| Lieutenant-General Sir Edric Bastyan KCMG, KCVO, KBE, CB |
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|---|---|
| Sir Edric Bastyan (centre) | |
| 25th Governor of South Australia | |
| In office 4 April 1961 – 1 June 1968 |
|
| Monarch | Queen Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Sir Robert George |
| Succeeded by | Sir James Harrison |
| 20th Governor of Tasmania | |
| In office 2 December 1968 – 30 November 1973 |
|
| Monarch | Queen Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Sir Charles Gairdner |
| Succeeded by | Sir Stanley Burbury |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edric Montague Bastyan 5 April 1903 Seaforth, Lancashire, England, UK |
| Died | 6 October 1980 (aged 77) North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Spouse(s) | Marjorie Dorothy Bowle Victoria Eugenie Helen Bett |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1923–1960 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Unit | Eighth Army |
| Commands | Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong |
Lieutenant-General Sir Edric Montague Bastyan, KCMG, KCVO, KBE, CB (5 April 1903 – 6 October 1980) was Governor of South Australia from 4 April 1961 until 1 June 1968 then Governor of Tasmania from 2 December 1968 until 30 November 1973. He was the last British person to be governor of either state.
During his military career, senior posts held by him included head of logistics during the Berlin airlift (1946-48) and Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong from 1957 to 1960. He retired from the army in 1960 and was appointed Governor of South Australia on 4 April 1961.
On two occasions during his period as governor in South Australia, the elections did not result in a clear majority. In both 1962 and 1968, rather than make a precipitate decision to select the premier from the party with the largest minority (and more than 50% of the votes), he bided time and waited for parliament to meet. In both cases, the quick decision would have turned out to be wrong, and the South Australian House of Assembly selected the premier from the other party. In 1962, this allowed the Liberal Playford government to continue rather than the Labor Party led by Frank Walsh. In 1968, the Labor government of Don Dunstan lost to the Liberals led by Steele Hall. Without this leadership from the governor, there would likely have been a need for another election much sooner.
Bastyan's term in office in Tasmania was relatively uneventful, though he did have to deal, after the 1969 State election, with a deadlocked House of Assembly where both the ALP and Liberal Party had the same number of seats. The matter was resolved by a single representative of the Centre Party entering into a coalition with the Liberals. Bastyan returned to Adelaide in his retirement.
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George - 1962
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order - 1963
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire - 1957 (CBE - 6 January 1944, OBE - 9 September 1942)
Companion of the Order of the Bath - 31 August 1944
Mention in Despatches - 1 April 1941
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir William Stratton |
Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong 1957 – 1960 |
Succeeded by Sir Roderick McLeod |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by Sir Robert George |
Governor of South Australia 1961 – 1968 |
Succeeded by Sir James Harrison |
| Preceded by Sir Charles Gairdner |
Governor of Tasmania 1968 – 1973 |
Succeeded by Sir Stanley Burbury |
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