1972 Administrator
Mostyn Hanger 21 March 1977 – 22 April 1977 Administrator
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