Premiers of Victoria

Before the 1890s, there was no formal party system in Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales to the north, South Australia to the west, and Tasmania to the south, across the Bass Strait. Victoria is the most densely populated state, with over 70% of...

. Party labels before that time indicate a general tendency only. From the 1880s, until after Federation

Federation of Australia

The federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed a federation...

 in 1901, Victorian politics were dominated by Protectionist Liberals

Protectionist Party

The Protectionist Party was an Australian political party, formally organised from 1889 until 1909, with policies centred on protectionism. It argued that Australia needed protective tariffs to allow Australian industry to grow and provide employment. It had its greatest strength in Victoria and in...

, who were opposed by Free Trade Conservatives

Free Trade Party

The Free Trade Party , renamed in 1906 as the Anti-Socialist Party, was an Australian political party, formally organised from 1889 until 1909. It favoured the abolition of protective tariffs and other restrictions on trade, arguing that this would create greater prosperity for all...

. The Labor Party

Australian Labor Party

The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party.Known as the ALP for short, the party is the current governing party of Australia, since the 2007 federal election...

 did not emerge as a major party until after 1910, which meant that Victoria was slow to develop a two-party system. Labor did not win a majority in the Legislative Assembly until 1952, and until that time weak minority governments were common. Since 1952, Victoria has had a stable two-party system.

List of Premiers of Victoria

	No.	Name	Party in govt	Assumed office	Left office	Days in office
	1	William Clark Haines William Haines (Australian politician) This article is about the Australian politician. For other people called William Haines, see William Haines .Dr William Clark Haines , Australian colonial politician, was the first Premier of Victoria....		30 November 1855	11 March 1857	468
	2	John O'Shanassy John O'Shanassy Sir John O'Shanassy, KCMG , Australian colonial politician, was the 2nd Premier of Victoria. O'Shanassy was born near Thurles in County Tipperary, Ireland, the son of a surveyor, and came to the Port Phillip District in 1839...		11 March 1857	29 April 1857	50
	-	William Clark Haines (2nd time)		29 April 1857	10 March 1858	316
	-	John O'Shanassy (2nd time)		10 March 1858	27 October 1859	597
	3	William Nicholson William Nicholson (Australian politician) William Nicholson was an Australian colonial politician who became the third Premier of Victoria. He is remembered for having been called the "father of the ballot" due to his responsibility in introducing the secret ballot in Victoria.Nicholson was born in Whitehaven, Cumberland, the son of an...		27 October 1859	26 November 1860	367
	4	Richard Heales Richard Heales Richard Heales , Victorian colonial politician, was the 4th Premier of Victoria.Heales was born in London, the son of an ironmonger. He was apprenticed as a coachbuilder and migrated to Victoria with his father in 1842. He worked for some years as a labourer before establishing himself as a...		26 November 1860	14 November 1861	354
	-	John O'Shanassy (3rd time)		14 November 1861	27 June 1863	591
	5	James McCulloch James McCulloch James McCulloch is also the name of the cashier of the Baltimore branch of the Second National Bank of the United States. This James McCulloch was not involved in the McCulloch vs. Maryland U.S. Supreme Court case....		27 June 1863	6 May 1868	1776
	6	Charles Sladen Charles Sladen Sir Charles Sladen, KCMG , Australian colonial politician, was the 6th Premier of Victoria.Sladen was born in England near Walmer, Kent, the second son of John Baker Sladen, deputy-lieutenant of the county. He was educated at Shrewsbury and later at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. In 1840, he graduated...		6 May 1868	11 July 1868	67
	-	James McCulloch (2nd time)		11 July 1868	20 September 1869	437
	7	John Alexander MacPherson John Alexander MacPherson John Alexander MacPherson , Australian colonial politician, was the 7th Premier of Victoria.MacPherson was born at his father's property of Springbank on the Limestone Plains, in New South Wales : he was the first Premier of Victoria born in Australia. His father was a Scottish Presbyterian...		20 September 1869	9 April 1870	202
	-	James McCulloch (3rd time)		9 April 1870	19 June 1871	437
	8	Charles Gavan Duffy Charles Gavan Duffy Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, KCMG Irish nationalist and Australian colonial politician, was the 8th Premier of Victoria and one of the most colourful figures in Victorian political history. Duffy was born in Dublin Street, Monaghan Town, County Monaghan, Ireland, the son of a Catholic shopkeeper...		19 June 1871	10 June 1872	358
	9	James Goodall Francis James Francis James Goodall Francis , Australian colonial politician, was the 9th Premier of Victoria. Francis was born in London, and emigrated to Van Diemen's Land in 1847, where he became a businessman. He moved to Victoria in 1853 and became a leading Melbourne merchant...		10 June 1872	31 July 1874	782
	10	George Briscoe Kerferd George Kerferd George Briscoe Kerferd , Australian colonial politician, was the 10th Premier of Victoria.Kerferd was born in Liverpool, the son of G. B. Kerferd, a merchant. Kerferd was educated at the Collegiate Institute, Liverpool, with intentions of studying law; however circumstances led him to enter his...		31 July 1874	7 August 1875	373
	11	Graham Berry Graham Berry Sir Graham Berry KCMG , Australian colonial politician, was the 11th Premier of Victoria. He was one of the most Radical and colourful figures in the politics of colonial Victoria, and made the most determined efforts to break the power of the Victorian Legislative Council, the stronghold of the...		7 August 1875	20 October 1875	75
	-	James McCulloch (4th time)		20 October 1875	21 May 1877	580
	-	Graham Berry (2nd time)		21 May 1877	5 March 1880	1020
	12	James Service James Service James Service , Australian colonial politician, was the 12th Premier of Victoria. Service was born in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland, and as a young man worked in a Glasgow tea importing business...		5 March 1880	3 August 1880	152
	-	Graham Berry (3rd time)		3 August 1880	9 July 1881	341
	13	Sir Bryan O'Loghlen Bryan O'Loghlen Sir Bryan O'Loghlen, 3rd Baronet , Australian colonial politician, was the 13th Premier of Victoria....		9 July 1881	8 March 1883	608
	-	James Service (2nd time)		8 March 1883	18 February 1886	1079
	14	Duncan Gillies Duncan Gillies Duncan Gillies , Australian colonial politician, was the 14th Premier of Victoria.Gillies was born at Overnewton near Glasgow, Scotland, where his father had a market garden. He was sent to the high school until he was about 14, when he entered an office in Glasgow...	Conservative-Liberal Coalition	18 February 1886	5 November 1890	1722
	15	James Munro James Munro (Australian politician) James Munro , Australian colonial politician, was the 15th Premier of Victoria.-Early life:James Munro was born in Sutherlandshire, Scotland, his parents were Donald Munro and his wife, Georgina. James Munro's grandparents were an Alexander Munro of the family of Foulis, Ross-shire and his wife...	National Liberal	5 November 1890	16 February 1892	469
	16	William Shiels William Shiels William Shiels , Australian colonial politician, was the 16th Premier of Victoria. Shiels was born in Ireland of a Presbyterian family and arrived in Melbourne as a child in 1853. He was educated at Scotch College and the University of Melbourne, where he graduated in law and arts, gaining a...	Liberal	16 February 1892	23 January 1893	343
	17	Sir James Brown Patterson James Patterson (Australian politician) James Brown Patterson KCMG , Australian colonial politician, was the 17th Premier of Victoria.Patterson was born in Alnwick, Northumberland, and emigrated to Victoria in 1852 to seek his fortune on the goldfields...	Conservative	23 January 1893	27 September 1894	613
	18	Sir George Turner George Turner (Australian politician) Sir George Turner, KCMG, PC , Australian politician, was the 18th Premier of Victoria and the first Treasurer of Australia in the federal Barton Ministry....	Liberal	27 September 1894	5 December 1899	1896
	19	Allan McLean Allan McLean (Australian politician) Allan McLean was an Australian politician, the 19th Premier of Victoria.McLean was born in the highlands of Scotland and came to Australia as a child in 1842 with his family. He later said 'were practically frozen out of Scotland' by 'an exceptionally severe winter'...	Liberal	5 December 1899	19 November 1900	350
	-	Sir George Turner (2nd time)	Liberal	19 November 1900	12 February 1901	86
	20	Alexander James Peacock Alexander Peacock Sir Alexander James Peacock, KCMG , Australian politician, was the 20th Premier of Victoria.Peacock was born of Scottish descent at Creswick, the first Victorian Premier born after the gold rush of the 1850s and the attainment of self-government in Victoria. He was distantly related to the family...	Liberal	12 February 1901	10 June 1902	484
	21	William Hill Irvine William Irvine (Australian politician) Sir William Hill Irvine GCMG , Australian politician and judge, was the 21st Premier of Victoria. Irvine was born in Newry in County Down, Ireland, into a Scottish-Presbyterian family...	Reform	10 June 1902	16 February 1904	617
	22	Sir Thomas Bent Thomas Bent Sir Thomas Bent KCMG , Australian politician, was the 22nd Premier of Victoria. He was one of the most colourful, as well as one of the most corrupt, politicians in Victorian history....	Reform	16 February 1904	8 January 1909	1789
	23	John Murray John Murray (Victorian politician) John Murray , Australian politician, was the 23rd Premier of Victoria.Murray was born near Koroit, Victoria, the son of Scottish immigrants. When he was a child his parents settled on a farm near Warrnambool in the Western District of Victoria. Murray visited Scotland when around 20 years of age,...	Comwlth Liberal Commonwealth Liberal Party The Commonwealth Liberal Party was a political movement active in Australia from 1909 to 1916, shortly after federation....	8 January 1909	18 May 1912	1227
	24	William Alexander Watt William Watt William Alexander Watt PC was an Australian politician who was the 24th Premier of Victoria, and later a leading federal politician and Speaker....	Comwlth Liberal Commonwealth Liberal Party The Commonwealth Liberal Party was a political movement active in Australia from 1909 to 1916, shortly after federation....	18 May 1912	9 December 1913	571
	25	George Elmslie George Elmslie (Australian politician) George Alexander Elmslie , Australian politician, was the 25th Premier of Victoria, and the first Labor Premier....	Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party.Known as the ALP for short, the party is the current governing party of Australia, since the 2007 federal election...	9 December 1913	22 December 1913	14
	-	William Alexander Watt (2nd time)	Comwlth Liberal Commonwealth Liberal Party The Commonwealth Liberal Party was a political movement active in Australia from 1909 to 1916, shortly after federation....	22 December 1913	18 June 1914	179
	-	Sir Alexander James Peacock (2nd time)	Comwlth Liberal Commonwealth Liberal Party The Commonwealth Liberal Party was a political movement active in Australia from 1909 to 1916, shortly after federation....	18 June 1914	29 November 1917	1261
	26	John Bowser John Bowser John Bowser , Australian politician, was the 26th Premier of Victoria. He was born in London, the son of an army officer, and arrived in Melbourne as a child with his family. He grew up at Bacchus Marsh and when he left school got a job with the Bacchus Marsh Express...	National Nationalist Party of Australia The Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party. It was formed on 17 February 1917 from a merger between the conservative Commonwealth Liberal Party and the National Labor Party, the name given to the pro-conscription defectors from the Australian Labor Party led by Prime...	29 November 1917	21 March 1918	113
	27	Harry Sutherland Wightman Lawson Harry Lawson Sir Harry Sutherland Wightman Lawson KCMG , Australian politician, was the 27th Premier of Victoria.Lawson was born in Dunolly, the son of a Presbyterian clergyman of Scottish descent. He was educated at a local school and then briefly Scotch College in Melbourne. He was a noted Australian rules...	National Nationalist Party of Australia The Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party. It was formed on 17 February 1917 from a merger between the conservative Commonwealth Liberal Party and the National Labor Party, the name given to the pro-conscription defectors from the Australian Labor Party led by Prime...	21 March 1918	7 September 1923	1997
	-	Harry Sutherland Wightman Lawson (2nd time)	National-Country Coalition	7 September 1923	19 March 1924	195
	-	Harry Sutherland Wightman Lawson (3rd time)	National Nationalist Party of Australia The Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party. It was formed on 17 February 1917 from a merger between the conservative Commonwealth Liberal Party and the National Labor Party, the name given to the pro-conscription defectors from the Australian Labor Party led by Prime...	19 March 1924	28 April 1924	41
	-	Sir Alexander Peacock (3rd time)	National Nationalist Party of Australia The Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party. It was formed on 17 February 1917 from a merger between the conservative Commonwealth Liberal Party and the National Labor Party, the name given to the pro-conscription defectors from the Australian Labor Party led by Prime...	28 April 1924	18 July 1924	82
	28	George Michael Prendergast George Prendergast George Michael Prendergast , Australian politician, was the 28th Premier of Victoria. He was born in Adelaide, but he grew up in Stawell in the Wimmera district of Victoria. Known to his friends as "Mick," he was apprenticed as a printer, and worked as a compositor in Ballarat, Sydney and...	Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party.Known as the ALP for short, the party is the current governing party of Australia, since the 2007 federal election...	18 July 1924	18 November 1924	124
	29	John Allan John Allan (Australian politician) John Allan , Australian politician, was the 29th Premier of Victoria. He was born near Lancefield, where his father was a farmer of Scottish origin, and educated at state schools. He took up wheat and dairy farming at Wyuna and was director of a butter factory at Kyabram...	Country-National Coalition	18 November 1924	20 May 1927	914
	30	Edmond John Hogan Edmond Hogan Edmond John "Ned" Hogan , Australian politician, 30th Premier of Victoria, was born near Bacchus Marsh, where his Irish-born parents were small farmers...	Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party.Known as the ALP for short, the party is the current governing party of Australia, since the 2007 federal election...	20 May 1927	22 November 1928	553
	31	Sir William Murray McPherson William Murray McPherson Sir William Murray McPherson KBE was an Australian philanthropist and politician. He was the 31st Premier of Victoria....	National Nationalist Party of Australia The Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party. It was formed on 17 February 1917 from a merger between the conservative Commonwealth Liberal Party and the National Labor Party, the name given to the pro-conscription defectors from the Australian Labor Party led by Prime...	22 November 1928	12 December 1929	386
	-	Edmond John Hogan (2nd time)	Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party.Known as the ALP for short, the party is the current governing party of Australia, since the 2007 federal election...	12 December 1929	19 May 1932	890
	32	Sir Stanley Seymour Argyle Stanley Argyle Sir Stanley Seymour Argyle KBE , Australian politician, was the 32nd Premier of Victoria. He was born in Kyneton, Victoria, the son of a grazier, and was educated at Brighton Grammar School and the University of Melbourne, where he graduated in medicine...	Country Coalition United Australia Party The United Australia Party or UAP was an Australian political party that was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and the predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...	19 May 1932	2 April 1935	1049
	33	Albert Arthur Dunstan Albert Dunstan Sir Albert Arthur Dunstan, KCMG was an Australian politician. A member of the Country Party , Dunstan was the 33rd Premier of Victoria. His term as Premier was the second-longest in the state's history, behind Sir Henry Bolte...	Country National Party of Australia The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing rural voters, it was originally called the Country Party, but adopted the name National Country Party in 1975 and changed to its present name in 1982...	2 April 1935	14 September 1943	3088
	34	John Cain Snr John Cain (senior) John Cain was an Australian politician, who became the 34th Premier of Victoria, and was the first Australian Labor Party Leader to win a majority in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. He was the only Premier of Victoria whose son also served as Premier.-Early life:Cain was born, one of 18...	Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party.Known as the ALP for short, the party is the current governing party of Australia, since the 2007 federal election...	14 September 1943	18 September 1943	5
	-	Albert Arthur Dunstan (2nd time)	Country-UAP Coalition National Party of Australia The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing rural voters, it was originally called the Country Party, but adopted the name National Country Party in 1975 and changed to its present name in 1982...	18 September 1943	2 October 1945	746
	35	Ian MacFarlan Ian MacFarlan Ian Macfarlan was the Deputy Leader of the Australian Liberal Party in Victoria State during 1945. He was briefly commissioned as the 35th Premier of Victoria by the Governor and he formed a government which effectuated the dissolution of the Dunstan Ministry.-1945 Dissolution of the Legislative...	Liberal Liberal Party of Australia The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...	2 October 1945	21 November 1945	51
	-	John Cain Snr (2nd time)	Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party.Known as the ALP for short, the party is the current governing party of Australia, since the 2007 federal election...	21 November 1945	20 November 1947	730
	36	Thomas Tuke Hollway Thomas Hollway Thomas Tuke "Tom" Hollway was the 36th Premier of Victoria, holding office from 1947 to 1950, and again for a short period in 1952....	Liberal-Country Coalition	20 November 1947	3 December 1948	380
	-	Thomas Tuke Hollway (2nd time)	Liberal Liberal Party of Australia The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...	3 December 1948	27 June 1950	572
	37	John Gladstone Black McDonald John McDonald (Victorian politician) Sir John Gladstone Black McDonald was 37th Premier of Victoria from 27 June 1950 to 17 December 1952, except for a few days in October 1952 when Thomas Hollway led a brief Electoral Reform government...	Country National Party of Australia The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing rural voters, it was originally called the Country Party, but adopted the name National Country Party in 1975 and changed to its present name in 1982...	27 June 1950	28 October 1952	855
	-	Thomas Tuke Hollway (3rd time)	Electoral Reform	28 October 1952	31 October 1952	4
	-	John Gladstone Black McDonald (2nd time)	Country National Party of Australia The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing rural voters, it was originally called the Country Party, but adopted the name National Country Party in 1975 and changed to its present name in 1982...	31 October 1952	17 December 1952	48
	-	John Cain Snr (3rd time)	Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party.Known as the ALP for short, the party is the current governing party of Australia, since the 2007 federal election...	17 December 1952	31 March 1955	835
	-	John Cain Snr (4th time)	Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party.Known as the ALP for short, the party is the current governing party of Australia, since the 2007 federal election...	31 March 1955	7 June 1955	69
	38	Sir Henry Edward Bolte Henry Bolte Sir Henry Edward Bolte GCMG , Australian politician, was the 38th and longest serving Premier of Victoria. In his later years he became known as the last Australian politician to advocate, and use, capital punishment....	Liberal and Country	7 June 1955	23 August 1972	6288
	39	Rupert James Hamer Rupert Hamer Sir Rupert James Hamer, AC, KCMG, ED , generally known until he was knighted in 1982 as Dick Hamer, Australian Liberal Party politician, was the 39th Premier of Victoria, serving from 1972 to 1981.-Early years:...	Liberal Liberal Party of Australia The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...	23 August 1972	5 June 1981	3209
	40	Lindsay Hamilton Simpson Thompson Lindsay Thompson Lindsay Hamilton Simpson Thompson AO, CMG , Australian Liberal Party politician, was the 40th Premier of Victoria from June 1981 to April 1982...	Liberal Liberal Party of Australia The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...	5 June 1981	8 April 1982	308
	41	John Cain II John Cain II John Cain , Australian Labor Party politician, was the 41st Premier of Victoria, holding office from 1982 to 1990.-Biography:...	Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party.Known as the ALP for short, the party is the current governing party of Australia, since the 2007 federal election...	8 April 1982	10 August 1990	3047
	42	Joan Elizabeth Kirner Joan Kirner Joan Elizabeth Kirner AM , Australian politician, was the 42nd Premier of Victoria, the first woman to hold the position, which she held for two years prior to a landslide election defeat.-Biography:...	Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party.Known as the ALP for short, the party is the current governing party of Australia, since the 2007 federal election...	10 August 1990	6 October 1992	789
	43	Jeffrey Gibb Kennett Jeff Kennett Hon Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of the Hawthorn Football Club. He was the founding Chairman, and now a Director, of beyondblue, a National Depression Initiative.- Early life :Kennett was...	Liberal-National Coalition	6 October 1992	20 October 1999	2571
	44	Stephen Phillip Bracks Steve Bracks Stephen Philip Bracks is a former Australian politician, and the 44th Premier of Victoria, holding the position for eight years, from 1999 to 2007....	Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party.Known as the ALP for short, the party is the current governing party of Australia, since the 2007 federal election...	20 October 1999	30 July 2007	2841
	45	John Mansfield Brumby John Brumby John Mansfield Brumby, MLA , Australian Labor Party politician, is the 45th Premier of Victoria, assuming office on 30 July 2007 after the resignation of Steve Bracks...	Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party.Known as the ALP for short, the party is the current governing party of Australia, since the 2007 federal election...	30 July 2007	Present

Living former premiers

As of July 2008, four former premiers are alive, the oldest being John Cain

John Cain II

John Cain , Australian Labor Party politician, was the 41st Premier of Victoria, holding office from 1982 to 1990.-Biography:...

 (1982–1990, born 1931). The most recent premier to die was Lindsay Thompson

Lindsay Thompson

Lindsay Hamilton Simpson Thompson AO, CMG , Australian Liberal Party politician, was the 40th Premier of Victoria from June 1981 to April 1982...

 (1981–82), on 16 July 2008.

Name	Term as premier	Date of birth
John Cain John Cain II John Cain , Australian Labor Party politician, was the 41st Premier of Victoria, holding office from 1982 to 1990.-Biography:...	1982–1990	26 April 1931
Joan Kirner Joan Kirner Joan Elizabeth Kirner AM , Australian politician, was the 42nd Premier of Victoria, the first woman to hold the position, which she held for two years prior to a landslide election defeat.-Biography:...	1990–1992	20 June 1938
Jeff Kennett Jeff Kennett Hon Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of the Hawthorn Football Club. He was the founding Chairman, and now a Director, of beyondblue, a National Depression Initiative.- Early life :Kennett was...	1992–1999	2 March 1948
Steve Bracks Steve Bracks Stephen Philip Bracks is a former Australian politician, and the 44th Premier of Victoria, holding the position for eight years, from 1999 to 2007....	1999–2007	15 October 1954