The governor of South Australia is the representative in South Australia of the monarch, currently . 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.
The current governor is Richard Harris who serving on an interim basis, following the retirement of Frances Adamson.
The new governor, Commissioner of Police Grant Stevens, will be sworn in on 9 December 2026.
The governor's official residence is Government House, in Adelaide, the state's capital.
History The first six governors of oversaw the Colony of South Australia 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 first female governor was Dame Roma Mitchell, appointed in 1991.
From June 2014 onwards, Queen Elizabeth II, upon the recommendation of the premier, accorded all current, future, and living former governors the title "The Honourable" for life.
Current holder The current governor is diplomat Frances Adamson, who was sworn in at Government House, Adelaide on 7 October 2021.Frances Adamson announced as South Australia's new governor, replacing Hieu Van Le – ABC News, ABC News, 19 May 2021 The new governor, Commissioner of Police Grant Stevens, will be sworn in on 9 December 2026.
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.
Although not a responsibility of the office of Governor of South Australia, governors of South Australia are - like all Governors of the Australian states - normally given a dormant commission to administer the government of the Commonwealth of Australia in the absence from Australia, or the death, incapacity or removal from office of the Governor-General by the Sovereign. Some South Australian governors are also appointed as a Deputy of the Governor-General to perform certain responsibilities of the Governor-General while the Governor-General is present in Australia, but unable to perform them personally.
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 a crown. In 2024, this representation changed from a St Edward's Crown to a Tudor 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: Text may have been copied from this source, which is available under a Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0 AU) licence. 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 officeGovernor appointed by King William IV (1830–1837): 1 Rear Admiral Sir John Hindmarsh 28 December 1836 16 July 1838 Governors appointed by Queen Victoria (1837–1901): 2 Lieutenant-Colonel George Gawler 17 October 1838 15 May 1841 3 Sir George Grey 15 May 1841 25 October 1845 4 Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Holt Robe 25 October 1845 2 August 1848 5 Sir Henry Fox Young 2 August 1848 20 December 1854 6 Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell 8 June 1855 4 March 1862 7 Sir Dominick Daly 4 March 1862 19 February 1868 8 Sir James Fergusson, 6th Baronet 16 February 1869 18 April 1873 9 Sir Anthony Musgrave 9 June 1873 29 January 1877 10 Lieutenant-General Sir William Jervois 2 October 1877 9 January 1883 11 Sir William Robinson 19 February 1883 5 March 1889 12 Algernon Keith-Falconer, 9th Earl of Kintore 11 April 1889 10 April 1895 13 Sir Fowell Buxton, 3rd Baronet 29 October 1895 29 March 1899 14 Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson 10 April 1899 17 July 1902 Governors appointed by King Edward VII (1901–1910): 15 Sir George Le Hunte 1 July 1903 18 February 1909 16 Admiral Sir Day Bosanquet 18 February 1909 22 March 1914 Governors appointed by King George V (1910–1936): 17 Lieutenant Colonel Sir Henry Galway 18 April 1914 30 April 1920 18 Lieutenant Colonel Sir Archibald Weigall 9 June 1920 30 May 1922 19 Lieutenant-General Sir Tom Bridges 4 December 1922 4 December 1927 20 Brigadier Sir Alexander Hore-Ruthven 14 May 1928 26 April 1934 21 Major-General Sir Winston Dugan 28 July 1934 23 February 1939 Governors appointed by King George VI (1936–1952): 22 Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey 12 August 1939 26 April 1944 23 Lieutenant-General Sir Willoughby Norrie 19 December 1944 19 June 1952 Governors appointed by Queen Elizabeth II (1952–2022): 24 Air Vice-Marshal Sir Robert George 23 February 1953 7 March 1960 25 Lieutenant-General Sir Edric Bastyan 4 April 1961 1 June 1968 26 Major General Sir James Harrison 4 December 1968 16 September 1971 27 Professor Sir Mark Oliphant 1 December 1971 30 November 1976 28 Sir Douglas Nicholls 1 December 1976 30 April 1977 29 Reverend Sir Keith Seaman 1 September 1977 28 March 1982 30 Lieutenant General Sir Donald Dunstan 23 April 1982 5 February 1991 31 Dame Roma Mitchell 6 February 1991 21 July 1996 32 Sir Eric Neal 22 July 1996 3 November 2001 33 Marjorie Jackson-Nelson 3 November 2001 31 July 2007 34 Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce 8 August 2007 7 August 2014 35 Hieu Van Le 1 September 2014 31 August 2021Former refugee Hieu Van Le sworn in as South Australia's governor during official ceremony, ABC News, 1 September 2014.Hieu Van Le to be next SA Governor, from war-torn Vietnam to vice-regal post: ABC 26 June 2014Kevin Scarce appointed SA governor by Premier Mike Rann , Press release, 3 May 2007, www.ministers.sa.gov.au 36 Frances Adamson 7 October 2021 6 October 2026 (acting) Richard Harris 6 October 2026 Acting 37 Grant Stevens 9 December 2026 Designate
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 Sir Richard Davies Hanson, Chief Justice 1872–73 Sir William Wellington Cairns 1877 Samuel James Way, Chief Justice, Lt.-Gov. 1877 to 1915 (on 65 separate occasions) James Penn Boucaut, Judge of Supreme Court 1885, 1886, 1888, 1890, 1891, 1897 William Henry Bundey, Judge of Supreme Court 1888 Sir George John Robert Murray, Chief Justice, Lt.-Gov.1916–24, 1926–42 (on 103 separate occasions) Thomas Slaney Poole, Judge of Supreme Court 1925 (on 2 occasions) Sir Herbert Angas Parsons, Judge of Supreme Court 1935 to 1942 (on 6 separate occasions) Sir John Mellis Napier, Chief Justice, Lt.-Gov. 1942 to 1973 (on 179 separate occasions) Sir Herbert Mayo, Judge of Supreme Court 1946 to 1965 (on 25 separate occasions) Sir Geoffrey Sandford Reed, Judge of Supreme Court 1951 to 1957 (on 5 separate occasions) John Jefferson Bray, Chief Justice 1968 to 1973 (on 8 separate occasions) David Stirling Hogarth, Judge of Supreme Court 1971 Sir Walter Crocker, Lt.-Gov. 1973 to 1982 (on 29 separate occasions) Sir Condor Laucke, Lt.-Gov. 1982 to 1992 (on 43 separate occasions) Leonard James King, Chief Justice 1987 Basil Hetzel, Lt.-Gov. 1992 to 2000 (on 32 separate occasions) John Doyle, Chief Justice 1999–2012 (on 10 separate occasions) Bruno Krumins, Lt.-Gov. 2000–2007 (on 60 separate occasions) John William Perry, Judge of Supreme Court 2002 Hieu Van Le, Lt.-Gov. 2007–2014 Brenda Wilson, Lt.-Gov. 2014–2022James Muecke, Lt.-Gov.2022–February 2024Richard Harris, Lt-Gov.9 February 2024–
External links
The Official Website of the Governor of South Australia Previous governors on official website
References