Premier of New South Wales
List of Premiers of New South Wales
Before the 1890s there was no formal party system in New South Wales. Party labels before that time indicate a general tendency only. In the 1860s and 1870s there was a fairly coherent Liberal tendency, led first by Charles Cowper and then by Henry Parkes. This later developed into the Free Trade Party. There was never an organised Conservative party, although some politicians used this label. Ministries which were not Liberal were usually factional. From the 1880s the party conflict was between Free Traders and Protectionists. This situation continued until the rise the Labor in the 1890s. After Federation in 1901 the Protectionists renamed themselves Progressives, while the Free Traders became Liberals. These two parties later merged.
See Premiers of the Australian states for a description and history of the office of Premier.
| Premier | Party | Took office |
|---|---|---|
| Stuart Donaldson | - | 6 June 1856 |
| Charles Cowper | Liberal | 26 August 1856 |
| Henry Parker | - | 3 October 1856 |
| Charles Cowper | Liberal | 7 September 1857 |
| William Forster | - | 27 October 1859 |
| John Robertson | - | 9 March 1860 |
| Charles Cowper | Liberal | 10 January 1861 |
| James Martin | - | 16 October 1863 |
| Charles Cowper | Liberal | 3 February 1865 |
| James Martin | - | 22 January 1866 |
| John Robertson | - | 27 October 1868 |
| Charles Cowper | Liberal | 13 January 1870 |
| Sir James Martin | - | 16 December 1870 |
| Henry Parkes | Liberal | 14 May 1872 |
| John Robertson | - | 9 February 1875 |
| Henry Parkes | Liberal | 22 March 1877 |
| Sir John Robertson | - | 17 August 1877 |
| James Farnell | - | 18 December 1877 |
| Sir Henry Parkes | Liberal | 21 December 1878 |
| Alexander Stuart | - | 5 January 1883 |
| George Dibbs | Protectionist | 7 October 1885 |
| Sir John Robertson | - | 22 December 1885 |
| Sir Patrick Jennings | Protectionist | 26 February 1886 |
| Sir Henry Parkes | Free Trade | 20 January 1887 |
| George Dibbs | Protectionist | 17 January 1889 |
| Sir Henry Parkes | Free Trade | 8 March 1889 |
| George Dibbs | Protectionist | 23 October 1891 |
| George Reid | Free Trade | 3 August 1894 |
| William Lyne | Protectionist | 14 September 1899 |
| John See | Progressive | 28 March 1901 |
| Thomas Waddell | Progressive | 15 June 1904 |
| Joseph Carruthers | Liberal | 29 August 1904 |
| Charles Wade | Liberal | 2 October 1907 |
| James McGowen | Labor | 21 October 1910 |
| William Holman | Labor | 30 June 1913 |
| William Holman | Nationalist | 15 November 1916 |
| John Storey | Labor | 12 April 1920 |
| James Dooley | Labor | 10 October 1921 |
| George Fuller | Nationalist | 20 December 1921 |
| James Dooley | Labor | 20 December 1921 |
| Sir George Fuller | Nationalist | 13 April 1922 |
| Jack Lang | Labor | 17 June 1925 |
| Thomas Bavin | Nationalist | 18 October 1927 |
| Jack Lang | Labor | 4 November 1930 |
| Sir Bertram Stevens | United Australia | 16 May 1932 |
| Alexander Mair | United Australia | 5 August 1939 |
| William McKell | Labor | 16 May 1941 |
| James McGirr | Labor | 6 February 1947 |
| Joseph Cahill | Labor | 3 April 1952 |
| Robert Heffron | Labor | 28 October 1959 |
| Jack Renshaw | Labor | 30 April 1964 |
| Sir Robert Askin* | Liberal | 13 May 1965 |
| Thomas Lewis | Liberal | 3 January 1975 |
| Sir Eric Willis | Liberal | 23 January 1976 |
| Neville Wran | Labor | 14 May 1976 |
| Barrie Unsworth | Labor | 4 July 1986 |
| Nicholas Greiner | Liberal | 25 March 1988 |
| John Fahey | Liberal | 24 June 1992 |
| Bob Carr | Labor | 14 April 1995 |
* Askin's given name was Robin but he changed it to Robert when he was knighted. He was always known as Bob.