The premier of Victoria is the head of government of the Australian state of Victoria. The premier leads the Cabinet of Victoria and selects its ministers. The premier is appointed by the governor of Victoria and must be a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. To be appointed, the premier must command confidence in the Legislative Assembly, meaning that they must have the support of a majority of Legislative Assembly members. In practice, this is typically the leader of the political party who holds the support of a majority of lower house members.[1]

Each premier since 1933, apart from Ian Macfarlan, who only served for 51 days, has had a portrait commissioned for the Victorian Parliament's portrait collection. The tradition was initiated by Legislative Council President Fred Grimwade. Premiers who hold the office for 3,000 days are granted a statue as a commemoration of their legacy. Five premiers, Daniel Andrews, Henry Bolte, John Cain Jr, Albert Dunstan, and Rupert Hamer, have achieved this milestone and four have their statues near the premier's office at 1 Treasury Place.[2] James McCulloch also served for over 3,000 days but he did so across four separate terms between 1863 and 1877 and has not been honoured with a statue; the prior five achieved 3,000 in a single term (Dunstan then served a second, shorter, term).

The longest-serving premier was Henry Bolte, who served from 7 June 1955 to 23 August 1972 for a total of 17 years, and 77 days in office. He was a member of the Liberal Party. By contrast, the shortest-serving premier was George Elmslie, who served from 9 December 1913 to 22 December 1913 for a total of 13 days in office. He was also the first premier from the Labor Party.[3] The current premier is Jacinta Allan of the Labor Party, who assumed the office on 27 September 2023 following the resignation of Daniel Andrews. Allan is the second female to have held the office.[4]

List of premiers of Victoria

Political parties

No.PortraitPremierElectionTerm of officePolitical party/ alignmentMinistryMonarchGovernorNotes
Took officeLeft officeTime in office[5]
1William Haines
(1810–1866)
MP for South Grant		185628 November 185511 March 1857IndependentHaines IVictoriaCharles Hotham[6]
Henry Barkly
2John O'Shanassy
(1818–1883)
MP for Kilmore		—11 March 185729 April 1857IndependentO'Shanassy I[7]
(1)William Haines
(1810–1866)
MP for South Grant		—29 April 185710 March 1858IndependentHaines II[6]
(2)John O'Shanassy
(1818–1883)
MP for Kilmore		—10 March 185827 October 1859IndependentO'Shanassy II[7]
3William Nicholson
(1816–1865)
MP for Sandridge		185927 October 185926 November 1860IndependentNicholson[8]
4Richard Heales
(1822–1864)
MP for East Bourke Boroughs		186126 November 186014 November 1861IndependentHeales[9]
(2)John O'Shanassy
(1818–1883)
MP for Kilmore		—14 November 186127 June 1863IndependentO'Shanassy III[7]
5James McCulloch
(1819–1893)
MP for Mornington		1864
1866
1868		27 June 18636 May 1868IndependentMcCulloch I[10]
Charles Darling
Lord Canterbury
6Charles Sladen
(1816–1884)
MP for Western Province		—6 May 186811 July 1868IndependentSladen[11]
(5)James McCulloch
(1819–1893)
MP for Mornington		—11 July 186820 September 1869IndependentMcCulloch II[10]
7John Alexander MacPherson
(1833–1894)
MP for Dundas		—20 September 18699 April 1870IndependentMacPherson[12]
(5)James McCulloch
(1819–1893)
MP for Mornington		18719 April 187019 June 1871IndependentMcCulloch III[10]
8Charles Gavan Duffy
(1816–1903)
MP for Dalhousie		—19 June 187110 June 1872IndependentDuffy[13]
9James Francis
(1819–1884)
MP for Richmond		187410 June 187231 July 1874IndependentFrancis[14]
George Bowen
10George Kerferd
(1831–1889)
MP for Ovens		—31 July 18747 August 1875IndependentKerferd[15]
11Graham Berry
(1822–1904)
MP for Geelong West		—7 August 187520 October 1875Non-Party LiberalismBerry I[16]
(5)James McCulloch
(1819–1893)
MP for Warrnambool		—20 October 187521 May 1877Non-Party ConservatismMcCulloch IV[10]
(11)Graham Berry
(1822–1904)
MP for Geelong		1877
Feb. 1880		21 May 18775 March 1880Non-Party LiberalismBerry II[16]
Lord Normanby
12James Service
(1823–1899)
MP for Maldon		Feb. 18805 March 18803 August 1880Non-Party ConservatismService I[17]
(11)Graham Berry
(1822–1904)
MP for Geelong		Jul. 18803 August 18809 July 1881Non-Party LiberalismBerry III[16]
13Bryan O'Loghlen
(1828–1905)
MP for West Bourke		—9 July 18818 March 1883Non-Party LiberalismO'Loghlen[18]
(12)James Service
(1823–1899)
MP for Castlemaine		18838 March 188318 February 1886Non-Party ConservatismService II[17]
Henry Loch
14Duncan Gillies
(1834–1903)
MP for Rodney and Eastern Suburbs		1886
1889		18 February 18865 November 1890Non-Party ConservatismGillies[19]
Lord Hopetoun
15James Munro
(1832–1908)
MP for Geelong		—5 November 189016 February 1892Non-Party LiberalismMunro[20]
16William Shiels
(1848–1904)
MP for Normanby		189216 February 189223 January 1893Non-Party LiberalismShiels[21]
17James Patterson
(1833–1895)
MP for Castlemaine		—23 January 189327 September 1894Non-Party ConservatismPatterson[22]
18George Turner
(1851–1916)
MP for St Kilda		1894
1897		27 September 18945 December 1899Protectionist and LiberalTurner I[23]
Lord Brassey
19Allan McLean
(1840–1911)
MP for Gippsland North		—5 December 189919 November 1900Non-Party LiberalismMcLean[24]
(18)George Turner
(1851–1916)
MP for St Kilda		190019 November 190012 February 1901Non-Party LiberalismTurner IIvacant[23]
Edward VII
20Alexander Peacock
(1861–1933)
MP for Clunes and Allandale		—12 February 190110 June 1902Non-Party LiberalismPeacock IGeorge Clarke[25]
21William Irvine
(1858–1943)
MP for Lowan		190210 June 190216 February 1904ReformIrvine[26]
22Thomas Bent
(1838–1909)
MP for Brighton		1904
1907
1908		16 February 19048 January 1909ReformBentReginald Talbot[27]
Thomas Gibson-Carmichael
23John Murray
(1851–1916)
MP for Warrnambool		19118 January 190918 May 1912Commonwealth LiberalMurray[28]
George V
John Fuller
24William Watt
(1871–1946)
MP for Essendon		—18 May 19129 December 1913Commonwealth LiberalWatt I[29]
25George Elmslie
(1861–1918)
MP for Albert Park		—9 December 191322 December 1913LaborElmslievacant[30]
(24)William Watt
(1871–1946)
MP for Essendon		—22 December 191318 June 1914Commonwealth LiberalWatt IIArthur Stanley[29]
(20)Alexander Peacock
(1861–1933)
MP for Allandale		191418 June 191429 November 1917Commonwealth LiberalPeacock II[25]
26John Bowser
(1858–1936)
MP for Wangaratta		191729 November 191721 March 1918NationalistBowser[31]
27Harry Lawson
(1875–1952)
MP for Castlemaine and Maldon		1920
1921		21 March 191828 April 1924NationalistLawson I
Lawson II
Lawson III		[32]
Lord Stradbroke
(20)Alexander Peacock
(1861–1933)
MP for Allandale		—28 April 192418 July 1924NationalistPeacock III[25]
28George Prendergast
(1854–1937)
MP for North Melbourne		192418 July 192418 November 1924LaborPrendergast[33]
29John Allan
(1866–1936)
MP for Rodney		—18 November 192420 May 1927CountryJohn Allan[34]
Lord Somers
30Edmond Hogan
(1883–1964)
MP for Warrenheip and Grenville		192720 May 192722 November 1928LaborHogan I[35]
31William McPherson
(1865–1932)
MP for Hawthorn		—22 November 192812 December 1929NationalistMcPherson[36]
(30)Edmond Hogan
(1883–1964)
MP for Warrenheip and Grenville		192912 December 192919 May 1932LaborHogan II[35]
32Stanley Argyle
(1867–1940)
MP for Toorak		1932
1935		19 May 19322 April 1935United AustraliaArgyle I
Argyle II		Lord Huntingfield[37]
33Albert Dunstan
(1882–1950)
MP for Korong and Eaglehawk		1937
1940
1943		2 April 193514 September 1943United CountryDunstan I[38]
Edward VIII
George VI
Lord Dugan
34John Cain Sr.
(1882–1957)
MP for Northcote		—14 September 194318 September 1943LaborCain Sr. I[39]
(33)Albert Dunstan
(1882–1950)
MP for Korong and Eaglehawk		—18 September 19432 October 1945United CountryDunstan II[38]
35Ian Macfarlan
(1881–1964)
MP for Brighton		—2 October 194521 November 1945LiberalMacfarlan[40]
(34)John Cain Sr.
(1882–1957)
MP for Northcote		194521 November 194520 November 1947LaborCain Sr. II[39]
36Thomas Hollway
(1906–1971)
MP for Ballarat		1947
1950		20 November 194727 June 1950Liberal
Liberal and Country		Hollway I/I
Hollway I/II
Hollway I/III		[41]
Dallas Brooks
37John McDonald
(1896–1977)
MP for Shepparton		—27 June 195028 October 1952CountryMcDonald I[42]
Elizabeth II
(36)Thomas Hollway
(1906–1971)
MP for Ballarat		—28 October 195231 October 1952Electoral ReformHollway II[41]
(37)John McDonald
(1896–1977)
MP for Shepparton		—31 October 195217 December 1952CountryMcDonald II[42]
(34)John Cain Sr.
(1882–1957)
MP for Northcote		195217 December 19527 June 1955LaborCain Sr. III[43]
38Henry Bolte
(1908–1990)
MP for Hampden		1955
1958
1961
1964
1967
1970		7 June 195523 August 1972Liberal and Country
Liberal		Bolte I
Bolte II
Bolte III
Bolte IV
Bolte V
Bolte VI		[44]
Rohan Delacombe
39Rupert Hamer
(1916–2004)
MP for Kew		1973
1976
1979		23 August 19725 June 1981LiberalHamer I
Hamer II
Hamer III
Hamer IV		[45]
Henry Winneke
40Lindsay Thompson
(1923–2008)
MP for Malvern		—5 June 19818 April 1982LiberalThompson[46]
Brian Murray
41John Cain Jr.
(1931–2019)
MP for Bundoora		1982
1985
1988		8 April 198210 August 1990LaborCain Jr.[47]
Davis McCaughey
42Joan Kirner
(1938–2015)
MP for Williamstown		—10 August 19906 October 1992LaborKirner[48]
Richard McGarvie
43Jeff Kennett
(b. 1948)
MP for Burwood		1992
1996		6 October 199220 October 1999LiberalKennett I
Kennett II		[49]
James Gobbo
44Steve Bracks
(b. 1954)
MP for Williamstown		1999
2002
2006		20 October 199930 July 2007LaborBracks I
Bracks II
Bracks III		[50]
John Landy
David de Kretser
45John Brumby
(b. 1953)
MP for Broadmeadows		—30 July 20072 December 2010LaborBrumby[51]
46Ted Baillieu
(b. 1953)
MP for Hawthorn		20102 December 20106 March 2013LiberalBaillieu[52]
Alex Chernov
47Denis Napthine
(b. 1952)
MP for South-West Coast		—6 March 20134 December 2014LiberalNapthine[53]
48Daniel Andrews
(b. 1972)
MP for Mulgrave		2014
2018
2022		4 December 201427 September 2023LaborAndrews I
Andrews II
Andrews III		[54]
Linda Dessau
Charles III
Margaret Gardner
49Jacinta Allan
(b. 1973)
MP for Bendigo East		—27 September 2023IncumbentLaborAllan[55]

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Premier". Victorian Government. 2 October 2023. Archived 12 May 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  2. ^ Kolovos, Benita (18 February 2023). "A bronze North Face jacket? Daniel Andrews sized up for statue after 3,000 days as premier". Guardian Australia. Archived 26 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  3. ^ Toy, Mitchell (21 April 2022). "How Victoria's first Labor premier lasted just 13 days". Herald Sun. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  4. ^ Kolovos, Benita & Ore, Adeshola (27 September 2023). "Jacina Allan to become premier of Victoria". The Guardian. Archived 27 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Parliament of Victoria – Premier of Victoria". www.parliament.vic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  6. ^ 7 August 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  7. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  8. ^ 7 August 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  9. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  10. ^ 7 August 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  11. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  12. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  13. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  14. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  15. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  16. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  17. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  18. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  19. ^ 28 August 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  20. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  21. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  22. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  23. ^ 23 August 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  24. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  25. ^ 28 August 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  26. ^ 7 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  27. ^ 28 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  28. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  29. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  30. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  31. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  32. ^ 21 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  33. ^ 15 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  34. ^ 18 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  35. ^ 15 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  36. ^ 18 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  37. ^ 15 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  38. ^ 15 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  39. ^ 15 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  40. ^ 15 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  41. ^ 15 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  42. ^ 15 August 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  43. ^ john-cain-senior. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  44. ^ henry-bolte. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  45. ^ rupert-hamer. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  46. ^ lindsay-thompson. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  47. ^ john-cain-junior. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  48. ^ joan-kirner. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  49. ^ jeffrey-gibb-kennett. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  50. ^ steve-bracks. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  51. ^ john-brumby. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  52. ^ ted-baillieu. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  53. ^ denis-napthine. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  54. ^ daniel-andrews. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  55. ^ jacinta-allan. Retrieved 29 November 2023.

Sources