List of premiers of New South Wales by age

Living as of 5 October 2021

Premier	Date of birth	Premier
Barrie Unsworth	(1934-04-16) 16 April 1934 (age 87)	1986–1988
Nick Greiner	(1947-04-27) 27 April 1947 (age 74)	1988–1992
Bob Carr	(1947-09-28) 28 September 1947 (age 74)	1995–2005
Barry O'Farrell	(1959-05-24) 24 May 1959 (age 62)	2011–2014
Morris Iemma	(1961-07-21) 21 July 1961 (age 60)	2005–2008
Nathan Rees	(1968-02-12) 12 February 1968 (age 53)	2008–2009
Mike Baird	(1968-04-01) 1 April 1968 (age 53)	2014–2017
Kristina Keneally	(1968-12-19) 19 December 1968 (age 52)	2009–2011
Gladys Berejiklian	(1970-09-22) 22 September 1970 (age 51)	2017–2021
Dominic Perrottet	(1982-09-21) 21 September 1982 (age 39)	2021–

This is a list of premiers of New South Wales by age, including when they were born, what age they were when they were appointed premier, what age were they when they left the office and the age at which they died, or their current age as of 5 October 2021 if they are still alive. The table can be sorted by each different category.

The date of appointment as premier is the date on which they were sworn in by the Governor for their first term. The day on which they departed office is the final day of their final term. This is either the day a new premier was appointed or their date of death if they died whilst in office.

Overview

The median age of a premier on the first day of their first term is roughly 49 years, and 289 days which falls between William McKell and Alexander Mair. The youngest person to assume the office was Dominic Perrottet at 39 years and 14 days. The oldest person to assume office was Bob Heffron at 69 years and 43 days.

The oldest living former premier is Barrie Unsworth, born 16 April 1934 (age 87 years, 172 days). The youngest living former premier is Gladys Berejiklian, born 22 September 1970, (age 51 years, 13 days). The youngest living premier is the incumbent Dominic Perrottet, born 22 September 1970, (age 39 years, 14 days).

The longest-lived premier was Jack Lang who died on 27 September 1975 aged 98 years and 280 days. Tom Lewis was the second longest-lived premier, aged 94 years and 93 days, 4 years and 187 days short of Lang. The oldest living premier, Barrie Unsworth, will tie Lewis if he lives to 18 July 2028, and tie Lang if he lives to 21 January 2033. The shortest-lived premier was John Storey who died in office at the age of 52 years and 134 days on 5 October 1921.

The premier with the longest retirement is Jack Lang. He left office on 13 May 1932, and died 43 years and 137 days later on 27 September 1975. The premier with the shortest retirement is Alexander Stuart, who died on 16 June 1886, 253 days after leaving office on 6 October 1885.

#	Premier	Born	Took office	Age	Left office	Age	Died	Length of retirement	Lifespan
1	Stuart Donaldson	16 December 1812	6 June 1856	43 years, 173 days	25 August 1856	43 years, 253 days	11 January 1867	10 years, 139 days	54 years, 26 days
2	Charles Cowper	26 April 1807	26 August 1856	49 years, 122 days	15 December 1870	63 years, 233 days	19 October 1875	4 years, 308 days	68 years, 176 days
3	Henry Parker	1 June 1808	3 October 1856	48 years, 124 days	7 September 1857	49 years, 98 days	2 February 1881	23 years, 148 days	72 years, 246 days
4	William Forster	16 October 1818	27 October 1859	41 years, 11 days	9 March 1860	41 years, 145 days	30 October 1882	22 years, 235 days	64 years, 14 days
5	John Robertson	15 October 1816	9 March 1860	43 years, 146 days	22 February 1886	69 years, 130 days	8 May 1891	5 years, 75 days	74 years, 205 days
6	James Martin	14 May 1820	16 October 1863	43 years, 155 days	13 May 1872	51 years, 365 days	4 November 1886	14 years, 175 days	66 years, 174 days
7	Henry Parkes	27 May 1815	14 May 1872	56 years, 353 days	23 October 1891	76 years, 149 days	27 April 1896	4 years, 187 days	80 years, 336 days
8	James Farnell	25 June 1825	18 December 1877	52 years, 176 days	20 December 1878	53 years, 178 days	21 August 1888	9 years, 245 days	63 years, 57 days
9	Alexander Stuart	21 March 1824	5 January 1883	58 years, 290 days	6 October 1885	61 years, 199 days	16 June 1886	253 days	62 years, 87 days
10	George Dibbs	12 October 1834	7 October 1885	50 years, 360 days	2 August 1894	59 years, 294 days	5 August 1904	10 years, 3 days	69 years, 298 days
11	Patrick Jennings	20 March 1831	26 February 1886	54 years, 343 days	19 January 1887	55 years, 305 days	11 July 1897	10 years, 173 days	66 years, 113 days
12	George Reid	25 February 1845	3 August 1894	49 years, 159 days	13 September 1899	54 years, 200 days	12 September 1918	18 years, 364 days	73 years, 199 days
13	William Lyne	6 April 1844	14 September 1899	55 years, 161 days	27 March 1901	56 years, 355 days	3 August 1913	12 years, 129 days	69 years, 119 days
14	John See	14 October 1844	27 March 1901	56 years, 164 days	14 June 1904	59 years, 244 days	31 January 1907	2 years, 231 days	62 years, 109 days
15	Thomas Waddell	1 January 1854	15 June 1904	50 years, 166 days	29 August 1904	50 years, 241 days	25 October 1940	36 years, 57 days	86 years, 298 days
16	Joseph Carruthers	21 December 1857	29 August 1904	46 years, 252 days	1 October 1907	49 years, 284 days	10 December 1932	25 years, 70 days	74 years, 355 days
17	Charles Wade	26 January 1863	2 October 1907	44 years, 249 days	1 October 1910	47 years, 248 days	26 September 1922	11 years, 360 days	59 years, 243 days
18	James McGowen	16 August 1855	21 October 1910	55 years, 66 days	29 June 1913	57 years, 317 days	7 April 1922	8 years, 282 days	66 years, 234 days
19	William Holman	4 August 1871	30 June 1913	41 years, 330 days	12 April 1920	48 years, 252 days	5 June 1934	14 years, 54 days	62 years, 305 days
20	John Storey	15 May 1869	13 April 1920	50 years, 334 days	5 October 1921 [1]	52 years, 143 days	5 October 1921	N/A	52 years, 143 days
21	James Dooley	26 April 1877	5 October 1921	44 years, 162 days	13 April 1922	44 years, 352 days	2 January 1950	27 years, 264 days	72 years, 251 days
22	George Fuller	22 January 1861	13 April 1922	61 years, 81 days	17 June 1925	64 years, 146 days	22 July 1940	15 years, 35 days	79 years, 182 days
23	Jack Lang	21 December 1876	17 June 1925	48 years, 178 days	13 May 1932	55 years, 144 days	27 September 1975	43 years, 137 days	98 years, 280 days
24	Thomas Bavin	5 May 1874	18 October 1927	53 years, 166 days	1 October 1930	56 years, 183 days	31 August 1941	10 years, 300 days	67 years, 118 days
25	Bertram Stevens	2 January 1889	16 May 1932	43 years, 135 days	5 August 1939	50 years, 215 days	23 March 1973	33 years, 230 days	84 years, 80 days
26	Alexander Mair	25 August 1889	5 August 1939	49 years, 345 days	16 May 1941	51 years, 264 days	3 August 1969	28 years, 79 days	79 years, 343 days
27	William McKell	26 September 1891	16 May 1941	49 years, 232 days	16 May 1941	55 years, 133 days	11 January 1985	37 years, 340 days	93 years, 107 days
28	James McGirr	6 February 1890	6 February 1947	57 years, 0 days	2 April 1952	62 years, 56 days	27 October 1957	5 years, 208 days	67 years, 263 days
29	Joseph Cahill	21 January 1891	2 April 1952	61 years, 72 days	22 October 1959 [1]	68 years, 274 days	22 October 1959	N/A	68 years, 274 days
30	Bob Heffron	10 September 1890	23 October 1959	69 years, 43 days	30 April 1964	73 years, 233 days	27 July 1978	14 years, 88 days	87 years, 320 days
31	Jack Renshaw	8 August 1909	30 April 1964	54 years, 266 days	13 May 1965	55 years, 278 days	28 July 1987	22 years, 76 days	77 years, 354 days
32	Robert Askin	4 April 1907	13 May 1965	58 years, 39 days	3 January 1975	67 years, 274 days	9 September 1981	6 years, 249 days	74 years, 158 days
33	Tom Lewis	23 January 1922	3 January 1975	52 years, 345 days	23 January 1976	54 years, 0 days	25 April 2016	40 years, 93 days	94 years, 93 days
34	Eric Willis	15 January 1922	23 January 1976	54 years, 8 days	14 May 1976	54 years, 120 days	10 May 1999	22 years, 361 days	77 years, 115 days
35	Neville Wran	11 October 1926	14 May 1976	49 years, 216 days	4 July 1986	59 years, 266 days	20 April 2014	27 years, 290 days	87 years, 191 days
36	Barrie Unsworth	16 April 1934	4 July 1986	52 years, 79 days	25 March 1988	53 years, 344 days		33 years, 194 days	87 years, 172 days
37	Nick Greiner	27 April 1947	25 March 1988	40 years, 333 days	24 June 1992	45 years, 58 days		29 years, 103 days	74 years, 161 days
38	John Fahey	10 January 1945	24 June 1992	47 years, 166 days	4 April 1995	50 years, 84 days	12 September 2020	25 years, 161 days	75 years, 246 days
39	Bob Carr	28 September 1947	4 April 1995	47 years, 188 days	3 August 2005	57 years, 309 days		16 years, 63 days	74 years, 7 days
40	Morris Iemma	21 July 1961	3 August 2005	44 years, 13 days	5 September 2008	47 years, 46 days		13 years, 30 days	60 years, 76 days
41	Nathan Rees	12 February 1968	5 September 2008	40 years, 206 days	4 December 2009	41 years, 295 days		11 years, 305 days	53 years, 235 days
42	Kristina Keneally	19 December 1968	4 December 2009	40 years, 350 days	28 March 2011	42 years, 99 days		10 years, 191 days	52 years, 290 days
43	Barry O'Farrell	24 May 1959	28 March 2011	51 years, 308 days	17 April 2014	54 years, 328 days		7 years, 171 days	62 years, 134 days
44	Mike Baird	1 April 1968	17 April 2014	46 years, 16 days	23 January 2017	48 years, 297 days		4 years, 255 days	53 years, 187 days
45	Gladys Berejiklian	22 September 1970	23 January 2017	46 years, 123 days	5 October 2021	51 years, 13 days		0 days	51 years, 13 days
46	Dominic Perrottet	21 September 1982	5 October 2021	39 years, 14 days	Incumbent	Incumbent		Incumbent	39 years, 14 days

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Oldest living premiers of New South Wales

Not all premiers live to become the oldest of their time. Of the 36 deceased premiers, 16 eventually became the oldest of their time, while 20 did not (including both premiers who died in office, and 18 others). Jack Lang became the oldest living premier when Thomas Bavin died in 1941 and remained so until his death in 1975, for a record 34 years and 27 days. Because he was the first premier, Stuart Donaldson became the oldest living premier when he was appointed in 1856, but he held this distinction for only 81 days.

On one occasion the oldest living premier lost this distinction not by his death, but due to the appointment of a premier who was older. Stuart Donaldson lost this distinction when Charles Cowper was appointed. William McKell was the oldest to acquire this distinction at the age of 86 years, and 304 days. Neville Wran, who was aged 87 years, and 191 days when he died, on 20 April 2014 was the oldest premier to die without ever acquiring this distinction. John Fahey who died on 12 September 2020 aged 75 years and 246 days is the most recent premier to die without ever acquiring this distinction.

Premier	Period when oldest living premier		Age		Duration
	Start date	End date	at start	at end
Stuart Donaldson	6 June 1856	26 August 1856	43 years, 173 days	43 years, 254 days	81 days
Charles Cowper	26 August 1856	19 October 1875	49 years, 122 days	68 years, 176 days	19 years, 54 days
Henry Parker	19 October 1875	2 February 1881	67 years, 140 days	72 years, 246 days	5 years, 106 days
Henry Parkes	2 February 1881	27 April 1896	65 years, 251 days	80 years, 336 days	15 years, 85 days
Patrick Jennings	27 April 1896	11 July 1897	62 years, 38 days	63 years, 113 days	1 year, 75 days
George Dibbs	11 July 1897	5 August 1904	62 years, 272 days	69 years, 298 days	7 years, 25 days
William Lyne	5 August 1904	3 August 1913	60 years, 121 days	69 years, 119 days	8 years, 363 days
George Reid	3 August 1913	12 September 1918	68 years, 159 days	73 years, 199 days	5 years, 40 days
Thomas Waddell	12 September 1918	25 October 1940	64 years, 254 days	86 years, 298 days	22 years, 43 days
Thomas Bavin	25 October 1940	31 August 1941	66 years, 173 days	67 years, 118 days	310 days
Jack Lang	31 August 1941	27 September 1975	64 years, 253 days	98 years, 280 days	34 years, 27 days
Bob Heffron	27 September 1975	27 July 1978	85 years, 17 days	87 years, 320 days	2 years, 303 days
William McKell	27 July 1978	11 January 1985	86 years, 304 days	93 years, 107 days	6 years, 168 days
Jack Renshaw	11 January 1985	28 July 1987	75 years, 156 days	77 years, 354 days	2 years, 198 days
Eric Willis	28 July 1987	10 May 1999	65 years, 194 days	77 years, 115 days	11 years, 286 days
Tom Lewis	10 May 1999	25 April 2016	77 years, 107 days	94 years, 93 days	16 years, 351 days
Barrie Unsworth	25 April 2016	Current oldest living premier	82 years, 9 days	Current oldest living premier	5 years, 163 days
Premier	Start date	End date	Age at start	Age at end	Duration

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See also

• Premier of New South Wales
• List of premiers of New South Wales by time in office
• List of prime ministers of Australia by age
• List of premiers of Queensland by age
• List of premiers of South Australia by age
• List of premiers of Tasmania by age
• List of premiers of Victoria by age
• List of premiers of Western Australia by age

References

1. Died in office on this date.
2. Updated daily according to UTC.
3. Updated daily according to UTC.