Premier of Victoria

Premier of Victoria
Ministry
State
Incumbent
Ted Baillieu
Style The Honourable
Appointed by David de Kretser
as Governor of Victoria
First Dr William Clark Haines
Formation 30 November 1855
Term length At the Governor's pleasure

The Premier of Victoria is the leader of the government in the Australian state of Victoria. The Premier is appointed by the Governor of Victoria, and is the leader of the political party able to secure a majority in the Legislative Assembly.[1]

Before the 1890s, there was no formal party system in Victoria. Party labels before that time indicate a general tendency only. From the 1880s, until after Federation in 1901, Victorian politics were dominated by Protectionist Liberals, who were opposed by Free Trade Conservatives. The Labor Party did not emerge as a major party until after 1910, which meant that Victoria was slow to develop a two-party system. Labor did not win a majority in the Legislative Assembly until 1952, and until that time weak minority governments were common. Since 1952, Victoria has had a stable two-party system.

Contents

List of Premiers of Victoria

No. Name Party Assumed office Left office
1 William Haines 30 November 1855 11 March 1857
2 Sir John O'Shanassy 11 March 1857 29 April 1857
– William Haines 29 April 1857 10 March 1858
– Sir John O'Shanassy 10 March 1858 27 October 1859
3 William Nicholson 27 October 1859 26 November 1860
4 Richard Heales 26 November 1860 14 November 1861
– Sir John O'Shanassy 14 November 1861 27 June 1863
5 Sir James McCulloch 27 June 1863 6 May 1868
6 Sir Charles Sladen 6 May 1868 11 July 1868
– Sir James McCulloch 11 July 1868 20 September 1869
7 John Alexander MacPherson 20 September 1869 9 April 1870
– Sir James McCulloch 9 April 1870 19 June 1871
8 Charles Gavan Duffy 19 June 1871 10 June 1872
9 James Francis 10 June 1872 31 July 1874
10 George Kerferd 31 July 1874 7 August 1875
11 Sir Graham Berry 7 August 1875 20 October 1875
– Sir James McCulloch 20 October 1875 21 May 1877
– Sir Graham Berry 21 May 1877 5 March 1880
12 James Service 5 March 1880 3 August 1880
– Sir Graham Berry 3 August 1880 9 July 1881
13 Sir Bryan O'Loghlen 9 July 1881 8 March 1883
– James Service 8 March 1883 18 February 1886
14 Duncan Gillies Conservative-Liberal Coalition 18 February 1886 5 November 1890
15 James Munro National Liberal 5 November 1890 16 February 1892
16 William Shiels Liberal 16 February 1892 23 January 1893
17 Sir James Patterson Conservative 23 January 1893 27 September 1894
18 Sir George Turner Liberal 27 September 1894 5 December 1899
19 Allan McLean Liberal 5 December 1899 19 November 1900
– Sir George Turner Liberal 19 November 1900 12 February 1901
20 Sir Alexander Peacock Liberal 12 February 1901 10 June 1902
21 Sir William Irvine Reform 10 June 1902 16 February 1904
22 Sir Thomas Bent Reform 16 February 1904 8 January 1909
23 John Murray Liberal 8 January 1909 18 May 1912
24 William Watt Liberal 18 May 1912 9 December 1913
25 George Elmslie Labor 9 December 1913 22 December 1913
– William Watt Liberal 22 December 1913 18 June 1914
– Sir Alexander Peacock Liberal 18 June 1914 29 November 1917
26 John Bowser Nationalist 29 November 1917 21 March 1918
27 Sir Harry Lawson Nationalist 21 March 1918 7 September 1923
– Sir Harry Lawson Nationalist/ Country 7 September 1923 19 March 1924
– Sir Harry Lawson Nationalist 19 March 1924 28 April 1924
– Sir Alexander Peacock Nationalist 28 April 1924 18 July 1924
28 George Prendergast Labor 18 July 1924 18 November 1924
29 John Allan Country/ Nationalist 18 November 1924 20 May 1927
30 Edmond Hogan Labor 20 May 1927 22 November 1928
31 Sir William McPherson Nationalist 22 November 1928 12 December 1929
– Edmond Hogan Labor 12 December 1929 19 May 1932
32 Sir Stanley Argyle United Australia 19 May 1932 2 April 1935
33 Albert Dunstan Country 2 April 1935 14 September 1943
34 John Cain Snr Labor 14 September 1943 18 September 1943
– Albert Dunstan Country 18 September 1943 2 October 1945
35 Ian MacFarlan Liberal 2 October 1945 21 November 1945
– John Cain Snr Labor 21 November 1945 20 November 1947
36 Thomas Hollway Liberal 20 November 1947 27 June 1950
37 Sir John McDonald Country 27 June 1950 28 October 1952
– Thomas Hollway Electoral Reform 28 October 1952 31 October 1952
– Sir John McDonald Country 31 October 1952 17 December 1952
– John Cain Snr Labor 17 December 1952 7 June 1955
38 Sir Henry Bolte Liberal 7 June 1955 23 August 1972
39 Sir Rupert Hamer Liberal 23 August 1972 5 June 1981
40 Lindsay Thompson Liberal 5 June 1981 8 April 1982
41 John Cain II Labor 8 April 1982 10 August 1990
42 Joan Kirner Labor 10 August 1990 6 October 1992
43 Jeff Kennett Liberal 6 October 1992 20 October 1999
44 Steve Bracks Labor 20 October 1999 30 July 2007
45 John Brumby Labor 30 July 2007 2 December 2010
46 Ted Baillieu Liberal 2 December 2010 Incumbent

Living former premiers

As of December 2010, five former premiers are alive, the oldest being John Cain (1982–1990, born 1931). The most recent premier to die was Lindsay Thompson (1981–82), on 16 July 2008.

Name Term as premier Date of birth
John Cain II 1982–1990 26 April 1931 (1931-04-26) (age 80)
Joan Kirner 1990–1992 20 June 1938 (1938-06-20) (age 73)
Jeff Kennett 1992–1999 2 March 1948 (1948-03-02) (age 63)
Steve Bracks 1999–2007 15 October 1954 (1954-10-15) (age 57)
John Brumby 2007–2010 21 April 1953 (1953-04-21) (age 58)

Gallery of Premiers of Victoria

See also

References

  1. ^ Fact Sheet H1: Roles in the Assembly, Parliament of Victoria.

External links

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