Bertram Stevens

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Sir Bertram Sydney Barnsdale Stevens (Redfern, New South Wales, 2 January 1889 - Concord West, New South Wales, 24 March 1973) was the UAP Premier of New South Wales from 16 May 1932 to 5 August 1939.

An accountant by training, the teetotal Methodist Stevens worked for years in various civil service departments; and only in 1927 did he enter the Legislative Assembly, as member for the Sydney suburb of Croydon. During the Nationalist Party Premiership of Sir Thomas Bavin, Stevens served first as Assistant Treasurer, and from 1929 as Treasurer.

Not long after the Great Depression ended Bavin's administration in 1930, Stevens became Deputy Leader of the Opposition. In 1932 the Nationalist Party was abolished in favour of the United Australia Party, and Stevens became that party's state parliamentary leader. In May 1932 the Governor of New South Wales dismissed the Labor government of Jack Lang, which was in dispute with Australia's federal government, and appointed Stevens as premier. Stevens immediately called a new state election which his party won in a landslide. The UAP won again in 1935 and 1938.

For most of Stevens's seven-year Premiership, one of the longest in New South Wales history — it continued until the eve of World War II — he was his own Treasurer. Alexander Mair took over as Premier once Stevens resigned. After the war, Stevens was president of the India League of Australia, and wrote prolifically upon Indian politics; but he never again held elective office.

Preceded by Jack Lang

Premier of New South Wales 1932-1939

Succeeded by Alexander Mair

Premiers of New South Wales
Donaldson | Cowper | Parker | Forster | Robertson | Martin | Parkes | Farnell | Stuart | Dibbs | Jennings | Reid | Lyne | See | Waddell | Carruthers | Wade | McGowen | Holman | Storey | Dooley | Fuller | Lang | Bavin | Stevens | Mair | McKell | McGirr | Cahill | Heffron | Renshaw | Askin | Lewis | Willis | Wran | Unsworth | Greiner | Fahey | Carr | Iemma