Governor of South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of South Australia |
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![]() Flag of the governor
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![]() Badge of the governor
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Viceregal | |
Style | Her Excellency the Honourable |
Residence | Government House, Adelaide |
Seat | Adelaide |
Appointer | Monarch
on the advice of the premier
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Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure
(usually 5 years by convention)
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Formation | 28 December 1836 |
First holder | Captain John Hindmarsh |
The governor of South Australia is a very important person in South Australia. They represent the King, currently King Charles III, in the state. Think of them as the King's local representative. The governor does many of the same jobs for South Australia that the governor-general of Australia does for the whole country.
Usually, the governor follows the advice of the state's elected leader, called the premier of South Australia. This is part of how Australia's government works, known as the Westminster system. However, the governor also has special "reserve powers." These are powers they can use in rare situations, like dismissing the premier if needed.
Since June 2014, all governors, past and present, are given the special title 'The Honourable' for life. The first six governors were in charge from when South Australia was founded in 1836. This was before the state had its own elected government and Parliament of South Australia.
The first governor born in Australia was Major-General Sir James Harrison, appointed in 1968. Many governors since then have also been Australian-born. Sir Mark Oliphant was the first governor born in South Australia (1971). Sir Douglas Nicholls was the first Aboriginal governor (1976).
The current governor is Frances Adamson. She started her role on 7 October 2021. She took over from Hieu Van Le, who was governor from 2014 to 2021. The governor's official home is Government House in Adelaide, the capital city.
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What the Governor Does
Before South Australia had its own government, the governor was in charge of making sure laws and policies from the Government of the United Kingdom were followed. Today, the governor's main job is to protect the South Australian Constitution. They also help the Parliament and state government do their work smoothly.
The governor usually uses their powers based on advice from government ministers. This advice is given through a group called the Executive Council. Some of the governor's important powers, used with the Executive Council's advice, include:
- Choosing and removing ministers.
- Granting mercy to people who have committed crimes.
- Creating new rules and announcements under existing laws.
- Approving new laws passed by Parliament. This is called giving "royal assent."
- Appointing judges, special investigators, and senior public workers.
- Ending Parliament sessions and calling for new elections.
The governor also has "reserve powers." These are special powers they can use without the Executive Council's advice. These powers are mainly about appointing or dismissing ministers and Parliament in very unusual situations.
Governor's Flag
The governor of South Australia has a special flag. It looks like the British blue flag, with the Union Flag in the top left corner. On the right side, there is a golden circle with a piping shrike bird. Above the bird is a crown. In 2024, the type of crown shown on the flag changed from a St Edward's Crown to a Tudor Crown.
If 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
Governor's Awards
The governor of South Australia helps celebrate people who do great things in the community. They present several annual awards:
- The Governor's Multicultural Awards: These awards celebrate South Australians who help promote different cultures and show how good cultural diversity is for the community.
- The Governor's Aboriginal Youth Awards: These awards recognise young Aboriginal South Australians, aged 15 to 29. They celebrate young people who are showing great potential or are doing very well in sports, arts, or higher education.
- The Governor’s Civics Awards for Schools: These awards help young South Australians learn about what it means to be a good citizen in a diverse and democratic society. They started in 2019 for Year 5 students and expanded to include students from Years 5–12 in 2020.
Commendations
The governor also gives special commendations for excellent results in the SACE Year 12 exams. These include:
- 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
Here is a list of the people who have served as governor of South Australia.
No. | Portrait | Governor | Term begin | Term end |
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Governors appointed by King William IV (1830–1837): | ||||
1 | ![]() |
Rear Admiral Sir John Hindmarsh | 28 December 1836 | 16 July 1838 |
Governors appointed by Queen Victoria (1837–1901): | ||||
2 | ![]() |
Lieutenant-Colonel George Gawler | 17 October 1838 | 15 May 1841 |
3 | ![]() |
Sir George Grey | 15 May 1841 | 25 October 1845 |
4 | ![]() |
Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Holt Robe | 25 October 1845 | 2 August 1848 |
5 | ![]() |
Sir Henry Fox Young | 2 August 1848 | 20 December 1854 |
6 | ![]() |
Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell | 8 June 1855 | 4 March 1862 |
7 | ![]() |
Sir Dominick Daly | 4 March 1862 | 19 February 1868 |
8 | ![]() |
The Rt Hon. Sir James Fergusson | 16 February 1869 | 18 April 1873 |
9 | ![]() |
Sir Anthony Musgrave | 9 June 1873 | 29 January 1877 |
10 | ![]() |
Lieutenant-General Sir William Jervois | 2 October 1877 | 9 January 1883 |
11 | ![]() |
Sir William Robinson | 19 February 1883 | 5 March 1889 |
12 | ![]() |
The Rt Hon. Earl of Kintore | 11 April 1889 | 10 April 1895 |
13 | ![]() |
Sir Fowell Buxton | 29 October 1895 | 29 March 1899 |
14 | ![]() |
The Rt Hon. Lord Tennyson | 10 April 1899 | 17 July 1902 |
Governors appointed by King Edward VII (1901–1910): | ||||
15 | ![]() |
Sir George Le Hunte | 1 July 1903 | 18 February 1909 |
16 | ![]() |
Admiral Sir Day Bosanquet | 18 February 1909 | 22 March 1914 |
Governors appointed by King George V (1910–1936): | ||||
17 | ![]() |
Lieutenant Colonel Sir Henry Galway | 18 April 1914 | 30 April 1920 |
18 | ![]() |
Lieutenant Colonel Sir Archibald Weigall | 9 June 1920 | 30 May 1922 |
19 | ![]() |
Lieutenant-General Sir Tom Bridges | 4 December 1922 | 4 December 1927 |
20 | ![]() |
Brigadier The Hon. Sir Alexander Hore-Ruthven | 14 May 1928 | 26 April 1934 |
21 | ![]() |
Major-General Sir Winston Dugan | 28 July 1934 | 23 February 1939 |
Governors appointed by King George VI (1936–1952): | ||||
22 | ![]() |
Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey | 12 August 1939 | 26 April 1944 |
23 | ![]() |
Lieutenant-General Sir Willoughby Norrie | 19 December 1944 | 19 June 1952 |
Governors appointed by Queen Elizabeth II (1952–2022): | ||||
24 | ![]() |
Air Vice-Marshal Sir Robert George | 23 February 1953 | 7 March 1960 |
25 | Lieutenant-General Sir Edric Bastyan | 4 April 1961 | 1 June 1968 | |
26 | Major General Sir James Harrison | 4 December 1968 | 16 September 1971 | |
27 | ![]() |
Professor Sir Mark Oliphant | 1 December 1971 | 30 November 1976 |
28 | ![]() |
Sir Douglas Nicholls | 1 December 1976 | 30 April 1977 |
29 | Reverend Sir Keith Seaman | 1 September 1977 | 28 March 1982 | |
30 | Lieutenant General Sir Donald Dunstan | 23 April 1982 | 5 February 1991 | |
31 | ![]() |
The Hon. Dame Roma Mitchell | 6 February 1991 | 21 July 1996 |
32 | ![]() |
Sir Eric Neal | 22 July 1996 | 3 November 2001 |
33 | ![]() |
Marjorie Jackson-Nelson | 3 November 2001 | 31 July 2007 |
34 | ![]() |
Rear Admiral The Hon. Kevin Scarce | 8 August 2007 | 7 August 2014 |
35 | ![]() |
The Hon. Hieu Van Le | 1 September 2014 | 31 August 2021 |
36 | ![]() |
Frances Adamson | 7 October 2021 |
Administrators and Lieutenant Governors
These people stepped in to manage the government when the official governor was away.
Administrator | Term |
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George Milner Stephen | 1838 |
Boyle Travers Finniss | 1854–55 |
Lt.-Col. Francis Gilbert Hamley | 1868–69 |
Hon. Sir Samuel James Way, Chief Justice, Lt.-Gov. | 1877 to 1915 (on 65 separate occasions) |
Hon. Sir George John Robert Murray, Chief Justice, Lt.-Gov. | 1916–42 (on 103 separate occasions) |
Hon. Sir John Mellis Napier, Chief Justice, Lt.-Gov. | 1942 to 1973 (on 179 separate occasions) |
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. 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. 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. | 9 February 2024– |