kids encyclopedia robot

Governor of South Australia facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Governor of South Australia
Flag of the Governor of South Australia.svg
Flag of the governor
Badge of the Governor of South Australia.svg
Badge of the governor
Frances Adamson.jpg
Incumbent
Frances Adamson

since 7 October 2021
Viceregal
Style Her Excellency the Honourable
Residence Government House, Adelaide
Seat Adelaide
Nominator Premier of South Australia
Appointer Monarch of Australia
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 the representative in South Australia of the Australian 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. 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.

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, replacing Hieu Van Le, who held the role from 2014 to 2021.

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.

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 the St. Edward's crown.

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

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:

  • 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.
  • 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:

  • 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 Term begin Term end Time in office
Governor appointed by King William IV (1830–1837):
1 Governor John Hindmarsh.jpg Rear Admiral Sir John Hindmarsh , KH 28 December 1836 16 July 1838 1 year, 200 days
Governors appointed by Queen Victoria (1837–1901):
2 George Gawler.jpg Lieutenant-Colonel George Gawler , KH 17 October 1838 15 May 1841 2 years, 210 days
3 GeorgeEdwardGrey02.jpg Sir George Grey , KCB 15 May 1841 25 October 1845 4 years, 163 days
4 Frederick Robe.jpg Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Holt Robe 25 October 1845 2 August 1848 2 years, 282 days
5 Sir Henry Young.jpg Sir Henry Fox Young , KCMG 2 August 1848 20 December 1854 6 years, 140 days
6 Richard Graves MacDonnell.jpg Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell , KCMG, CB 8 June 1855 4 March 1862 6 years, 269 days
7 DominickDaly.jpg Sir Dominick Daly 4 March 1862 19 February 1868 5 years, 352 days
8 Sir James Fergusson.jpg The Rt Hon. Sir James Fergusson , Bt 16 February 1869 18 April 1873 4 years, 61 days
9 AnthonyMusgrave.jpg Sir Anthony Musgrave , KCMG 9 June 1873 29 January 1877 3 years, 234 days
10 William Jervois.jpg Lieutenant-General Sir William Jervois , GCMG, CB 2 October 1877 9 January 1883 5 years, 99 days
11 Williamrobinson.jpg Sir William Robinson , GCMG 19 February 1883 5 March 1889 6 years, 14 days
12 Algernon Keith-Falconer.jpg The Rt Hon. Earl of Kintore , GCMG 11 April 1889 10 April 1895 5 years, 364 days
13 ThomasFowellBuxton.jpg Sir Fowell Buxton , Bt, GCMG 29 October 1895 29 March 1899 3 years, 151 days
14 Ac.tennyson.jpg 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 GeorgeLeHunte.jpg Sir George Le Hunte , KCMG 1 July 1903 18 February 1909 5 years, 232 days
16 Day Bosanquet.jpg 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 Henry Galway.jpg Lieutenant Colonel Sir Henry Galway , KCMG, DSO 18 April 1914 30 April 1920 6 years, 12 days
18 William Weigall.jpg Lieutenant Colonel Sir Archibald Weigall , KCMG 9 June 1920 30 May 1922 1 year, 355 days
19 Tom Bridges 1918.jpg Lieutenant-General Sir Tom Bridges , KCB, KCMG, DSO 4 December 1922 4 December 1927 5 years, 0 days
20 Lordgowrie.jpg Brigadier The Hon. Sir Alexander Hore-Ruthven , VC, KCMG, CB, DSO* 14 May 1928 26 April 1934 5 years, 347 days
21 Winston Dugan.jpg 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 Malcolm Barclay-Harvey.jpg Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey , KCMG 12 August 1939 26 April 1944 4 years, 258 days
23 Willoughby Norrie.jpg 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 Robert George 1956.jpg 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 Sir Mark Oliphant.jpg Professor Sir Mark Oliphant , AC, KBE 1 December 1971 30 November 1976 4 years, 365 days
28 Douglas nicholls.jpg 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 Roma Mitchell 1965.jpg The Hon. Dame Roma Mitchell , AC, DBE, CVO, QC 6 February 1991 21 July 1996 5 years, 166 days
32 Sir Eric Neal in Adelaide, South Australia 2016.jpg Sir Eric Neal , AC, CVO 22 July 1996 3 November 2001 5 years, 104 days
33 Marjorie Jackson.jpg Marjorie Jackson-Nelson , AC, CVO, MBE 3 November 2001 31 July 2007 5 years, 242 days
34 Kevin Scarce in 2008.jpg Rear Admiral The Hon. Kevin Scarce , AC, CSC 8 August 2007 7 August 2014 6 years, 364 days
35 Hieu Van Le 2015.jpg The Hon. Hieu Van Le , AC 1 September 2014 31 August 2021 6 years, 364 days
36 Frances Adamson (1).jpg Frances Adamson , AC 7 October 2021 3 years, 77 days

Administrators and lieutenant-governors

These people administered the government in the absence of the official governor.

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. 9 February 2024–
kids search engine
Governor of South Australia Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.