Premier Of Victoria

The premier of Victoria is the head of 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 Victorian Legislative Assembly.

Responsible government came to the colony of Victoria in 1855. Between 1856 and 1892, the head of the government was commonly called the premier or the prime minister, but neither title had any legal basis. The head of government always held another portfolio, usually Chief Secretary or Treasurer, for which they were paid a salary. The first head of government to hold the title of premier without holding another portfolio was William Shiels in 1892.

Premiers of Victoria who have served for more than 3,000 days have a statue installed at Treasury Place. Four Victorian premiers have been afforded this honour: Albert Dunstan, Henry Bolte, Rupert Hamer and John Cain Junior.

Every Premier of Victoria since 1933 (with the exception of Ian MacFarlan, who was Premier for 51 days) has a portrait of them displayed at Queens Hall in Parliament House. The idea of creating a portrait gallery for former Premiers of Victoria was initiated by the Hon. Fred Grimwade, the President of the Victorian Legislative Council from 1979-1985. Prior to 2001, the portraits were originally displayed in the corridor leading to the Members Dining Room, leading to the corridor being known as the "Premiers’ Corridor".

The incumbent premier of Victoria since the 2014 election is Daniel Andrews of the Australian Labor Party.

List of premiers of Victoria

Statistics

The median age of a premier on the first day of their first term is roughly 49 years, and 137 days which falls between Henry Bolte and John McDonald. The youngest person to assume the office was John Alexander MacPherson at 35 years and 340 days. The oldest person to assume office was George Prendergast at 70 years and 59 days.

The oldest living former premier is Jeff Kennett, born 2 March 1948 (age ). The youngest living former premier is Steve Bracks, born 15 October 1954, (age ). The youngest living premier is the incumbent Daniel Andrews, born 6 July 1972, (age ).

The longest-lived premier was John Cain Jr. who died on 23 December 2019 aged 88 years and 241 days. Rupert Hamer was the second longest-lived premier, aged 87 years and 238 days. Cain surpassed Hamer's lifespan on 20 December 2018. The oldest living premier, Jeff Kennett, will tie Hamer if he lives to 26 October 2035, and tie Cain if he lives to 29 October 2036. The shortest-lived premier was Richard Heales who died at the age of 42 years and 118 days on 19 June 1864.

The premier with the longest retirement is William Irvine. He left office on 16 February 1904, and died 39 years and 185 days later on 20 August 1943. The premier with the shortest retirement is Thomas Bent, who died on 17 September 1909, 252 days after leaving office on 8 January 1909.

Living former premiers

As of , five former premiers are alive, the oldest being Jeff Kennett (1992–1999, born 1948). The most recent Premier to die was John Cain Jr. (1982–1990), on 23 December 2019.

Oldest living premiers of Victoria

Not all premiers live to become the oldest of their time. Of the 42 deceased premiers, 23 eventually became the oldest of their time, while 19 did not. Charles Gavan Duffy became the oldest living premier when he was appointed in 1871 and remained so until his death in 1903 for a record 31 years and 235 days. George Turner became the oldest living premier when John Murray died in 1916, but he survived Murray by only 101 days.

On four occasions the oldest living premier lost this distinction not by his death, but due to the appointment of a premier who was older. John O'Shanassy lost this distinction when Charles Sladen was appointed. Sladen lost this distinction when Charles Gavan Duffy was appointed. William Irvine lost this distinction when John Bowser was appointed. Bowser lost this distinction when George Prendergast was appointed but when Prendergast died in 1937, Irvine regained it again until his own death in 1943 for a total period of 7 years and 100 days.

Graham Berry was the oldest to acquire this distinction at the age of 80 years and 165 days. Joan Kirner who was aged 76 years and 346 days when she died, on 1 June 2015 was the oldest and most recent premier to die without ever acquiring this distinction.

Updated daily according to UTC.

Timeline

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from: 11/03/1857 till: 29/04/1857 color:NON text:" O'Shanassy I" fontsize:10
from: 29/04/1857 till: 10/03/1858 color:NON text:" Haines II" fontsize:10
from: 10/03/1858 till: 27/10/1859 color:NON text:" O'Shanassy II" fontsize:10
from: 27/10/1859 till: 26/11/1860 color:NON text:"Nicholson" fontsize:10
from: 26/11/1860 till: 14/11/1861 color:NON text:" Heales" fontsize:10
from: 14/11/1861 till: 27/06/1863 color:NON text:" O'Shanassy III" fontsize:10
from: 27/06/1863 till: 06/05/1868 color:NON text:" McCulloch I" fontsize:10
from: 06/05/1868 till: 11/07/1868 color:NON text:" Sladen" fontsize:10
from: 11/07/1868 till: 20/09/1869 color:NON text:" McCulloch II" fontsize:10
from: 20/09/1869 till: 09/04/1870 color:NON text:" MacPherson" fontsize:10
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from: 08/01/1909 till: 18/05/1912 color:LIB text:" Murray" fontsize:10
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from:14/09/1943 till: 18/09/1943 color:ALP text:" Cain Sr. I" fontsize:10
from:18/09/1943 till: 02/10/1945 color:CNT text:" Dunstan II" fontsize:10
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from:21/11/1945 till: 20/11/1947 color:ALP text:" Cain Sr. II" fontsize:10
from:20/11/1947 till: 27/06/1950 color:LIB text:" Hollway I" fontsize:10
from:27/06/1950 till: 28/10/1952 color:CNT text:" McDonald I" fontsize:10
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from:31/10/1952 till: 17/12/1952 color:CNT text:" McDonald II" fontsize:10
from:17/12/1952 till: 07/06/1955 color:ALP text:" Cain Sr. III" fontsize:10
from:07/06/1955 till: 23/08/1972 color:LIB text:" Bolte" fontsize:10
from:23/08/1972 till: 05/06/1981 color:LIB text:"Hamer" fontsize:10
from:05/06/1981 till: 08/04/1982 color:LIB text:" Thompson" fontsize:10
from:08/04/1982 till: 10/08/1990 color:ALP text:" Cain Jr." fontsize:10
from:10/08/1990 till: 06/10/1992 color:ALP text:" Kirner" fontsize:10
from:06/10/1992 till: 20/10/1999 color:LIB text:" Kennett" fontsize:10
from:20/10/1999 till: 30/07/2007 color:ALP text:" Bracks" fontsize:10
from:30/07/2007 till: 02/12/2010 color:ALP text:"Brumby" fontsize:10
from:02/10/2010 till: 06/03/2013 color:LIB text:" Baillieu" fontsize:10
from:06/03/2013 till: 04/12/2014 color:LIB text:" Napthine" fontsize:10
from:04/12/2014 till: end color:ALP text:" Andrews" fontsize:10

See also

* Department of Premier and Cabinet, Victoria
* Deputy Premier of Victoria
* List of premiers of Victoria by time in office

References

External links

ABC News – Premiers of Victoria

{{Victorian ministries

Victoria, Premier
*
Premiers
Ministers of the Victoria (Australia) state government