Governor of South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Governor of South Australia
Flag of the governor
Badge of the governor
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

The governor of South Australia is like a special representative for the King in South Australia. They do many of the same jobs for the state that the Governor-General does for the whole country.

Usually, the governor follows the advice of the elected leader, called the Premier. This is part of how Australia's government works, known as the Westminster system. However, the governor also has special "reserve powers." These allow them to act on their own if needed, for example, to dismiss the Premier in a serious situation.

Since June 2014, all current, future, and past governors are given the special title 'The Honourable' for life. The first six governors were in charge of the colony from 1836. This was before South Australia became self-governing and had its own elected Parliament in 1856.

The first Australian-born governor of South Australia was Sir James Harrison in 1968. Most governors since then have been born in Australia. 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, which is the capital city of South Australia.

What the Governor Does

Before South Australia became self-governing, the governor followed orders from the British Government. They were in charge of making sure laws and policies 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 uses their powers based on advice from government ministers. This advice comes through a group called the Executive Council. Some of the important things the governor does with the Executive Council's advice include:

• Choosing and removing ministers (members of the government).
• Granting mercy to people who have committed crimes.
• Making new rules and announcements under existing laws.
• Giving "royal assent" to bills passed by Parliament. This means they approve the bill, making it a law.
• Appointing judges, special investigators (royal commissioners), and senior public servants.
• Closing Parliament and calling for new elections.

The governor also has "reserve powers." These are special powers they can use without needing the Executive Council's advice. These powers are mainly about appointing and dismissing ministers and Parliament.

The Governor's Flag

The governor of South Australia has a special flag, called the governor's standard. It looks similar to the British blue flag. It has the Union Flag (the British flag) in the top left corner. On the right side, there is a gold circle with a piping shrike bird. Above the bird is a crown. In 2024, the type of crown shown on the flag changed.

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

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  1870–1876

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  1876–1904

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  1904–1975

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  1975–2024

Governor's Awards

The governor of South Australia helps celebrate people who do great things in the community. They present several awards each year:

Multicultural Awards

• The Governor's Multicultural Awards celebrate South Australians who help promote different cultures. They also help people understand the benefits of cultural diversity in our community. An independent panel chooses the winners.

Aboriginal Youth Awards

• The Governor's Aboriginal Youth Awards recognise young Aboriginal South Australians. These awards are for those aged 15 to 29 who show great potential. They celebrate young people excelling in sports, arts, or higher education.

Civics Awards for Schools

• The Governor’s Civics Awards for Schools help young South Australians learn about citizenship. They teach how being a good citizen helps in a diverse and democratic society. These awards started in 2019 for Year 5 students. In 2020, they expanded to include students from Years 5 to 12.

SACE 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

Images for kids

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  The first Governor, John Hindmarsh

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  George Gawler

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  George Grey

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  Frederick Holt Robe

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  Henry Fox Young

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  Richard Graves MacDonnell

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  Dominick Daly

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  James Fergusson

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  Anthony Musgrave

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  William Jervois

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  William Robinson

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  Earl of Kintore

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  Fowell Buxton

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  Lord Tennyson

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  George Le Hunte

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  Admiral Day Bosanquet

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  Henry Galway

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  Archibald Weigall

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  Tom Bridges

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  Alexander Hore-Ruthven

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  Winston Dugan

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  Malcolm Barclay-Harvey

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  Willoughby Norrie

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  Robert George

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  Mark Oliphant

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  Douglas Nicholls

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  Roma Mitchell

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  Eric Neal

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  Marjorie Jackson-Nelson

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  Kevin Scarce

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  Hieu Van Le

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  Frances Adamson