Governor of Victoria

Vice-regal representative of the Australian monarch in Victoria

Governor of Victoria

File:Badge of the Governor of Victoria.svg

Badge of the Governor

File:Flag of the Governor of Victoria.svg

Flag of the Governor

File:Linda Dessau.jpg

Incumbent
Linda Dessau AC
since 1 July 2015

Viceregal
Style| Her Excellency the Honourable
Residence| Government House, Melbourne
Seat| Melbourne
Nominator| Premier of Victoria
Appointer| Monarch of Australia
on the advice of the Premier
Term length| At His Majesty's pleasure
(usually 5 years by convention)
Formation| 22 May 1855
First holder| Sir Charles Hotham
Deputy| Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria
Website| governor.vic.gov.au

The governor of Victoria is the representative of the monarch, King Charles III, in the Australian state of Victoria. The governor is one of seven viceregal representatives in the country, analogous to the governors of the other states, and the governor-general federally.

The governor is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the premier of Victoria. The governor's role is to represent the Crown in right of Victoria. This role mainly includes performing ceremonial functions, such as opening and dissolving Parliament, appointing the Cabinet, and providing royal assent.

The governor's office and official residence is Government House next to the Royal Botanic Gardens and surrounded by Kings Domain in Melbourne.

The current governor of Victoria is Linda Dessau, Victoria's first female governor.[1]

## Contents

* 1 Powers
* 2 Role of governor
* 3 Governor's personal standard
* 4 Related offices
* 5 Australianisation of the office
* 6 List of governors of Victoria
* 6.1 Lieutenant-governors
* 6.2 Governors
* 7 Line of succession
* 8 See also
* 9 References
* 10 External links

## Powers[edit | edit source]

In accordance with the conventions of the Westminster system of parliamentary government, the governor nearly always acts solely on the advice of the head of the elected government, the Premier of Victoria. Nevertheless, the governor retains the reserve powers of the Crown, and has the right to dismiss the premier.[2]

## Role of governor[edit | edit source]

The governor of Victoria is appointed by the King of Australia, on the advice of the premier of Victoria, to act as her representative as head of state in Victoria.[3] The governor acts "at the King's pleasure", meaning that the term of the governor can be terminated at any time by the monarch acting upon the advice of the premier.

Since the Australia Acts of 1986, it is the governor, and not the king, who exercises all the powers of the head of state, and the governor is not subject to the direction or supervision of the monarch, but acts upon the advice of the premier. Upon appointment, the governor becomes a viceroy. The governor's main responsibilities fall into three categories – constitutional, ceremonial and community engagement.[3]

## Governor's personal standard[edit | edit source]

The personal standard of the governor of Victoria is the same design as the State Flag of Victoria, but with the blue background replaced by gold, and red stars depicting the Southern Cross. Above the Southern Cross is the Royal Crown.

The current standard has been in place since 1984. Previously, the standard used by Victorian governors after 1870 had been the Union Jack with the Badge of the State of Victoria emblazoned in the centre.[4] Between 1903 and 1953, the Tudor Crown was used on the State Flag and Governor's Standard, and this was changed to the present crown in 1954.

The governor's standard is flown at Government House and on vehicles conveying the governor. The standard is lowered over Government House when the governor is absent from Victoria.[4]

Past and present standards of the governor

* Flag of the Governor of Victoria (1870–1877).svg

1870–1877

* Flag of the Governor of Victoria (1877–1901).svg

1877–1903

* Flag of the Governor of Victoria (1903–1952).svg

1903-1953, bearing a Tudor crown

* Flag of the Governor of Victoria (1952–1984).svg

1953-1984, bearing a St. Edward's crown

* Flag of the Governor of Victoria.svg

1984–present

## Related offices[edit | edit source]

There is also a lieutenant-governor and an administrator. The Chief Justice of Victoria is ex officio the Administrator, unless the chief justice is the lieutenant-governor, in which case, the next most senior judge is the administrator. The lieutenant-governor takes on the responsibilities of the governor when that post is vacant or when the governor is out of the state or unable to act. The administrator takes on those duties if both the governor and lieutenant-governor are not able to act for the above reasons.

See Governors of the Australian states for a description and history of the office of governor.

The Official Secretary to the Governor of Victoria is the head of the Office of the Governor that supports the Governor of Victoria in carrying out his or her official constitutional and ceremonial duties and community and international engagements. The Official Secretary manages the Office and its administrative and service staff. All staff report to their respective managers, and through them to the Deputy Official Secretary and Official Secretary. The Office also is in charge of maintaining Government House, Melbourne, and its collections as a heritage and community asset of national importance. The Official Secretary is the Victorian nominee on the Council for the Order of Australia.[5]

The Office of the Governor was established under the Public Administration Act 2004 (Vic) as an administrative office within the portfolio of the Department of Premier and Cabinet. The current Official Secretary is Joshua Puls MVO, and the current Deputy Official Secretary (Operations) is Taara Olorenshaw.[5]

## Australianisation of the office[edit | edit source]

As with the other states, until the 1986 Australia Acts, the office of Governor of Victoria was an appointment of the British Foreign Office although local advice was considered and sometimes accepted.

Until the appointment of Victorian-born Sir Henry Winneke in 1974, the Governors of Victoria were British. Since then, governors have been Australian although several were born overseas, namely Dr Davis McCaughey, born in Ireland, came to Australia for work; and Professor David de Kretser, born in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and Alex Chernov, born in Lithuania, both of whom came to Australia while at school.

## List of governors of Victoria[edit | edit source]

### Lieutenant-governors[edit | edit source]

Prior to the separation of the colony of Victoria from New South Wales in 1851, the area was called the Port Phillip District of New South Wales. The governor of New South Wales appointed superintendents of the district. In 1839 Charles La Trobe was appointed superintendent. La Trobe became lieutenant-governor of the new colony of Victoria on separation on 1 July 1851.

Between 1850 and 1861, the governor of New South Wales was titled governor-general of New South Wales, in an attempt to form a federal structure. Until Victoria obtained responsible government in 1855, the governor-general of New South Wales appointed lieutenant-governors to Victoria.[6] On Victoria obtaining responsible government in May 1855, the title of the then incumbent lieutenant-governor, Captain Sir Charles Hotham, became governor.

No. | Image | Lieutenant-governor | From | To

|
|
|
|

1  | File:Charleslatrobe.jpg | Captain Charles La Trobe | 1 July 1851  | 5 May 1854
2  | File:Charles Hotham by James Henry Lynch-crop.jpg | Captain Sir Charles Hotham KCB RN | 22 June 1854  | 22 May 1855

### Governors[edit | edit source]

No. | Image | Governor | From | To | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

1  | File:Charles Hotham by James Henry Lynch-crop.jpg | Captain Sir Charles Hotham KCB RN | 22 May 1855  | 31 December 1855  | Edward Macarthur was administrator from January to December 1856[7]
2  | File:Henry Barkly.jpg | Sir Henry Barkly GCMG KCB FRS FRGS  | 26 December 1856  | 10 September 1863  |
3  | File:Portrait of Sir Charles Darling 1863 wood engraving.jpg | Sir Charles Darling KCB  | 11 September 1863  | 7 May 1866  | George Carey acted May to August 1866[8]
4  | File:3rdViscountCanterbury.jpg | The Rt Hon. Viscount Canterbury GCMG KCB  | 15 August 1866  | 2 March 1873  |
5  | File:George Bowen b.jpg | The Rt Hon. Sir George Bowen GCMG  | 30 July 1873  | 22 February 1879  |
6  | File:GeorgePhipps2ndMarquessOfNormanby.jpg | The Most Hon. Marquess of Normanby GCB GCMG PC | 29 April 1879  | 18 April 1884  |
7  | File:Henry Loch Vanity Fair 5 July 1894.jpg | Sir Henry Brougham Loch GCMG KCB  | 15 July 1884  | 15 November 1889  |
8  | File:Lord Hopetoun 1902.jpg | The Right Hon. Earl of Hopetoun KT GCMG GCVO PC  | 28 November 1889  | 12 July 1895  |
9  | File:Brassey1.JPG | The Rt Hon. Lord Brassey GCB JP DL TD | 25 October 1895  | 31 March 1900  |
10  | File:George Sydenham Clarke.jpg | Sir George Clarke KCMG  | 28 September 1901[9] | 24 November 1903  |
11  | File:Reginald Talbot Vanity Fair 22 July 1897.jpg | The Hon. Major-General Sir Reginald Talbot KCB  | 25 April 1904  | 6 July 1908  |
12  | File:Thomas Gibson Carmichael.jpg | The Rt Hon. Lord Carmichael GCSI GCIE KCMG DL  | 27 July 1908  | 19 May 1911  |
13  | File:John Fuller.jpg | The Rt Hon. Sir John Fuller Bt KCMG  | 24 May 1911  | 24 November 1913  |
14  | File:Arthur Stanley.jpg | Sir Arthur Stanley KCMG  | 23 February 1914  | 30 January 1920  |
15  | File:The Earl of Stradbroke in 1915.jpg | The Rt Hon. Earl of Stradbroke KCMG CB CVO CBE VD TD  | 24 February 1921  | 7 April 1926  |
16  | File:Lord Somers Governor 1926.jpg | The Rt Hon. Lord Somers KCMG DSO MC | 28 June 1926  | 23 June 1931  |
17  | File:Lord huntingfield.jpg | The Rt Hon. Lord Huntingfield KCMG  | 14 May 1934  | 4 April 1939  |
18  | File:Winston Dugan.jpg | The Rt Hon. Major General Lord Dugan GCMG CB DSO  | 17 July 1939  | 20 February 1949  |
19  | File:Sir Dallas Brooks talking with the Governor of West Australia, Sir James Mitchell.jpg | General Sir Reginald Dallas Brooks GCMG KCB KCVO DSO  | 18 October 1949  | 7 May 1963  |
20  |  | Major General Sir Rohan Delacombe KCMG KCVO KBE CB DSO  | 8 May 1963  | 31 May 1974  |
21  | File:Sir Henry Winneke (cropped).JPG | The Hon. Sir Henry Winneke AC KCMG KCVO OBE QC | 1 June 1974  | 28 February 1982  |
22  |  | Rear Admiral Sir Brian Murray KCMG AO | 1 March 1982  | 3 October 1985  |
23  |  | The Reverend Dr Davis McCaughey AC  | 18 February 1986  | 22 April 1992  |
24  |  | The Hon. Richard McGarvie AC QC  | 23 April 1992  | 23 April 1997  |
25  |  | The Hon. Sir James Gobbo AC CVO QC  | 24 April 1997  | 31 December 2000  |
26  | File:Bannister and Landy.jpg | Mr. John Landy AC CVO MBE | 1 January 2001  | 7 April 2006  |
27  | File:David de Kretser Dsc 6787.jpg | Professor David de Kretser AC  | 7 April 2006  | 7 April 2011  |
28  | File:Alex Chernov Governor of Victoria.png | The Hon. Alex Chernov AC KC  | 8 April 2011  | 30 June 2015  |
29  | File:Linda Dessau.jpg | The Hon. Linda Dessau AC  | 1 July 2015  | Incumbent  |

## Line of succession[edit | edit source]

There is also a lieutenant-governor and an administrator. The lieutenant-governor takes on the responsibilities of the governor when that post is vacant or when the governor is out of the state or unable to act. The lieutenant-governor is appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier of Victoria. Appointment as lieutenant-governor does not of itself confer any powers or functions. If there is no governor or if the governor is unavailable to act for a substantial period, the lieutenant-governor assumes office as administrator and exercises all the powers and functions of the governor.

If expecting to be unavailable for a short period only, the governor, with the consent of the premier, usually commissions the lieutenant-governor to act as deputy for the governor, performing some or all of the powers and functions of the governor.[10]

The chief justice of Victoria is ex officio the administrator, unless the chief justice is the lieutenant-governor, in which case the next most senior judge is the administrator. The administrator takes on the governor's duties if both the governor and lieutenant-governor are not able to act for the above reasons.

The current lieutenant-governor is James Angus, who was appointed to the role on 12 November 2021 to succeed Ken Lay.

## See also[edit | edit source]

* Governor-General of Australia
* Governors of the Australian states

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ^ Willingham, Richard (11 February 2015). "Linda Dessau will become Victoria's first female Governor". The Age. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
2. ^ Constitution of Victoria (1975), Part 1.
3. ^ a b Role of the governor
4. ^ a b The Governor's Standard
5. ^ a b "Office of the Governor". Governor of Victoria. Retrieved 30 July 2021. File:CC BY icon-80x15.png This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
6. ^ Twomey, Anne (2006). The chameleon Crown: The Queen and her Australian governors. Sydney: The Federation Press. ISBN 978-1-86287-629-3.
7. ^ Hill, A. J. (1974). "Macarthur, Sir Edward (1789–1872)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 5\. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 6 January 2013 - via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
8. ^ McConville, Chris. "Carey, George Jackson (1822–1872)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 26 November 2013 - via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
9. ^ "No. 27360". The London Gazette. 1 October 1901. p. 6395.
10. ^ Victoria Online

## External links[edit | edit source]

File:Commons-logo.svg

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Governors of Victoria, Australia.

* The Official Website of the Governor of Victoria
* Governors of Victoria, Parliament of Victoria
* Office of the Governor Text was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

* v
* t
* e

Governors of Victoria

Before Federation|

* Hotham
* Barkly
* Darling
* Viscount Canterbury
* Bowen
* Marquess of Normanby
* Loch
* Earl of Hopetoun
* Baron Brassey
* Clarke

File:Flag of the Governor of Victoria.svg

After Federation|

* Talbot
* Gibson-Carmichael
* Fuller
* Stanley
* Earl of Stradbroke
* Baron Somers
* Baron Huntingfield
* Dugan
* Brooks
* Delacombe
* Winneke
* Murray
* McCaughey
* McGarvie
* Gobbo
* Landy
* de Kretser
* Chernov
* Dessau

* v
* t
* e

Current governors and administrators of the states and territories of Australia

| NSW| VIC| QLD| WA| SA| TAS| NT| NI| AIOT

|
|
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|
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Margaret Beazley

Linda Dessau

Jeannette Young

Chris Dawson

Frances Adamson

Barbara Baker

Vicki O'Halloran

Eric Hutchinson

Natasha Griggs

* v
* t
* e

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Sub-national|

| Australian state governors|

* New South Wales
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|

Canadian lieutenant governors|

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Government of Victoria

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Coat of arms of Victoria

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