List of premiers of South Australia by age

Living as of 5 October 2021

Premier	Date of birth	Premier
Steele Hall	(1928-11-30) 30 November 1928 (age 92)	1968–1970
Dean Brown	(1943-04-05) 5 April 1943 (age 78)	1993–1996
John Olsen	(1945-06-07) 7 June 1945 (age 76)	1996–2001
Lynn Arnold	(1949-01-27) 27 January 1949 (age 72)	1992–1993
Mike Rann	(1953-01-05) 5 January 1953 (age 68)	2002–2011
Rob Kerin	(1954-01-04) 4 January 1954 (age 67)	2001–2002
Jay Weatherill	(1964-04-03) 3 April 1964 (age 57)	2011–2018
Steven Marshall	(1968-01-21) 21 January 1968 (age 53)	2018–

This is a list of premiers of South Australia 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 44 years, and 309 days which falls between Francis Dutton and Lionel Hill. The youngest person to assume the office was James Boucaut at 34 years and 150 days. The oldest person to assume office was Frank Walsh at 67 years and 247 days.

The oldest living former premier is Steele Hall, born 30 November 1928 (age 92 years, 309 days). The youngest living former premier is Jay Weatherill, born 3 April 1964, (age 57 years, 185 days). The youngest living premier is the incumbent Steven Marshall, born 21 January 1968, (age 53 years, 257 days).

The longest-lived premier is Steele Hall who is currently aged 92 years, 309 days. Henry Strangways was the second longest-lived premier, aged 87 years and 88 days. Hall surpassed Strangways' lifespan on 26 February 2016. The shortest-lived premier was John Cox Bray who died at the age of 52 years and 13 days on 13 June 1894.

Steele Hall has the distinction of having the longest retirement of any former premier, currently at 51 years, 125 days since leaving office on 2 June 1970. He surpassed the previous record, held by Henry Strangways (49 years, 256 days) on 13 February 2020. The premier with the shortest retirement is Frank Walsh, who died on 18 May 1968, 352 days after leaving office on 1 June 1967.

#	Premier	Born	Took office	Age	Left office	Age	Died	Length of retirement	Lifespan
1	B. T. Finniss	18 August 1807	24 October 1856	48 years, 67 days	21 August 1857	49 years, 3 days	24 December 1893	36 years, 125 days	85 years, 128 days
2	John Baker	28 December 1813	21 August 1857	43 years, 236 days	1 September 1857	43 years, 247 days	19 May 1872	14 years, 261 days	58 years, 143 days
3	Robert Richard Torrens	1 July 1814	1 September 1857	43 years, 62 days	30 September 1857	43 years, 91 days	31 August 1884	26 years, 336 days	70 years, 61 days
4	Richard Hanson	6 December 1805	30 September 1857	51 years, 298 days	9 May 1860	54 years, 155 days	4 March 1876	15 years, 300 days	70 years, 89 days
5	Thomas Reynolds	27 January 1818	9 May 1860	42 years, 103 days	8 October 1861	43 years, 254 days	25 February 1875	13 years, 140 days	57 years, 29 days
6	George Waterhouse	6 April 1824	8 October 1861	37 years, 185 days	4 July 1863	39 years, 89 days	6 August 1906	43 years, 33 days	82 years, 122 days
7	Francis Dutton	18 October 1818	4 July 1863	44 years, 259 days	20 September 1865	46 years, 337 days	25 January 1877	11 years, 127 days	58 years, 99 days
8	Henry Ayers	1 May 1821	15 July 1863	42 years, 75 days	22 July 1873	52 years, 82 days	11 June 1897	23 years, 324 days	76 years, 41 days
9	Arthur Blyth	19 March 1823	4 August 1864	41 years, 138 days	3 June 1875	52 years, 76 days	7 December 1891	16 years, 187 days	68 years, 263 days
10	John Hart	25 February 1809	23 October 1865	56 years, 240 days	10 November 1871	62 years, 258 days	28 January 1873	1 year, 79 days	63 years, 338 days
11	James Boucaut	29 October 1831	28 March 1866	34 years, 150 days	19 January 1887	46 years, 333 days	1 February 1916	37 years, 127 days	84 years, 95 days
12	Henry Strangways	14 November 1832	3 November 1868	35 years, 355 days	30 May 1870	37 years, 197 days	10 February 1920	49 years, 256 days	87 years, 88 days
13	John Colton	23 September 1823	6 June 1876	52 years, 257 days	16 June 1885	61 years, 266 days	6 February 1902	16 years, 235 days	78 years, 136 days
14	William Morgan	12 September 1828	27 September 1878	50 years, 15 days	24 June 1881	52 years, 285 days	2 November 1883	2 years, 131 days	55 years, 51 days
15	John Cox Bray	31 May 1842	24 June 1881	39 years, 24 days	16 June 1884	42 years, 16 days	13 June 1894	9 years, 362 days	52 years, 13 days
16	John Downer	6 July 1843	16 June 1885	41 years, 345 days	16 June 1893	49 years, 345 days	2 August 1915	22 years, 47 days	72 years, 27 days
17	Thomas Playford II	26 November 1837	11 June 1887	49 years, 197 days	21 June 1892	54 years, 208 days	19 April 1915	22 years, 302 days	77 years, 144 days
18	John Cockburn	23 August 1850	27 June 1889	38 years, 308 days	19 August 1890	39 years, 361 days	26 November 1929	39 years, 99 days	79 years, 95 days
19	Frederick Holder	12 May 1850	21 June 1892	42 years, 40 days	15 May 1901	51 years, 3 days	23 July 1909	8 years, 69 days	59 years, 72 days
20	Charles Kingston	22 October 1850	16 June 1893	42 years, 237 days	1 December 1899	49 years, 40 days	11 May 1908	8 years, 162 days	57 years, 202 days
21	Vaiben Louis Solomon	13 May 1853	1 December 1899	46 years, 202 days	8 December 1899	46 years, 209 days	20 October 1908	8 years, 317 days	55 years, 160 days
22	John Jenkins	8 September 1851	15 May 1901	49 years, 249 days	1 March 1905	53 years, 174 days	22 February 1923	17 years, 358 days	71 years, 167 days
23	Richard Butler	3 December 1850	1 March 1905	54 years, 88 days	26 July 1905	54 years, 235 days	28 April 1925	19 years, 276 days	74 years, 146 days
24	Thomas Price	19 January 1852	26 July 1905	53 years, 188 days	31 May 1909 [1]	57 years, 132 days	31 May 1909	N/A	57 years, 132 days
25	Archibald Peake	15 January 1859	5 June 1909	50 years, 141 days	6 April 1920 [1]	61 years, 82 days	6 April 1920	N/A	61 years, 82 days
26	John Verran	9 July 1856	3 June 1910	53 years, 329 days	17 February 1912	55 years, 223 days	7 June 1932	20 years, 111 days	75 years, 334 days
27	Crawford Vaughan	14 July 1874	3 April 1915	40 years, 263 days	14 July 1917	43 years, 0 days	15 December 1947	30 years, 154 days	73 years, 154 days
28	Henry Barwell	26 February 1877	8 April 1920	43 years, 42 days	16 April 1924	47 years, 50 days	30 September 1959	35 years, 167 days	82 years, 216 days
29	John Gunn	16 December 1884	16 April 1924	39 years, 122 days	28 August 1926	41 years, 255 days	27 June 1959	32 years, 303 days	74 years, 193 days
30	Lionel Hill	14 May 1881	28 August 1926	45 years, 106 days	13 February 1933	51 years, 275 days	19 March 1963	30 years, 34 days	81 years, 309 days
31	Richard Layton Butler	31 March 1885	8 April 1927	42 years, 8 days	5 November 1938	53 years, 219 days	21 January 1966	27 years, 77 days	80 years, 296 days
32	Robert Richards	31 May 1885	13 February 1933	47 years, 258 days	13 February 1933	47 years, 322 days	24 April 1967	34 years, 6 days	81 years, 328 days
33	Thomas Playford IV	5 July 1896	5 November 1938	42 years, 123 days	10 March 1965	68 years, 248 days	16 June 1981	16 years, 98 days	84 years, 346 days
34	Frank Walsh	6 July 1897	10 March 1965	67 years, 247 days	1 June 1967	69 years, 330 days	18 May 1968	352 days	70 years, 317 days
35	Don Dunstan	21 September 1926	1 June 1967	40 years, 253 days	15 February 1979	52 years, 147 days	6 February 1999	19 years, 356 days	72 years, 138 days
36	Steele Hall	30 November 1928	17 April 1968	39 years, 139 days	2 June 1970	41 years, 184 days		51 years, 125 days	92 years, 309 days
37	Des Corcoran	8 November 1928	15 February 1979	50 years, 99 days	15 February 1979	50 years, 314 days	3 January 2004	24 years, 107 days	75 years, 56 days
38	David Tonkin	20 July 1929	18 September 1979	53 years, 113 days	10 November 1982	53 years, 113 days	2 October 2000	17 years, 327 days	71 years, 74 days
39	John Bannon	7 May 1943	10 November 1982	39 years, 187 days	4 September 1992	49 years, 120 days	13 December 2015	23 years, 100 days	72 years, 220 days
40	Lynn Arnold	27 January 1949	4 September 1992	43 years, 221 days	14 December 1993	44 years, 321 days		27 years, 295 days	72 years, 251 days
41	Dean Brown	5 April 1943	14 December 1993	50 years, 253 days	28 November 1996	53 years, 237 days		24 years, 311 days	78 years, 183 days
42	John Olsen	7 June 1945	28 November 1996	51 years, 174 days	22 October 2001	56 years, 137 days		19 years, 348 days	76 years, 120 days
43	Rob Kerin	4 January 1954	22 October 2001	47 years, 291 days	5 March 2002	48 years, 60 days		19 years, 214 days	67 years, 274 days
44	Mike Rann	5 January 1953	5 March 2002	49 years, 59 days	21 October 2011	58 years, 289 days		9 years, 349 days	68 years, 273 days
45	Jay Weatherill	3 April 1964	21 October 2011	47 years, 201 days	19 March 2018	53 years, 350 days		3 years, 200 days	57 years, 185 days
46	Steven Marshall	21 January 1968	19 March 2018	50 years, 57 days	Incumbent	Incumbent		Incumbent	53 years, 257 days

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Oldest living premiers of South Australia

Not all premiers live to become the oldest of their time. Of the 38 deceased premiers, 17 eventually became the oldest of their time, while 21 did not (including both premiers who died in office, and 19 others). Richard Hanson became the oldest living premier when he was appointed in 1857 and remained so until his death in 1876 for a record continuous period of 18 years and 156 days. Robert Richards became the oldest living premier when Richard Layton Butler died in 1966, but he survived Butler by only 1 year and 93 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. B. T. Finniss lost this distinction when Richard Hanson was appointed, but when Hanson died in 1876, Finniss regained it again until his own death in 1893 for a record total period of 18 years and 271 days. Steele Hall has held this distinction since Des Corcoran's death on 3 January 2004, If Hall is still alive on 1 October 2022, he will surpass Finniss' record, and become the oldest living premier for the longest period of time.

Henry Strangways was the oldest to acquire this distinction at the age of 83 years and 89 days. Thomas Playford II, who was aged 77 years and 144 days when he died, on 19 April 1915 was the oldest premier to die without ever acquiring this distinction. John Bannon who died on 13 December 2015 aged 72 years and 220 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
B. T. Finniss	24 October 1856	30 September 1857	49 years, 67 days	50 years, 43 days	341 days
Richard Hanson	30 September 1857	4 March 1876	51 years, 298 days	70 years, 89 days	18 years, 156 days
B. T. Finniss	4 March 1876	24 December 1893	68 years, 199 days	86 years, 128 days	17 years, 295 days
Henry Ayers	24 December 1893	11 June 1897	72 years, 237 days	76 years, 41 days	3 years, 169 days
John Colton	11 June 1897	6 February 1902	73 years, 261 days	78 years, 136 days	4 years, 240 days
George Waterhouse	6 February 1902	6 August 1906	77 years, 306 days	82 years, 122 days	4 years, 181 days
James Boucaut	6 August 1906	1 February 1916	74 years, 281 days	84 years, 95 days	9 years, 179 days
Henry Strangways	1 February 1916	10 February 1920	83 years, 79 days	87 years, 88 days	4 years, 9 days
John Cockburn	10 February 1920	26 November 1929	69 years, 171 days	79 years, 95 days	9 years, 289 days
John Verran	26 November 1929	7 June 1932	73 years, 140 days	75 years, 334 days	2 years, 194 days
Crawford Vaughan	7 June 1932	25 December 1947	57 years, 329 days	73 years, 164 days	15 years, 201 days
Henry Barwell	25 December 1947	30 September 1959	70 years, 302 days	82 years, 216 days	11 years, 279 days
Lionel Hill	30 September 1959	19 March 1963	78 years, 139 days	81 years, 309 days	3 years, 170 days
Richard Layton Butler	19 March 1963	21 January 1966	77 years, 353 days	80 years, 296 days	2 years, 308 days
Robert Richards	21 January 1966	24 April 1967	80 years, 235 days	81 years, 328 days	1 year, 93 days
Thomas Playford IV	24 April 1967	16 June 1981	70 years, 293 days	84 years, 346 days	14 years, 53 days
Don Dunstan	16 June 1981	6 February 1999	54 years, 268 days	72 years, 138 days	17 years, 235 days
Des Corcoran	6 February 1999	3 January 2004	70 years, 90 days	75 years, 56 days	4 years, 331 days
Steele Hall	3 January 2004	Current oldest living premier	75 years, 34 days	Current oldest living premier	17 years, 275 days
Premier	Start date	End date	Age at start	Age at end	Duration

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See also

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