New South Wales Premiers Since 1856
Victor P Taffa
New South Wales Legislative Council was established in 1823 and a small, 5-member appointed Legislative Council began meeting on 24 August 1824 to advise the Governor on legislative matters.
New South Wales and 5 other colonies agreed to form a Federation of States as the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901.
Prior to Federation on 1 January 1901 the term ‘Prime Minister of New South Wales’ was used. ‘Premier’ was used from 1901.
People who have held the office of Premier of New South Wales since Self Government in 1856 is as follows:
Premier Party Term Of Office
Gladys Berejiklian Liberal 23 Jan. 2017-Present
Mike Baird Liberal 17 April 2014-23 Jan. 2017
Barry O’Farrell Liberal 28 March 2011-17 April 2014
Kristina Keneally Labor 4 Dec. 2009-28 March 2011
Nathan Rees Labor 5 Sept. 2008-4 Dec. 2009
Morris Iemma Labor 3 Aug. 2005-5 Sept. 2008
Bob Carr Labor 4 April 1995-3 Aug. 2005
John Fahey Liberal 24 June 1992-4 April 1995
Nick Greiner Liberal 25 March 1988-24 June 1992
Barrie Unsworth Labor 4 July 1986-25 March 1988
Neville Wran Labor 14 May 1976-4 July 1986
Sir Eric Willis Liberal 23 Jan. 1976-14 May 1976
Tom Lewis Liberal 3 Jan. 1975-23 Jan. 1976
Sir Robert Askin Liberal 13 May 1965-3 Jan. 1975
Jack Renshaw Labor 30 April 1964-13 May 1965
Bob Heffron Labor 23 Oct. 1959-30 April 1964
Joseph Cahill Labor 2 April 1952-22 Oct. 1959
James McGirr Labor 6 Feb. 1947-2 April 1952
William McKell Labor 16 May 1941-6 Feb. 1947
Alexander Mair United Australia 5 Aug. 1939-16 May 1941
Bertram Stevens United Australia 16 May 1932-5 Aug. 1939
Jack Lang Labor (NSW) 15 Oct. 1931-13 May 1932
Jack Lang Labor 4 Nov. 1930-15 Oct. 1931
Thomas Bavin Nationalist 18 Oct. 1927-4 Nov. 1930
Jack Lang Labor 17 June 1925-18 Oct. 1927
Sir George Fuller Nationalist 13 April 1922-17 June 1925
James Dooley Labor 20 Dec. 1921-13 April 1922
Sir George Fuller Nationalist 20 Dec. 1921-20 Dec. 1921
James Dooley Labor 5 Oct. 1921-20 Dec. 1921
John Storey Labor 13 April 1920-5 Oct. 1921
William Holman Nationalist 15 Nov. 1916-12 April 1920
William Holman Labor 30 June 1913-15 Nov. 1916
James McGowen Labor 21 Oct. 1910-29 June 1913
Charles Wade Liberal Reform 2 Oct. 1907-1 Oct. 1910
Sir Joseph Carruthers Liberal Reform 29 Aug. 1904-1 Oct. 1907
Thomas Waddell Progressive 15 June 1904-29 Aug. 1904
Sir John See Progressive 28 March 1901-14 June 1904
Sir William Lyne Protectionist 14 Sept. 1899-27 March 1901
George Reid Free Trade 3 Aug. 1894-13 Sept. 1899
George Dibbs Protectionist 23 Oct. 1891-2 Aug. 1894
Sir Henry Parkes Free Trade 8 March 1889-23 Oct. 1891
George Dibbs Protectionist 17 Jan. 1889-7 March 1889
Sir Henry Parkes Free Trade 25 Jan. 1887-16 Jan. 1889
Sir Patrick Jennings 26 Feb. 1886-19 Jan.1887
Sir John Robertson 22 Dec. 1885-22 Feb. 1886
George Dibbs 7 Oct. 1885-21 Dec. 1885
Alexander Stuart 5 Jan. 1883-6 Oct. 1885
Sir Henry Parkes 21 Dec. 1878-4 Jan. 1883
James Farnell 18 Dec. 1877-20 Dec. 1878
Sir John Robertson 17 Aug. 1877-17 Dec. 1877
Henry Parkes 22 March 1877-16 Aug. 1877
John Robertson 9 Feb. 1875-21 March 1877
Henry Parkes 14 May 1872-8 Feb. 1875
Sir James Martin 16 Dec. 1870-13 May 1872
Charles Cowper 13 Jan. 1870-15 Dec. 1870
John Robertson 27 Oct. 1868-12 Jan. 1870
James Martin 22 Jan. 1866-26 Oct. 1868
Charles Cowper 3 Feb. 1865-21 Jan. 1866
James Martin 16 Oct. 1863-2 Feb. 1865
Charles Cowper 10 Jan. 1861-15 Oct. 1863
John Robertson 9 March 1860-9 Jan.1861
William Forster 27 Oct. 1859-9 March 1860
Charles Cowper 7 Sept. 1857-26 Oct. 1859
Henry Parker 3 Oct. 1856-7 Sept. 1857
Charles Cowper 26 Aug. 1856-2 Oct. 1856
Stuart Donaldson 6 June 1856-25 Aug. 1856
Premiers Who Have Held More Than 1 Term Of Office:
Premier Party Term Of Office
Jack Lang Labor (NSW) 15 Oct. 1931-13 May 1932
Jack Lang Labor 4 Nov. 1930-15 Oct. 1931
Jack Lang Labor 17 June 1925-18 Oct. 1927
Sir George Fuller Nationalist 13 April 1922-17 June 1925
Sir George Fuller Nationalist 20 Dec. 1921-20 Dec. 1921
James Dooley Labor 20 Dec. 1921-13 April 1922
James Dooley Labor 5 Oct. 1921-20 Dec. 1921
William Holman Nationalist 15 Nov. 1916-12 April 1920
William Holman Labor 30 June 1913-15 Nov. 1916
George Dibbs Protectionist 23 Oct. 1891-2 Aug. 1894
George Dibbs Protectionist 17 Jan. 1889-7 March 1889
George Dibbs 7 Oct. 1885-21 Dec. 1885
Sir Henry Parkes Free Trade 8 March 1889-23 Oct. 1891
Sir Henry Parkes Free Trade 25 Jan. 1887-16 Jan. 1889
Sir Henry Parkes 21 Dec. 1878-4 Jan. 1883
Henry Parkes 22 March 1877-16 Aug. 1877
Henry Parkes 14 May 1872-8 Feb. 1875
Sir James Martin 16 Dec. 1870-13 May 1872
James Martin 22 Jan. 1866-26 Oct. 1868
James Martin 16 Oct. 1863-2 Feb. 1865
Sir John Robertson 22 Dec. 1885-22 Feb. 1886
Sir John Robertson 17 Aug. 1877-17 Dec. 1877
John Robertson 9 Feb. 1875-21 March 1877
John Robertson 27 Oct. 1868-12 Jan. 1870
John Robertson 9 March 1860-9 Jan.1861
Charles Cowper 13 Jan. 1870-15 Dec. 1870
Charles Cowper 3 Feb. 1865-21 Jan. 1866
Charles Cowper 10 Jan. 1861-15 Oct. 1863
Charles Cowper 7 Sept. 1857-26 Oct. 1859
Charles Cowper 26 Aug. 1856-2 Oct. 1856