The governor-general of Australia is the head of the executive branch of the federal government, serving as the representative of the Australian monarch (currently Charles III). The position came into being on 29 October 1900, just prior to the adoption of the new national constitution and has been held by 28 people since then. Governors-general have no fixed term, but have usually served for around five years.
For the first two decades after federation, governors-general were selected solely by the British government. The monarch was consulted on the decision into the 1930s. The first four governors-general were peers; Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson (appointed 1914) was the first commoner to hold the position, although he was also later elevated to the peerage. In 1920, Billy Hughes became the first prime minister to be consulted over the governor-generalship. Stanley Bruce (1925) and Joseph Lyons (1935) either asked for or were given a list of suitable candidates to choose from.
James Scullin (1930) became the first prime minister of Australia to exercise complete discretion in the appointment; his nomination of Sir Isaac Isaacs made Australia the first Dominion to have a native-born governor-general. In 1945, John Curtin nominated Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, to the post – the first and only royal officeholder to take up the post; however, in October 1938 Prince George, Duke of Kent had been announced as the successor to Lord Gowrie with effect from November 1939, [1] [2] but on 11 September 1939, owing to the outbreak of the Second World War, the Duke's appointment was postponed. It never eventuated, instead Lord Gowrie continued his incumbency until 1945, creating a still-unsurpassed record term of over 9 years. [3] A second Australian (William McKell) was appointed in 1947; he was followed by three more Britons, each chosen by Sir Robert Menzies. Menzies's fourth nomination was Richard Casey, who took office in 1965; he and all subsequent governors-general have been Australian citizens. All states except South Australia and Tasmania have provided at least one appointee. The first female governor-general, Quentin Bryce, took office in 2008.
On 16 December 2018, prime minister Scott Morrison announced that the next governor-general would be General David Hurley, then-governor of New South Wales. To provide continuity through general elections both federally and in New South Wales, Hurley succeeded General Sir Peter Cosgrove, who had planned to retire in March 2019, on 1 July 2019. [4] [5]
On 3 April 2024, prime minister Anthony Albanese announced that General Hurley would be succeeded on 1 July 2024 by businesswoman Sam Mostyn, the second woman to be governor-general.
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Monarch Reign | Prime Minister Term of office | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
| 1 |  | John Hope 7th Earl of Hopetoun KT , GCMG , GCVO , PC (1860–1908) | 29 October 1900 | 17 July 1902 [lower-alpha 1] | 1 year, 197 days | Victoria (1837–1901) | Edmund Barton (1901–1903) |
| Edward VII (1901–1910) | |||||||
| 2 |  | Hallam Tennyson 2nd Baron Tennyson GCMG , PC (1852–1928) | 9 January 1903 | 21 January 1904 | 1 year, 12 days | ||
| Alfred Deakin (1903–1904) | |||||||
| 3 |  | Henry Northcote 1st Baron Northcote GCMG , GCIE , CB (1846–1911) | 21 January 1904 | 9 September 1908 | 4 years, 232 days | ||
| Chris Watson (1904) | |||||||
| George Reid (1904–1905) | |||||||
| Alfred Deakin (1905–1908) | |||||||
| 4 |  | William Ward 2nd Earl of Dudley GCB , GCMG , GCVO , TD , PC (1867–1932) | 9 September 1908 | 31 July 1911 | 2 years, 325 days | ||
| Andrew Fisher (1908–1909) | |||||||
| Alfred Deakin (1909–1910) | |||||||
| Andrew Fisher (1910–1913) | |||||||
| George V (1910–1936) | |||||||
| 5 |  | Thomas Denman 3rd Baron Denman GCMG , KCVO , PC (1874–1954) | 31 July 1911 | 18 May 1914 | 2 years, 291 days | ||
| Joseph Cook (1913–1914) | |||||||
| 6 |  | Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson GCMG , PC (1860–1934) | 18 May 1914 | 6 October 1920 | 6 years, 141 days | ||
| Andrew Fisher (1914–1915) | |||||||
| Billy Hughes (1915–1923) | |||||||
| 7 |  | Henry Forster 1st Baron Forster GCMG , PC (1866–1936) | 6 October 1920 | 8 October 1925 | 5 years, 2 days | ||
| Stanley Bruce (1923–1929) | |||||||
| 8 |  | John Baird 1st Baron Stonehaven GCMG , DSO , PC (1874–1941) | 8 October 1925 | 2 October 1930 [lower-alpha 2] | 4 years, 359 days | ||
| James Scullin (1929–1932) | |||||||
| 9 |  | Sir Isaac Isaacs GCMG (1855–1948) | 21 January 1931 | 23 January 1936 | 5 years, 2 days | ||
| Joseph Lyons (1932–1939) | |||||||
| Edward VIII (1936) | |||||||
| 10 |  | Brigadier-General Alexander Hore-Ruthven Baron Gowrie VC , GCMG , CB , DSO* , PC (1872–1955) | 23 January 1936 | 30 January 1945 | 9 years, 7 days | ||
| George VI (1936–1952) | |||||||
| Earle Page (1939) | |||||||
| Robert Menzies (1939–1941) | |||||||
| Arthur Fadden (1941) | |||||||
| John Curtin (1941–1945) | |||||||
| 11 |  | Prince Henry Duke of Gloucester KG , KT , KP , GCB , GCMG , GCVO , GCStJ , PC , ADC (1900–1974) | 30 January 1945 | 11 March 1947 | 2 years, 40 days | ||
| Frank Forde (1945) | |||||||
| Ben Chifley (1945–1949) | |||||||
| 12 |  | Sir William McKell GCMG , PC (1891–1985) | 11 March 1947 | 8 May 1953 | 6 years, 58 days | ||
| Robert Menzies (1949–1966) | |||||||
| Elizabeth II (1952–2022) | |||||||
| 13 |  | Field Marshal Sir William Slim KG , GCB , GCMG , GCVO , GBE , DSO , MC , KStJ (1891–1970) | 8 May 1953 | 2 February 1960 | 6 years, 270 days | ||
| 14 |  | William Morrison 1st Viscount Dunrossil GCMG , MC , PC , QC (1893–1961) | 2 February 1960 | 3 February 1961 [lower-alpha 3] | 1 year, 1 day | ||
| 15 |  | William Sidney 1st Viscount De L'Isle VC , GCMG , GCVO , PC (1909–1991) | 3 August 1961 | 7 May 1965 | 3 years, 277 days | ||
| 16 |  | Richard Casey Baron Casey KG , GCMG , CH , DSO , MC , PC (1890–1976) | 7 May 1965 | 30 April 1969 | 3 years, 358 days | ||
| Harold Holt (1966–1967) | |||||||
| John McEwen (1967–1968) | |||||||
| John Gorton (1968–1971) | |||||||
| 17 |  | Sir Paul Hasluck KG , GCMG , GCVO (1905–1993) | 30 April 1969 | 11 July 1974 | 5 years, 72 days | ||
| William McMahon (1971–1972) | |||||||
| Gough Whitlam (1972–1975) | |||||||
| 18 |  | Sir John Kerr AK , GCMG , GCVO , QC (1914–1991) | 11 July 1974 | 8 December 1977 | 3 years, 150 days | ||
| Malcolm Fraser (1975–1983) | |||||||
| 19 |  | Sir Zelman Cowen AK , GCMG , GCVO , QC (1919–2011) | 8 December 1977 | 29 July 1982 | 4 years, 233 days | ||
| 20 |  | Sir Ninian Stephen KG , AK , GCMG , GCVO , KBE , QC (1923–2017) | 29 July 1982 | 16 February 1989 | 6 years, 202 days | ||
| Bob Hawke (1983–1991) | |||||||
| 21 |  | Bill Hayden AC (1933–2023) | 16 February 1989 | 16 February 1996 | 7 years | ||
| Paul Keating (1991–1996) | |||||||
| 22 |  | Sir William Deane AC , KBE (born 1931) | 16 February 1996 | 29 June 2001 | 5 years, 133 days | ||
| John Howard (1996–2007) | |||||||
| 23 |  | Peter Hollingworth AC , OBE (born 1935) | 29 June 2001 | 28 May 2003 [lower-alpha 4] | 1 year, 333 days | ||
| 24 |  | Major General Michael Jeffery AC , CVO , MC (1937–2020) | 11 August 2003 | 5 September 2008 | 5 years, 25 days | ||
| Kevin Rudd (2007–2010) | |||||||
| 25 |  | Dame Quentin Bryce AD , CVO (born 1942) | 5 September 2008 | 28 March 2014 | 5 years, 204 days | ||
| Julia Gillard (2010–2013) | |||||||
| Kevin Rudd (2013) | |||||||
| Tony Abbott (2013–2015) | |||||||
| 26 |  | General Sir Peter Cosgrove AK , CVO , MC (born 1947) | 28 March 2014 | 1 July 2019 | 5 years, 95 days | ||
| Malcolm Turnbull (2015–2018) | |||||||
| Scott Morrison (2018–2022) | |||||||
| 27 |  | General David Hurley AC , CVO , DSC (born 1953) | 1 July 2019 | 1 July 2024 | 5 years, 0 days | ||
| Anthony Albanese (since 2022) | |||||||
| Charles III (since 2022) | |||||||
| 28 | | Sam Mostyn AC (born 1965) | 1 July 2024 | Incumbent | 121 days | ||
The governor-general of Australia is the representative of the monarch of Australia, currently Charles III. The governor-general has many constitutional and ceremonial roles in the Australian political system, in which they have independent agency. However, they are generally bound by convention to act on the advice of the prime minister and the Federal Executive Council. They also have a significant community role, through recognising meritorious individuals and groups, and representing the nation as a whole. The current governor-general is Sam Mostyn.
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Sir Edmund "Toby" Barton was an Australian statesman, barrister and jurist who served as the first prime minister of Australia from 1901 to 1903. He held office as the leader of the Protectionist Party, before resigning in 1903 to become a founding member of the High Court of Australia, on which he served until his death. Barton was highly regarded as one of the founding fathers and leaders of the Federation movement, and for his work in drafting and later interpreting the Constitution of Australia and early commonwealth laws.
Government House, colloquially known as Yarralumla, is the official residence of the governor-general of Australia. It is located in the suburb of Yarralumla in the Australian capital city of Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory. The main residence is set amid 54 hectares of parkland. The house and its associated grounds were added to the Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004.
William George Hayden was an Australian politician who served as the 21st governor-general of Australia from 1989 to 1996. He was Leader of the Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition from 1977 to 1983, and served as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade from 1983 to 1988 under Bob Hawke and as Treasurer of Australia in 1975 under Gough Whitlam.
John Adrian Louis Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow, 7th Earl of Hopetoun, was a British aristocrat and statesman who served as the first governor-general of Australia, in office from 1901 to 1902. He was previously Governor of Victoria from 1889 to 1895.
Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson, was a British aristocrat who served as the second governor-general of Australia, in office from 1903 to 1904. He was previously Governor of South Australia from 1899 to 1902.
Henry Stafford Northcote, 1st Baron Northcote, was a British Conservative politician who served as the third governor-general of Australia, in office from 1904 to 1908. He was previously the governor of Bombay from 1900 to 1903, as well as a government minister under Lord Salisbury.
John Lawrence Baird, 1st Viscount Stonehaven, was a British politician who served as the eighth Governor-General of Australia, in office from 1925 to 1930. He had previously been a government minister under David Lloyd George, Bonar Law, and Stanley Baldwin.
Brigadier General Alexander Gore Arkwright Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, was a British Army officer who served as the 10th Governor-General of Australia, in office from 1936 to 1945. He was previously Governor of South Australia (1928–1934) and Governor of New South Wales (1935–1936).
Sir William John McKell, was an Australian politician who served as the 12th Governor-General of Australia, in office from 1947 to 1953. He had previously been Premier of New South Wales from 1941 to 1947, as leader of the Labor Party.
William Shepherd Morrison, 1st Viscount Dunrossil,, was a British politician. He was a long-serving cabinet minister before serving as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1951 to 1959. He was then appointed as the 14th Governor-General of Australia, in office from 1960 until his death in 1961.
William Philip Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle,, known as Lord De L'Isle and Dudley between 1945 and 1956, was a British Army officer, politician and Victoria Cross recipient who served as the 15th governor-general of Australia, in office from 1961 to 1965. He was the last non-Australian to hold the position.
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The attorney-general of Australia (AG), also known as the Commonwealth attorney-general, is the minister of state and chief law officer of the Commonwealth of Australia charged with overseeing federal legal affairs and public security as the head of the Attorney-General’s Department. The current attorney-general is Mark Dreyfus, who was chosen by prime minister Anthony Albanese in June 2022 following the 2022 federal election. By convention, the attorney-general is a lawyer.
Arthur Herbert Tennyson Somers-Cocks, 6th Baron Somers,, was a British Army officer who was the 16th Governor of Victoria, from 1926 to 1931 and Administrator of Australia in 1930-31. He had a long involvement with the Boy Scout Movement and became the Boy Scouts Association's Chief Scout of the British Empire from 1942 until his death.
The Hopetoun Blunder was a political event immediately prior to the Federation of the British colonies in Australia.
Peers of the Realm have been associated with Australia since early in its history as a British settlement. Many peers served as governors of the Australian colonies, and in the days when the practice of appointing British governors-general was current, the great majority were peers.
Australia is a constitutional monarchy whose Sovereign also serves as Monarch of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada and eleven other former dependencies of the United Kingdom including Papua New Guinea, which was formerly a dependency of Australia. These countries operate as independent nations, and are known as Commonwealth realms. The history of the Australian monarchy has involved a shifting relationship with both the monarch and also the British government.
The Barton government was the first federal executive government of the Commonwealth of Australia. It was led by Prime Minister Sir Edmund Barton, from 1 January 1901 until 24 September 1903, when Barton resigned to become one of the three founding judges of the High Court of Australia.
