Governor of New South Wales facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Governor of New South Wales
Standard of the Governor
Incumbent Margaret Beazley AC KC since 2 May 2019
Viceregal
Style	Her Excellency the Honourable
Residence	Government House, Sydney
Seat	Sydney
Appointer	Monarch on the advice of the premier
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure (usually 5 years by convention)
Formation	7 February 1788
First holder	Arthur Phillip
Deputy	Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales
Salary	$529,000

The Governor of New South Wales is a very important person in the state of New South Wales. They are the representative of the King of Australia, currently King Charles III. Think of them like the King's personal representative in New South Wales.

Just like the Governor-General does for all of Australia, the Governor of New South Wales handles special duties for the state. These duties include both official government tasks and important public ceremonies. The King chooses the Governor based on advice from the Premier of New South Wales. A Governor usually serves for about five years. The current Governor is retired judge Margaret Beazley, who started her role on 2 May 2019.

This important job started way back in 1788. That's when New South Wales was first settled by the British. It's the oldest continuous official position in Australia! At first, the Governor represented the British government. But over time, Australia became more independent. Now, the Governor is the direct representative of the King of Australia. This change was made official by laws like the New South Wales Constitution Act 1902 and the Australia Act 1986.

Becoming Governor
- Who can be chosen?
What does the Governor do?
Symbols and special rules
History of the Governor's role
Where the Governor lives and works
List of Governors of New South Wales
See also

Becoming Governor

Sir John Northcott, the first Australian-born Governor (1946–57).

The rules for becoming Governor are set out in the New South Wales Constitution. The King officially appoints the Governor. This happens after the Premier of New South Wales suggests someone for the job. The new Governor is then called the governor-designate.

Before starting, the new Governor takes special promises. These promises are called the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Office. They take these promises in front of the Chief Justice or another judge. The King also meets with the person chosen to be Governor. At this meeting, the Governor-designate is usually given a special honour. This honour is called the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).

A Governor usually stays in the job for at least five years. However, they technically serve "at His Majesty's pleasure". This means the King can ask them to stay longer or leave earlier. Sometimes, a Governor might resign. Three Governors have even passed away while in office. If the Governor is away or unable to do their job, another person steps in. This person is called the Lieutenant-Governor. Since 1872, this role has been held by the Chief Justice of New South Wales. If the Lieutenant-Governor also can't do the job, the next most senior judge takes over.

Who can be chosen?

For a long time, from 1788 to 1957, all Governors were born outside New South Wales. Many were even members of the British noble families. But eventually, Australians started to fill the role. Sir John Northcott was the first Australian-born Governor. He started in 1946. He was the first Australian-born Governor for any state. However, he was born in Victoria. The first Governor born in New South Wales was Sir Eric Woodward, appointed in 1957. This continued until 1996. That's when Gordon Samuels, who was born in London, became Governor.

Early Governors often came from political backgrounds. Many were military officers too. In fact, 19 Governors have had a military background. Gordon Samuels was the first Governor without a political or public service background. He was a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. The first woman to be Governor was Dame Marie Bashir. She was also the first Lebanese-Australian Governor.

What does the Governor do?

Since the King lives outside New South Wales, the Governor does his constitutional duties for him.

Lord Wakehurst takes the oath of office upon his arrival in Sydney in 1937.

The Governor has the power to appoint the ministers of the Government of New South Wales. By tradition, the Governor must choose the Premier. The Premier is the leader of the political party that has the most support in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. The Premier then tells the Governor who should be appointed as ministers. The government's decisions become official through the "governor-in-council". This means the Governor acts with the advice of the Executive Council of New South Wales. This council includes the cabinet ministers.

Usually, the Governor must follow the advice of the ministers. But in very rare and serious situations, they can act without or against this advice. These are called the "reserve powers". One famous example was in 1932. The Governor used these powers to remove Premier Jack Lang. This happened because of serious disagreements about the Premier's actions.

The Governor is also the only one who can officially call a meeting of the Parliament of New South Wales. They can also end a parliamentary session or dissolve Parliament. This is usually done on the Premier's advice. The Governor also gives "royal assent" to new laws. This is the final step to make a bill into a law. In the past, Governors could refuse to approve laws. But now, they only refuse if the law was passed incorrectly. The Governor does not decide if a law is fair or constitutional. That's a job for the courts.

Most of the Governor's official duties are now handled by the government. So, the Governor mainly performs ceremonial tasks. They host members of Australia's Royal Family. They also welcome foreign royalty and leaders. The Governor receives official papers from foreign Consuls-general in Sydney. When the Governor of New South Wales has served the longest among all state Governors, they can also act as the Administrator of the Commonwealth. This means they can step in for the Governor-General of Australia if the Governor-General is out of the country. Margaret Beazley currently holds this role.

The Governor also helps to build unity and pride in New South Wales. They present national medals and awards to people. However, the highest awards are given by the Governor-General. The Governor also holds honorary titles in the military. These include Honorary Colonel of the Royal New South Wales Regiment. They are also the Chief Scout for New South Wales.

Symbols and special rules

The Governor is second in importance in New South Wales, after the Governor-General. While in office, the Governor is called His or Her Excellency. Since 2013, Governors and former Governors can also use the title "The Honourable". When they start their job, the Governor is usually given a special honour. This is often as a Knight or Dame of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem. They are also usually made a Companion of the Order of Australia.

In the past, Governors wore a fancy uniform. It had a blue coat, red collar, and a special hat with feathers. But this uniform stopped being used in 1946. That's when Sir John Northcott became the first Australian-born Governor.

When the Governor arrives or leaves a formal event with a military guard, a special song is played. This is called the vice regal salute. It uses parts of Australia's national anthem, "Advance Australia Fair".

The Governor also has a special flag. This flag shows when the Governor is present at a building, ship, plane, or car. Since 1981, the Governor's flag has been the New South Wales State Flag. It has a crown above the state badge.

Past and present flags of the Governor

1788–1800
1800–1981
1981–present

History of the Governor's role

The First Fleet in Botany Bay in 1788. This marked the start of the New South Wales colony and the Governor's job.

The job of Governor of New South Wales is the oldest official position in Australia. It's even older than the country itself! Captain Arthur Phillip became the first Governor on 7 February 1788. This was when the British colony of New South Wales was officially started.

In the early days, Governors had a lot of power. This was because they were so far from Great Britain. It was hard to communicate quickly. But in 1824, the New South Wales Legislative Council was created. This was Australia's first law-making group. It was set up to advise the Governor.

Between 1850 and 1861, the Governor of New South Wales was called the Governor-General. This was an early idea to try and unite the Australian colonies. All messages between the colonies and the British government were supposed to go through this Governor-General. Other colonies had "lieutenant-Governors". But as colonies like South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria gained more self-rule, they got their own Governors.

In 1901, the six British colonies in Australia joined together. They formed the Commonwealth of Australia. New South Wales became a state in this new federal system. The New South Wales Constitution Act 1902 set up the modern government system for New South Wales. In the early years after Australia became a nation, the Governor still acted in two ways. They had their state role, and they also connected the local government with the British government in London.

The copy of the Australia Act 1986 (UK) with the Queen's signature.

In 1942, Australia passed a law called the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942. This law made Australia more independent from Britain. It meant that while Australia and Britain shared the same King, the King acted differently for each country. The King would now take advice from Australian ministers for Australian matters.

However, this law didn't change things for the Australian states. So, the Governor of New South Wales still formally represented the British King. This seemed a bit odd, as Australia was now more independent. After many talks between Australian and British governments, a new law was passed. This was the Australia Act 1986. This law removed any remaining roles for the British government in the Australian states. It made it clear that the Governor of New South Wales is the direct representative of the Australian King. They do not represent the British government or the Governor-General of Australia.

Where the Governor lives and works

Government House

Government House, Sydney, the official residence of the Governor.

When Governor Phillip arrived in Sydney in 1788, he lived in a temporary house. Later, a more permanent house was built. This was the First Government House, Sydney. It was used by the first eight Governors. But it wasn't in very good condition. So, a new, grander Government House, Sydney was built in 1845.

When Australia became a nation in 1901, Government House was used for a while by the new Governor-General of Australia. The Governor of New South Wales had to live somewhere else. But in 1913, the Governor returned to Government House.

In 1996, the Premier of NSW, Bob Carr, announced a change. The new Governor, Gordon Samuels, would not live or work at Government House. The Premier said he wanted the Governor's office to be "less associated with pomp and ceremony". However, many people disagreed. Sir Roden Cutler, a former Governor, said it would "degrade the office".

In 2011, the new Premier, Barry O'Farrell, announced that the Governor would move back. Dame Marie Bashir agreed to return to Government House. This was because many people believed the Governor should live there. It also made sense for future Governors. Since then, the Office of the Governor manages the residence.

Summer home

"Old" Government House, Parramatta.

Besides their main home in Sydney, many Governors wanted a "summer retreat". This was to escape the hot Sydney summers. In 1790, Governor Phillip had a second home built in Parramatta. This became known as Old Government House, Parramatta. It was used until the main Government House was finished in 1845.

Later, Governors still wanted a country home. In 1879, the government bought a house in Sutton Forest. It was called "Prospect". This house was renamed "Hillview". It became the main summer residence for Governors from 1885 to 1957. In 1957, Hillview was sold. It was seen as too expensive and not needed. However, in 1985, Hillview was returned to the people of NSW.

The Governor's team

The Governor has a team of people who help them. This team is called the viceregal household. They help the Governor with their official and ceremonial duties. The team includes assistants, press officers, financial managers, and event planners. There are also chefs, waiters, and cleaning staff. This whole team is often called Government House. Their work is paid for by the annual budget. This budget also covers the Governor's salary.

List of Governors of New South Wales

The following people have served as Governor of New South Wales:

No.	Governor	Term start	Term end	Time in office
Governors appointed by George III (1760–1820):
1	Captain Arthur Phillip , RN	7 February 1788	10 December 1792	4 years, 307 days
2	Captain John Hunter RN	11 September 1795	27 September 1800	5 years, 16 days
3	Captain Philip Gidley King RN	28 September 1800	12 August 1806	5 years, 318 days
4	Captain William Bligh FRS, RN	13 August 1806	26 January 1808	1 year, 166 days
5	Major-General Lachlan Macquarie CB	1 January 1810	1 December 1821	11 years, 334 days
Governors appointed by George IV (1820–1830):
6	Major-General Sir Thomas Brisbane Bt, GCH, GCB	1 December 1821	1 December 1825	4 years, 0 days
7	Lieutenant General Sir Ralph Darling GCH	19 December 1825	21 October 1831	5 years, 306 days
Governors appointed by William IV (1830–1837):
8	Major-General Sir Richard Bourke KCB	3 December 1831	5 December 1837	6 years, 2 days
Governors appointed by Queen Victoria (1837–1901):
9	Major Sir George Gipps	24 February 1838	11 July 1846	8 years, 137 days
10	Lieutenant Colonel Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy KCH, KCB	3 August 1846	28 January 1855	8 years, 178 days
11	Sir William Denison KCB	20 January 1855	22 January 1861	6 years, 2 days
12	The Rt Hon. Sir John Young Bt, GCMG, KCB	16 May 1861	24 December 1867	6 years, 222 days
13	The Rt Hon. The Earl Belmore GCMG, PC	8 January 1868	21 February 1872	4 years, 44 days
14	The Rt Hon. Sir Hercules Robinson GCMG	3 June 1872	19 March 1879	6 years, 289 days
15	The Rt Hon. Lord Augustus Loftus GCB	4 August 1879	9 November 1885	6 years, 97 days
16	The Rt Hon. The Lord Carrington GCMG, PC	12 December 1885	3 November 1890	4 years, 326 days
17	The Rt Hon. The Earl of Jersey GCB, GCMG, PC	15 January 1891	2 March 1893	2 years, 46 days
18	The Rt Hon. Sir Robert Duff GCMG	29 May 1893	15 March 1895	2 years, 291 days
19	The Rt Hon. The Viscount Hampden GCMG	21 November 1895	5 March 1899	3 years, 104 days
20	The Rt Hon. The Earl Beauchamp KCMG, PC	18 May 1899	30 April 1901	1 year, 347 days
Governors appointed by Edward VII (1901–1910):
21	Admiral Sir Harry Rawson GCB, GCMG, RN	27 May 1902	27 May 1909	7 years, 0 days
22	The Rt Hon. The Lord Chelmsford GCMG	28 May 1909	11 March 1913	3 years, 287 days
Governors appointed by George V (1910–1936):
23	The Hon. Sir Gerald Strickland GCMG	14 March 1913	27 October 1917	4 years, 227 days
24	Sir Walter Davidson KCMG	18 February 1918	4 September 1923	5 years, 198 days
25	Admiral Sir Dudley de Chair KCB, MVO	28 February 1924	7 April 1930	6 years, 38 days
26	Air Vice Marshal Sir Philip Game GBE, KCB, DSO	29 May 1930	15 January 1935	4 years, 231 days
27	The Rt. Hon. The Lord Gowrie VC, GCMG, CB, DSO	21 February 1935	22 January 1936	335 days
Governors appointed by Edward VIII (1936):
28	Admiral Sir Murray Anderson KCB, KCMG, MVO	6 August 1936	30 October 1936	85 days
Governors appointed by George VI (1936–1952):
29	The Rt. Hon. The Lord Wakehurst KCMG	8 April 1937	8 January 1946	8 years, 275 days
30	Lieutenant General Sir John Northcott KCMG, KCVO, CB	1 August 1946	31 July 1957	10 years, 364 days
Governors appointed by Queen Elizabeth II (1952–2022):
31	Lieutenant General Sir Eric Woodward KCMG, KCVO, CB, CBE, DSO	1 August 1957	31 July 1965	7 years, 364 days
32	Sir Roden Cutler VC, KCMG, KCVO, CBE	20 January 1966	19 January 1981	14 years, 365 days
33	Air Marshal Sir James Rowland AC, KBE, DFC, AFC	20 January 1981	20 January 1989	8 years, 0 days
34	Rear Admiral Sir David Martin KCMG, AO, RAN	20 January 1989	7 August 1990	1 year, 199 days
35	Rear Admiral The Hon. Peter Sinclair AC	8 August 1990	29 February 1996	5 years, 205 days
36	The Hon. Gordon Samuels AC, CVO, QC	1 March 1996	28 February 2001	4 years, 364 days
37	Professor The Hon. Dame Marie Bashir AD, CVO	1 March 2001	1 October 2014	13 years, 214 days
38	General The Hon. David Hurley AC, DSC (Retd)	2 October 2014	1 May 2019	4 years, 211 days
39	The Hon. Margaret Beazley AC, KC	2 May 2019	Incumbent	6 years, 54 days