Governor of Western Australia

The Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...

 of Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

's Monarch

Monarchy in Australia

The Monarchy of Australia is a form of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign of Australia. The monarchy is a constitutional one modelled on the Westminster style of parliamentary government, incorporating features unique to the Constitution of Australia.The present monarch is...

, Queen Elizabeth II

Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...

. The Governor performs important constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including:

• presiding over the Executive Council;
• proroguing and dissolving the Legislative Assembly
  Western Australian Legislative Assembly
  The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
  
   and the Legislative Council
  Western Australian Legislative Council
  The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state...
  
  ;
• issuing writs for election
  Election
  An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
  
  s; and
• appointing Ministers, Judge
  Judge
  A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
  
  s, Magistrate
  Magistrate
  A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
  
  s and Justices of the Peace
  Justice of the Peace
  A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
  
  .

Furthermore, all Bills passed by the Parliament of Western Australia

Parliament of Western Australia

The Parliament of Western Australia consists of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly . The Parliament sits at Parliament House in Harvest Terrace, Perth....

 require the Governor's signature before they become Acts and pass into law.

The Governor of Western Australia is Malcolm McCusker

Malcolm McCusker

Malcolm James McCusker, AO, CVO, QC is an Australian philanthropist and barrister who is the current Governor of Western Australia.-Life and career:...

, who was sworn in on 1 July 2011.

The first Australian- (and Western Australian-) born Governor of Western Australia was Sir James Mitchell

James Mitchell (Australian politician)

Sir James Mitchell GCMG was the 13th Premier of Western Australia, serving on two occasions, the Lieutenant-Governor of Western Australia for 15 years and the 22nd Governor of Western Australia....

 (appointed 1948). His two successors were British; then came two Australians; but in 1980, another Briton was appointed, Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Trowbridge

Richard Trowbridge

Rear Admiral Sir Richard John Trowbridge, KCVO , was Western Australia's twenty-fifth Governor from 25 November 1980 to 24 November 1983, and the last British-born vice-regal representative in Australia....

. His term ended in 1983. He was the last British governor of any Australian state.

For further information on the office of Governor, see Governors of the Australian states

Governors of the Australian states

The Governors of the Australian states are the representatives of the Queen of Australia in each of that country's six states. The Governors perform the same constitutional and ceremonial functions at the state level as does the Governor-General of Australia at the national level...

.

List of Governors of Western Australia

This is a list of Governors and Lieutenant-Governors of Western Australia.

Lieutenant-Governors of Western Australia

Stirling was in fact only commissioned as Governor of Western Australia from 4 March 1831, rectifying the absence of a legal instrument providing the authority detailed in Stirling's Instructions of 30 December 1828. Stirling had said of his own position:

I believe I am the first Governor who ever formed a settlement without Commission, Laws, Instructions and Salary.

No.	Lieutenant-Governor	From	To
1	Captain Sir James Stirling RN James Stirling (Australian governor) Admiral Sir James Stirling RN was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. His enthusiasm and persistence persuaded the British Government to establish the Swan River Colony and he became the first Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Western Australia...	30 December 1828	5 February 1832

Governors

No.	Governor	From	To
1	Captain Sir James Stirling RN	4 March 1832	2 January 1839
2	John Hutt John Hutt John Hutt was Governor of Western Australia from 1839 to 1846.Born in London on 24 July 1795, John Hutt was the fourth of 13 children of Richard Hutt of Appley Towers, Ryde, Isle of Wight. He was educated at Christ's Hospital, and in 1815 inherited Appley Towers...	3 January 1839	26 January 1846
3	Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Andrew Clarke KCH	27 January 1846	11 February 1847
-	Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Irwin Frederick Irwin Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Chidley Irwin was acting Governor of Western Australia from 1847 to 1848.Born in 1788 in Enniskillen, Ireland, Frederick Chidley Irwin was the son of Reverend James Irwin. In 1808, he was commissioned into the 83rd Regiment of Foot...  (acting Governor)	12 February 1847	11 August 1848
4	Captain Charles Fitzgerald Charles Fitzgerald Captain Charles Fitzgerald was the Governor of The Gambia from 1844 until 1847, then Governor of Western Australia from 1848 to 1855....	12 August 1848	22 July 1855
5	Sir Arthur Kennedy GCMG CB	23 July 1855	27 February 1862
6	Dr John Hampton John Hampton John Stephen Hampton was Governor of Western Australia from 1862 to 1868.-Early life:Little is known of John Hampton's early life. His death certificate states that he was born in 1810, but other evidence suggests 1806 or perhaps 1807; these latter figures are considered more likely...	28 February 1862	1 November 1868
7	Sir Benjamin Pine Benjamin Pine Sir Benjamin Chilley Campbell Pine was at various times administrator of Natal, the Gold Coast, Antigua, the Leeward Islands and Western Australia.-Life:...	2 November 1868	29 September 1869
8	The Hon. Sir Frederick Weld GCMG Frederick Weld Sir Frederick Aloysius Weld, GCMG , was a New Zealand politician and a governor of various British colonies. He was the sixth Premier of New Zealand, and later served as Governor of Western Australia, Governor of Tasmania, and Governor of the Straits Settlements.-Early life:Weld was born near...	30 September 1869	10 January 1875
9	Sir William Robinson GCMG William Cleaver Francis Robinson Sir William Cleaver Francis Robinson GCMG was a British colonial administrator and a musical composer, being the author of several well known songs...	11 January 1875	11 November 1877
10	The Hon. Major-General Sir Harry Ord GCMG CB RE Harry Ord Major-General Sir Harry St. George Ord GCMG, CB, RE, was born on 4 August 1819 in North Cray, Kent, England. He was the son of Henry Gough Ord and grandson of Craven Ord of Greenstead Hall, Essex, a prominent antiquarian.-Education and career:...	12 November 1877	9 April 1880
-	Sir William Robinson GCMG (2nd time)	10 Apr 1880	1 June 1883
11	Sir Frederick Broome KCMG Frederick Broome Sir Frederick Napier Broome KCMG was a colonial administrator in the British Empire.He was born in Canada, but was living in England in 1865, when he married Mary Anne Barker...	2 June 1883	19 October 1890
-	Sir William Robinson GCMG (3rd time)	20 October 1890	22 December 1895
12	Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Gerard Smith KCMG	23 December 1895	30 April 1901
13	The Rt Hon. Baron Wenlock GCIE KCMG Arthur Lawley, 6th Baron Wenlock Arthur Lawley, 6th Baron Wenlock, GCIE, KCMG was a British politician, soldier and administrator who served as the administrator of Matabeleland, Governor of Western Australia, Lieutenant-Governor of Transvaal and Governor of Madras.Lawley was born in 1860 to 2nd Baron Wenlock and his wife, Lady...	1 May 1901	23 March 1903
14	Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford KCB Frederick Bedford Admiral Sir Frederick George Denham Bedford GCB, GCVO was Governor of Western Austria from 24 March 1903 to 22 April 1909.-Naval career:Bedford joined the Royal Navy at the age of 14, and later served in the Crimean War....	24 March 1903	30 May 1909
15	Sir Gerald Strickland KCMG Gerald Strickland, 1st Baron Strickland Gerald Strickland, 1st Baron Strickland, 6th Count of Catena, GCMG was a Maltese and British politician and peer, who served as Prime Minister of Malta, Governor of the Leeward Islands, Governor of Tasmania, Governor of Western Australia and Governor of New South Wales.-Early...	31 May 1909	16 March 1913
16	Major General Sir Harry Barron KCMG CVO Harry Barron Major General Sir Harry Barron KCMG, CVO was Governor of Tasmania from 1909 to 1913, and Governor of Western Australia from 1913 to 1917....	17 March 1913	8 April 1917
17	The Rt Hon. Sir William Ellison-Macartney KCMG William Ellison-Macartney Sir William Grey Ellison-Macartney, KCMG was a British politician, who also served as the Governor of the Australian states of Tasmania and Western Australia.-Early life:...	9 April 1917	8 April 1920
18	Sir Francis Newdegate GCMG Francis Newdegate Sir Francis Alexander Newdigate Newdegate GCMG was Governor of Tasmania from 1917 to 1920, and Governor of Western Australia from 1920 to 1924....	9 April 1920	27 October 1924
19	Colonel Sir William Campion KCMG DSO TD William Campion Colonel Sir William Robert Campion KCMG, DSO, TD, DL was a British politician and Governor of Western Australia from 1924 to 1931....	28 October 1924	8 June 1931
	N/A	1931	1948
20	Sir James Mitchell GCMG James Mitchell (Australian politician) Sir James Mitchell GCMG was the 13th Premier of Western Australia, serving on two occasions, the Lieutenant-Governor of Western Australia for 15 years and the 22nd Governor of Western Australia....	5 October 1948	30 June 1951
21	General Sir Charles Gairdner GBE KCMG KCVO CB Charles Gairdner General Sir Charles Henry Gairdner, GBE, KCMG, KCVO, CB was a British Army general during World War II and was Governor of Western Australia from 1951 to 1963, and Governor of Tasmania from 1963 to 1968.-Early life:...	6 November 1951	25 October 1963
22	Major General Sir Douglas Kendrew KCMG CB CBE DSO Douglas Kendrew Major General Sir Douglas Anthony Kendrew, KCMG, CB, CBE, DSO & Three Bars, was a British rugby player and military officer, who became Governor of Western Australia 1963-1974.- Early years :...	25 October 1963	6 January 1974
23	Air Commodore Sir Hughie Edwards VC KCMG CB DSO OBE DFC Hughie Edwards Air Commodore Sir Hughie Idwal Edwards VC, KCMG, CB, DSO, OBE, DFC was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force, Governor of Western Australia, and an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the...	7 January 1974	23 November 1975
24	Air Chief Marshal Sir Wallace Hart Kyle GCB KCVO CBE DSO DFC RAF Wallace Kyle Air Chief Marshal Sir Wallace Hart Kyle GCB, KCVO, CBE, DSO, DFC, RAF was a senior Royal Air Force commander and the Governor of Western Australia from 1975 to 1980.-Career:...	24 November 1975	24 November 1980
25	Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Trowbridge KCVO Richard Trowbridge Rear Admiral Sir Richard John Trowbridge, KCVO , was Western Australia's twenty-fifth Governor from 25 November 1980 to 24 November 1983, and the last British-born vice-regal representative in Australia....	25 November 1980	24 November 1983
26	Professor Gordon Reid AC Gordon Reid (Governor) Gordon Stanley Reid AC was an Australian academic who was Governor of Western Australia from 1984 to 1989....	2 July 1984	September 1989
27	The Hon. Sir Francis Burt AC KCMG QC Francis Burt Sir Francis Theodore Page Burt, AC, KCMG, QC , commonly known as "Red", Australian jurist, served as Chief Justice of Western Australia from 1977 until 1988 and as Governor of Western Australia from 1990 to 1993. He was also Lieutenant Governor of the State from 1977 to 1990...	29 March 1990	31 October 1993
28	Major-General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC KStJ Michael Jeffery Major General Philip Michael Jeffery AC, CVO, MC was the 24th Governor-General of Australia , the first Australian career soldier to be appointed governor-general...	1 November 1993	17 August 2000
29	Lieutenant-General John Sanderson AC John Sanderson Lieutenant General John Murray Sanderson AC is a former Governor of Western Australia and a former Chief of the Australian Army.-Early life:...	18 August 2000	17 January 2006
30	Dr Ken Michael AC Ken Michael Kenneth Comninos Michael, AC was the 32nd Governor of Western Australia, succeeding Lieutenant-General John Sanderson.His vice-regal appointment was announced on 6 June 2005 by the then Premier Geoff Gallop and he was sworn in at Government House, Perth on 18 January 2006 by the Chief Justice of...	18 January 2006	2 May 2011
31	Malcolm McCusker AO CVO QC Malcolm McCusker Malcolm James McCusker, AO, CVO, QC is an Australian philanthropist and barrister who is the current Governor of Western Australia.-Life and career:...	1 July 2011

Living former governors

Three former governors are alive, the oldest being Michael Jeffery

Michael Jeffery

Major General Philip Michael Jeffery AC, CVO, MC was the 24th Governor-General of Australia , the first Australian career soldier to be appointed governor-general...

. The most recent governor to die was Sir Francis Burt

Francis Burt

Sir Francis Theodore Page Burt, AC, KCMG, QC , commonly known as "Red", Australian jurist, served as Chief Justice of Western Australia from 1977 until 1988 and as Governor of Western Australia from 1990 to 1993. He was also Lieutenant Governor of the State from 1977 to 1990...

, on 8 September 2004.

Name	Term as governor	Date of birth
Michael Jeffery Michael Jeffery Major General Philip Michael Jeffery AC, CVO, MC was the 24th Governor-General of Australia , the first Australian career soldier to be appointed governor-general...	1993–2000	12 December 1937 (age 74)
John Sanderson John Sanderson Lieutenant General John Murray Sanderson AC is a former Governor of Western Australia and a former Chief of the Australian Army.-Early life:...	2000–2006	4 November 1940 (age 71)
Ken Michael Ken Michael Kenneth Comninos Michael, AC was the 32nd Governor of Western Australia, succeeding Lieutenant-General John Sanderson.His vice-regal appointment was announced on 6 June 2005 by the then Premier Geoff Gallop and he was sworn in at Government House, Perth on 18 January 2006 by the Chief Justice of...	2006–2011	(born 1938)

External links

• Government House, Western Australia: The Official Website of the Governor of Western Australia