List of premiers of Queensland by age

Living as of 22 November 2024

Premier	Date of birth	Premier
Russell Cooper	(1941-02-04) 4 February 1941	1989
Peter Beattie	(1952-11-18) 18 November 1952	1998–2007
Rob Borbidge	(1954-08-12) 12 August 1954	1996–1998
Anna Bligh	(1960-07-14) 14 July 1960	2007–2012
Campbell Newman	(1963-08-12) 12 August 1963	2012–2015
Annastacia Palaszczuk	(1969-07-25) 25 July 1969	2015–2023
Steven Miles	(1977-11-15) 15 November 1977	2023–2024
David Crisafulli	(1979-04-14) 14 April 1979	2024–

This is a list of premiers of Queensland by age, including when they were born, what age they were when they were appointed premier, what age were they when they left the office and the age at which they died, or their current age as of 22 November 2024 if they are still alive. The table can be sorted by each different category.

The date of appointment as premier is the date on which they were sworn in by the Governor for their first term. The day on which they departed office is the final day of their final term. This is either the day a new premier was appointed or their date of death if they died whilst in office.

Overview

The median age of a premier on the first day of their first term is roughly 48 years, and 194 days which falls between Arthur Macalister and Campbell Newman. The youngest person to assume the office was Robert Herbert at 28 years and 181 days. The oldest person to assume office was Frank Cooper at 70 years and 62 days.

The oldest living former premier is Russell Cooper, born 4 February 1941 (age 83 years, 292 days). The youngest living former premier is Steven Miles, born 15 November 1977, (age 47 years, 7 days), (age 55 years, 120 days). The youngest living premier is the incumbent David Crisafulli, born 14 April 1979, (age 45 years, 222 days).

The longest-lived premier was Joh Bjelke-Petersen who died on 23 April 2005 at the age of 94 years and 100 days. Arthur Edward Moore was the second longest-lived premier, aged 86 years and 332 days, 7 years and 232 days short of Bjelke-Petersen. Bjelke-Petersen surpassed Moore's lifespan on 11 December 1997. The oldest living premier, Russell Cooper, will tie Moore if he lives to 2 January 2028, and tie Bjelke-Petersen if he lives to 15 May 2035. The shortest-lived premier was Thomas Joseph Byrnes who died in office at the age of 37 years and 320 days on 27 September 1898.

The premier with the longest retirement is Robert Herbert. He left office on 7 August 1866, and died 38 years and 272 days later on 6 May 1905. The premier with the shortest retirement is James Robert Dickson, who died on 10 January 1901, 1 year and 40 days after leaving office on 1 December 1899.

#	Premier	Born	Took office	Age	Left office	Age	Died	Length of retirement	Lifespan
1	Robert Herbert	12 June 1831	10 December 1859	28 years, 181 days	7 August 1866	35 years, 56 days	6 May 1905	38 years, 272 days	73 years, 328 days
2	Arthur Macalister	18 January 1818	1 February 1866	48 years, 14 days	5 June 1876	58 years, 139 days	23 March 1883	6 years, 291 days	65 years, 64 days
3	Robert Mackenzie	21 July 1811	15 August 1867	56 years, 25 days	25 November 1868	57 years, 127 days	19 September 1873	4 years, 298 days	62 years, 60 days
4	Charles Lilley	27 August 1827	25 November 1868	41 years, 90 days	2 May 1870	42 years, 248 days	20 August 1897	27 years, 110 days	69 years, 358 days
5	Arthur Hunter Palmer	28 December 1819	3 May 1870	50 years, 126 days	7 January 1874	54 years, 10 days	20 March 1898	24 years, 72 days	78 years, 82 days
6	George Thorn	12 October 1838	5 June 1876	37 years, 237 days	8 March 1877	38 years, 147 days	15 January 1905	27 years, 313 days	66 years, 95 days
7	John Douglas	6 March 1828	8 March 1877	49 years, 2 days	21 January 1879	50 years, 321 days	23 July 1904	25 years, 184 days	76 years, 139 days
8	Thomas McIlwraith	17 May 1835	21 January 1879	43 years, 249 days	27 October 1893	58 years, 163 days	17 July 1900	6 years, 263 days	65 years, 61 days
9	Samuel Griffith	21 June 1845	13 November 1883	38 years, 145 days	27 March 1893	47 years, 279 days	9 August 1920	27 years, 135 days	75 years, 49 days
10	Boyd Dunlop Morehead	24 August 1843	30 November 1888	45 years, 98 days	2 August 1894	46 years, 353 days	30 October 1905	15 years, 79 days	62 years, 67 days
11	Hugh Nelson	31 December 1833	27 October 1893	59 years, 300 days	13 April 1898	64 years, 103 days	1 January 1906	7 years, 263 days	72 years, 1 day
12	Thomas Joseph Byrnes	11 November 1860	13 April 1898	37 years, 153 days	27 September 1898	37 years, 320 days	27 September 1898	N/A	37 years, 320 days
13	James Dickson	30 November 1832	1 October 1898	65 years, 305 days	1 December 1899	67 years, 1 day	10 January 1901	1 year, 40 days	68 years, 41 days
14	Anderson Dawson	16 July 1863	1 December 1899	36 years, 138 days	7 December 1899	36 years, 144 days	20 July 1910	10 years, 225 days	47 years, 4 days
15	Robert Philp	28 December 1851	17 December 1899	47 years, 354 days	18 February 1908	56 years, 52 days	17 July 1922	14 years, 149 days	70 years, 201 days
16	Arthur Morgan	19 September 1856	17 September 1903	46 years, 363 days	19 January 1906	51 years, 12 days	20 December 1916	10 years, 336 days	60 years, 92 days
17	William Kidston	17 August 1849	19 January 1906	56 years, 155 days	7 February 1911	61 years, 174 days	25 October 1919	8 years, 260 days	70 years, 69 days
18	Digby Denham	25 January 1859	7 February 1911	52 years, 13 days	1 June 1915	56 years, 127 days	10 May 1944	28 years, 344 days	85 years, 106 days
19	T. J. Ryan	1 July 1876	1 June 1915	38 years, 335 days	12 April 1920	43 years, 113 days	1 August 1921	1 year, 283 days	45 years, 31 days
20	Ted Theodore	29 December 1884	22 October 1919	34 years, 297 days	26 February 1925	40 years, 59 days	9 February 1950	24 years, 348 days	65 years, 42 days
21	William Gillies	27 October 1868	26 February 1925	56 years, 122 days	22 October 1925	56 years, 360 days	9 February 1928	2 years, 110 days	59 years, 105 days
22	William McCormack	27 April 1879	22 October 1925	46 years, 178 days	21 May 1929	50 years, 24 days	21 November 1947	18 years, 184 days	68 years, 208 days
23	Arthur Edward Moore	9 February 1876	21 May 1929	53 years, 101 days	17 June 1932	56 years, 129 days	7 January 1963	30 years, 204 days	86 years, 332 days
24	William Forgan Smith	15 April 1887	17 June 1932	45 years, 63 days	16 September 1942	55 years, 154 days	25 September 1953	11 years, 9 days	66 years, 163 days
25	Frank Arthur Cooper	16 July 1872	16 September 1942	70 years, 62 days	7 March 1946	73 years, 234 days	30 November 1949	3 years, 268 days	77 years, 137 days
26	Ned Hanlon	1 October 1887	7 March 1946	58 years, 157 days	15 January 1952	64 years, 106 days	15 January 1952	N/A	64 years, 106 days
27	Vince Gair	25 February 1901	17 January 1952	50 years, 326 days	12 August 1957	56 years, 168 days	11 November 1980	23 years, 91 days	79 years, 260 days
28	Frank Nicklin	6 August 1895	12 August 1957	62 years, 6 days	17 January 1968	72 years, 164 days	29 January 1978	10 years, 12 days	82 years, 176 days
29	Jack Pizzey	2 February 1911	17 January 1968	56 years, 349 days	21 July 1968	57 years, 151 days	21 July 1968	N/A	57 years, 170 days
30	Gordon Chalk	16 May 1913	1 August 1968	55 years, 77 days	8 August 1968	55 years, 84 days	26 April 1991	22 years, 268 days	77 years, 345 days
31	Joh Bjelke-Petersen	13 January 1911	8 August 1968	57 years, 208 days	1 December 1987	76 years, 322 days	23 April 2005	17 years, 143 days	94 years, 100 days
32	Mike Ahern	2 June 1942	1 December 1987	45 years, 182 days	25 September 1989	47 years, 115 days	11 August 2023	33 years, 320 days	81 years, 70 days
33	Russell Cooper	4 February 1941	25 September 1989	48 years, 233 days	7 December 1989	48 years, 306 days		34 years, 351 days	83 years, 292 days
34	Wayne Goss	26 February 1951	7 December 1989	38 years, 284 days	19 February 1996	44 years, 358 days	10 November 2014	18 years, 264 days	63 years, 257 days
35	Rob Borbidge	12 August 1954	19 February 1996	41 years, 191 days	20 June 1998	43 years, 312 days		26 years, 155 days	70 years, 102 days
36	Peter Beattie	18 November 1952	20 June 1998	45 years, 214 days	13 September 2007	54 years, 299 days		17 years, 70 days	72 years, 4 days
37	Anna Bligh	14 July 1960	13 September 2007	47 years, 61 days	26 March 2012	51 years, 256 days		12 years, 241 days	64 years, 131 days
38	Campbell Newman	12 August 1963	26 March 2012	48 years, 227 days	14 February 2015	51 years, 186 days		9 years, 282 days	61 years, 102 days
39	Annastacia Palaszczuk	25 July 1969	14 February 2015	45 years, 204 days	15 December 2023	54 years, 143 days		343 days	55 years, 120 days
40	Steven Miles	15 November 1977	15 December 2023	46 years, 30 days	28 October 2024	46 years, 348 days		25 days	47 years, 7 days
41	David Crisafulli	14 April 1979	28 October 2024	45 years, 197 days	Incumbent	Incumbent		Incumbent	45 years, 222 days

Timeline of living premiers

This is a chronological list of all who served as the Premier of Queensland and were still living, at different periods in history. There has been only one time period when there was only one living premier, beginning with the appointment of Robert Herbert in December 1859 and ending with the appointment of Arthur Macalister in February 1866.

There has been one time period when 10 living current or former premiers co-existed. This period was from the appointment of Robert Philp on 17 December 1899 to the death of Thomas McIlwraith on 17 July 1900.

If one includes future premiers as well as past and current premiers, there has been only one time period when 25 different premiers co-existed. (see Statistics)

Number of premiers alive at each moment in Queensland history

Start date	End date	Start event	Duration	End event	Living premiers
10 December 1859	1 February 1866	Appointment of Robert Herbert	6 years, 53 days	Appointment of Arthur Macalister	1	Herbert
1 February 1866	15 August 1867	Appointment of Arthur Macalister	1 year, 195 days	Appointment of Robert Mackenzie	2	Herbert Macalister
15 August 1867	25 November 1868	Appointment of Robert Mackenzie	1 year, 102 days	Appointment of Charles Lilley	3	Herbert Macalister Mackenzie
25 November 1868	2 May 1870	Appointment of Charles Lilley	1 year, 158 days	Appointment of Arthur Hunter Palmer	4	Herbert Macalister Mackenzie Lilley
2 May 1870	19 September 1873	Appointment of Arthur Hunter Palmer	3 years, 140 days	Death of Robert Mackenzie	5	Herbert Macalister Mackenzie Lilley Palmer
19 September 1873	5 June 1876	Death of Robert Mackenzie	2 years, 260 days	Appointment of George Thorn	4	Herbert Macalister Lilley Palmer
5 June 1876	8 March 1877	Appointment of George Thorn	276 days	Appointment of John Douglas	5	Herbert Macalister Lilley Palmer Thorn
8 March 1877	21 January 1879	Appointment of John Douglas	1 year, 319 days	Appointment of Thomas McIlwraith	6	Herbert Macalister Lilley Palmer Thorn Douglas
21 January 1879	23 March 1883	Appointment of Thomas McIlwraith	4 years, 61 days	Death of Arthur Macalister	7	Herbert Macalister Lilley Palmer Thorn Douglas McIlwraith
23 March 1883	13 November 1883	Death of Arthur Macalister	235 days	Appointment of Samuel Griffith	6	Herbert Lilley Palmer Thorn Douglas McIlwraith
13 November 1883	30 November 1888	Appointment of Samuel Griffith	5 years, 17 days	Appointment of Boyd Dunlop Morehead	7	Herbert Lilley Palmer Thorn Douglas McIlwraith Griffith
30 November 1888	27 October 1893	Appointment of Boyd Dunlop Morehead	4 years, 331 days	Appointment of Hugh Nelson	8	Herbert Lilley Palmer Thorn Douglas McIlwraith Griffith Morehead
27 October 1893	20 August 1897	Appointment of Hugh Nelson	3 years, 297 days	Death of Charles Lilley	9	Herbert Lilley Palmer Thorn Douglas McIlwraith Griffith Morehead Nelson
20 August 1897	20 March 1898	Death of Charles Lilley	212 days	Death of Arthur Hunter Palmer	8	Herbert Palmer Thorn Douglas McIlwraith Griffith Morehead Nelson
20 March 1898	13 April 1898	Death of Arthur Hunter Palmer	24 days	Appointment of Thomas Joseph Byrnes	7	Herbert Thorn Douglas McIlwraith Griffith Morehead Nelson
13 April 1898	1 October 1898	Appointment of Thomas Joseph Byrnes	171 days	Death of Thomas Joseph Byrnes	8	Herbert Thorn Douglas McIlwraith Griffith Morehead Nelson Byrnes
1 October 1898	1 December 1899	Appointment of James Dickson	1 year, 61 days	Appointment of Anderson Dawson	8	Herbert Thorn Douglas McIlwraith Griffith Morehead Nelson Dickson
1 December 1899	17 December 1899	Appointment of Anderson Dawson	16 days	Appointment of Robert Philp	9	Herbert Thorn Douglas McIlwraith Griffith Morehead Nelson Dickson Dawson
17 December 1899	17 July 1900	Appointment of Robert Philp	212 days	Death of Thomas McIlwraith	10	Herbert Thorn Douglas McIlwraith Griffith Morehead Nelson Dickson Dawson Philp
17 July 1900	10 January 1901	Death of Thomas McIlwraith	177 days	Death of James Dickson	9	Herbert Thorn Douglas Griffith Morehead Nelson Dickson Dawson Philp
10 January 1901	17 September 1903	Death of James Dickson	2 years, 250 days	Appointment of Arthur Morgan	8	Herbert Thorn Douglas Griffith Morehead Nelson Dawson Philp
17 September 1903	23 July 1904	Appointment of Arthur Morgan	310 days	Death of John Douglas	9	Herbert Thorn Douglas Griffith Morehead Nelson Dawson Philp Morgan
23 July 1904	15 January 1905	Death of John Douglas	176 days	Death of George Thorn	8	Herbert Thorn Griffith Morehead Nelson Dawson Philp Morgan
15 January 1905	6 May 1905	Death of George Thorn	111 days	Death of Robert Herbert	7	Herbert Griffith Morehead Nelson Dawson Philp Morgan
6 May 1905	30 October 1905	Death of Robert Herbert	177 days	Death of Boyd Dunlop Morehead	6	Griffith Morehead Nelson Dawson Philp Morgan
30 October 1905	1 January 1906	Death of Boyd Dunlop Morehead	63 days	Death of Hugh Nelson	5	Griffith Nelson Dawson Philp Morgan
1 January 1906	19 January 1906	Death of Hugh Nelson	18 days	Appointment of William Kidston	4	Griffith Dawson Philp Morgan
19 January 1906	20 July 1910	Appointment of William Kidston	4 years, 182 days	Death of Anderson Dawson	5	Griffith Dawson Philp Morgan Kidston
20 July 1910	7 February 1911	Death of Anderson Dawson	202 days	Appointment of Digby Denham	4	Griffith Philp Morgan Kidston
7 February 1911	1 June 1915	Appointment of Digby Denham	4 years, 114 days	Appointment of T. J. Ryan	5	Griffith Philp Morgan Kidston Denham
1 June 1915	20 December 1916	Appointment of T. J. Ryan	1 year, 202 days	Death of Arthur Morgan	6	Griffith Philp Morgan Kidston Denham Ryan
20 December 1916	22 October 1919	Death of Arthur Morgan	2 years, 306 days	Appointment of Ted Theodore	5	Griffith Philp Kidston Denham Ryan
22 October 1919	25 October 1919	Appointment of Ted Theodore	3 days	Death of William Kidston	6	Griffith Philp Kidston Denham Ryan Theodore
25 October 1919	9 August 1920	Death of William Kidston	289 days	Death of Samuel Griffith	5	Griffith Philp Denham Ryan Theodore
9 August 1920	1 August 1921	Death of Samuel Griffith	357 days	Death of T. J. Ryan	4	Philp Denham Ryan Theodore
1 August 1921	11 July 1922	Death of T. J. Ryan	344 days	Death of Robert Philp	3	Philp Denham Theodore
11 July 1922	26 February 1925	Death of Robert Philp	2 years, 230 days	Appointment of William Gillies	2	Denham Theodore
26 February 1925	22 October 1925	Appointment of William Gillies	238 days	Appointment of William McCormack	3	Denham Theodore Gillies
22 October 1925	9 February 1928	Appointment of William McCormack	3 years, 211 days	Death of William Gillies	4	Denham Theodore Gillies McCormack
9 February 1928	21 May 1929	Death of William Gillies	2 years, 330 days	Appointment of Arthur Edward Moore	3	Denham Theodore McCormack
21 May 1929	17 June 1932	Appointment of Arthur Edward Moore	3 years, 27 days	Appointment of William Forgan Smith	4	Denham Theodore McCormack Moore
17 June 1932	16 September 1942	Appointment of William Forgan Smith	10 years, 91 days	Appointment of Frank Arthur Cooper	5	Denham Theodore McCormack Moore Forgan Smith
16 September 1942	10 May 1944	Appointment of Frank Arthur Cooper	1 year, 237 days	Death of Digby Denham	6	Denham Theodore McCormack Moore Forgan Smith F. Cooper
10 May 1944	7 March 1946	Death of Digby Denham	1 year, 301 days	Appointment of Ned Hanlon	5	Theodore McCormack Moore Forgan Smith F. Cooper
7 March 1946	21 November 1947	Appointment of Ned Hanlon	1 year, 259 days	Death of William McCormack	6	Theodore McCormack Moore Forgan Smith F. Cooper Hanlon
21 November 1947	30 November 1949	Death of William McCormack	2 years, 9 days	Death of Frank Arthur Cooper	5	Theodore Moore Forgan Smith F. Cooper Hanlon
30 November 1949	9 February 1950	Death of Frank Arthur Cooper	71 days	Death of Ted Theodore	4	Theodore Moore Forgan Smith Hanlon
9 February 1950	17 January 1952	Death of Ted Theodore	1 year, 342 days	Death of Ned Hanlon	3	Moore Forgan Smith Hanlon
17 January 1952	25 September 1953	Appointment of Vince Gair	1 year, 251 days	Death of William Forgan Smith	3	Moore Forgan Smith Gair
25 September 1953	12 August 1957	Death of William Forgan Smith	3 years, 321 days	Appointment of Frank Nicklin	2	Moore Gair
12 August 1957	7 January 1963	Appointment of Frank Nicklin	5 years, 148 days	Death of Arthur Edward Moore	3	Moore Gair Nicklin
7 January 1963	17 January 1968	Death of Arthur Edward Moore	5 years, 10 days	Appointment of Jack Pizzey	2	Gair Nicklin
17 January 1968	21 July 1968	Appointment of Jack Pizzey	186 days	Death of Jack Pizzey	3	Gair Nicklin Pizzey
21 July 1968	1 August 1968	Death of Jack Pizzey	11 days	Appointment of Gordon Chalk	2	Gair Nicklin
1 August 1968	8 August 1968	Appointment of Gordon Chalk	7 days	Appointment of Joh Bjelke-Petersen	3	Gair Nicklin Chalk
8 August 1968	29 January 1978	Appointment of Joh Bjelke-Petersen	9 years, 174 days	Death of Frank Nicklin	4	Gair Nicklin Chalk Bjelke-Petersen
29 January 1978	11 November 1980	Death of Frank Nicklin	2 years, 287 days	Death of Vince Gair	3	Gair Chalk Bjelke-Petersen
11 November 1980	1 December 1987	Death of Vince Gair	7 years, 20 days	Appointment of Mike Ahern	2	Chalk Bjelke-Petersen
1 December 1987	25 September 1989	Appointment of Mike Ahern	1 year, 298 days	Appointment of Russell Cooper	3	Chalk Bjelke-Petersen Ahern
25 September 1989	7 December 1989	Appointment of Russell Cooper	73 days	Appointment of Wayne Goss	4	Chalk Bjelke-Petersen Ahern R. Cooper
7 December 1989	26 April 1991	Appointment of Wayne Goss	1 year, 140 days	Death of Gordon Chalk	5	Chalk Bjelke-Petersen Ahern R. Cooper Goss
26 April 1991	19 February 1996	Death of Gordon Chalk	4 years, 299 days	Appointment of Rob Borbidge	4	Bjelke-Petersen Ahern R. Cooper Goss
19 February 1996	20 June 1998	Appointment of Rob Borbidge	2 years, 121 days	Appointment of Peter Beattie	5	Bjelke-Petersen Ahern R. Cooper Goss Borbidge
20 June 1998	23 April 2005	Appointment of Peter Beattie	6 years, 307 days	Death of Joh Bjelke-Petersen	6	Bjelke-Petersen Ahern R. Cooper Goss Borbidge Beattie
23 April 2005	13 September 2007	Death of Joh Bjelke-Petersen	2 years, 143 days	Appointment of Anna Bligh	5	Ahern R. Cooper Goss Borbidge Beattie
13 September 2007	26 March 2012	Appointment of Anna Bligh	4 years, 195 days	Appointment of Campbell Newman	6	Ahern R. Cooper Goss Borbidge Beattie Bligh
26 March 2012	10 November 2014	Appointment of Campbell Newman	2 years, 229 days	Death of Wayne Goss	7	Ahern R. Cooper Goss Borbidge Beattie Bligh Newman
10 November 2014	14 February 2015	Death of Wayne Goss	96 days	Appointment of Annastacia Palaszczuk	6	Ahern R. Cooper Borbidge Beattie Bligh Newman
14 February 2015	11 August 2023	Appointment of Annastacia Palaszczuk	8 years, 178 days	Death of Mike Ahern	7	Ahern R. Cooper Borbidge Beattie Bligh Newman Palaszczuk
11 August 2023	12 December 2023	Death of Mike Ahern	123 days	Appointment of Steven Miles	6	R. Cooper Borbidge Beattie Bligh Newman Palaszczuk
12 December 2023	28 October 2024	Appointment of Steven Miles	321 days	Appointment of David Crisafulli	7	R. Cooper Borbidge Beattie Bligh Newman Palaszczuk Miles
28 October 2024	present	Appointment of David Crisafulli	25 days	present	8	R. Cooper Borbidge Beattie Bligh Newman Palaszczuk Miles Crisafulli

Statistics

• Because he was the first premier, and the fact that there have been at least two premiers living since the appointment of Arthur Macalister on 1 February 1866, Robert Herbert is the only person to ever hold the distinction of being the only living premier (from 10 December 1859 to 1 February 1866).
• In addition, Arthur Macalister (from 1 February 1866 to 15 August 1867), Digby Denham, Ted Theodore (from 11 July 1922 to 26 February 1925), Arthur Edward Moore (from 25 September 1953 to 12 August 1957), Vince Gair (from 25 September 1953 to 12 August 1957, 7 January 1963 to 17 January 1968, and 21 July to 1 August 1968), and Frank Nicklin (from 7 January 1963 to 17 January 1968, and 21 July to 1 August 1968) are the only other persons to have been one of two or less living premiers.
• During one period in the History of Queensland have there been 10 living premiers. This period was from 17 December 1899 to 17 July 1900 (when Robert Herbert, George Thorn, John Douglas, Thomas McIlwraith, Samuel Griffith, Boyd Dunlop Morehead, Hugh Nelson, James Dickson, Anderson Dawson, and Robert Philp were alive).
• Robert Herbert was the only person to be both one of two or less living premiers (from 10 December 1859 to 15 August 1867) and one of the 10 living premiers (from 17 December 1899 to 17 July 1900).
• There have been 20 administrations during which a premier has not died, the most recent being the administration of Steven Miles. This does not include the administrations of Thomas Joseph Byrnes, nor Jack Pizzey (who were themselves the only premiers to die during their administrations) nor the administration of the incumbent David Crisafulli as no premier has died since Mike Ahern who died during the administration of Annastacia Palaszczuk.
  • Conversely, only during the administration of Arthur Morgan has there been as many as five deaths during an administration. Only once (during the administration of Ted Theodore) has there been as many as four deaths during an administration (this does not include the administration of Ned Hanlon whose own death was the fourth during his administration).
• William Forgan Smith holds the distinction of serving for the longest period without the death of premier during his term (10 years, 91 days). In recent years, the premier who served the longest without a death in her term was Anna Bligh, who served for 4 years and 195 days.
• The longest period between deaths of premiers was the 16 years and 91 days between the deaths of William Gillies on 9 February 1928 and Digby Denham on 10 May 1944. The shortest period was the 63 days between the deaths of Boyd Dunlop Morehead on 30 October 1905 and Hugh Nelson on 1 January 1906.
  • If the longest period between deaths is to be exceeded, no premier must die before 13 October 2039 (the current oldest and second oldest surviving premiers, Russell Cooper and Peter Beattie, would then be 98 and 87 years old respectively).
  • The second longest period was the 14 years and 150 days between the deaths of Arthur Macalister on 23 March 1883 and Charles Lilley on 20 August 1897.
• Only twice (in 1898 and 1905) have multiple premiers died in the same year.
• Following his administration's end in 1867, Robert Herbert lived to see a record 19 administrations prior to his death in May 1905. Samuel Griffith follows with 13 administrations after his own administration ended in 1893, prior to his death in August 1920. In modern times, the premier to have lived to see the most administrations following their own was Russell Cooper, with 8 following the end of his administration in 1989.
• If one includes future as well as past and current premiers, the record sits at 25:
  • Between Frank Nicklin's birth on 6 August 1895 and Charles Lilley's death on 20 August 1897, the following premiers were alive: Robert Herbert, Charles Lilley, Arthur Hunter Palmer, George Thorn, John Douglas, Thomas McIlwraith, Samuel Griffith, Boyd Dunlop Morehead, Hugh Nelson, Thomas Joseph Byrnes, James Dickson, Anderson Dawson, Robert Philp, Arthur Morgan, William Kidston, Digby Denham, T. J. Ryan, Ted Theodore, William Gillies, William McCormack, Arthur Edward Moore, William Forgan Smith, Frank Arthur Cooper, Ned Hanlon, and Frank Nicklin.
• Since the appointment of Mike Ahern on 1 December 1987 (a period of 36 years, 357 days), there have been at least three premiers living, and since the appointment of Russell Cooper on 25 September 1989 (a period of 35 years, 58 days), there have been at least four premiers living.

Oldest living premiers of Queensland

Not all premiers live to become the oldest of their time. Of the 33 deceased premiers, 14 eventually became the oldest of their time, while 19 did not (including all 3 premiers who died in office, and 15 others). Joh Bjelke-Petersen became the oldest living premier when Vince Gair died in 1980 and remained so until his death in 2005, for a record 24 years and 163 days. Hugh Nelson became the oldest living premier after the death of Robert Herbert, but he survived Herbert by only 240 days.

On two occasions the oldest living premier lost this distinction not by his death, but due to the appointment of a premier who was older. Robert Herbert lost this distinction when Arthur Macalister was appointed, but when John Douglas died in 1904 Herbert regained it again until his own death in 1905 for a total period of 6 years and 340 days. Arthur Macalister lost this distinction when Robert Mackenzie was appointed, but regained it again when Mackenzie died in 1875, Consequently, Macalister too was the oldest living premier twice: first from 1866 to 1867 (from first appointment), and a second time from Mackenzie's death in 1873 until his own death in 1883 for a total period of 10 years and 15 days.

Vince Gair was the oldest to acquire this distinction at the age of 76 years, and 338 days. Mike Ahern, who was aged 81 years, and 70 days when he died, on 11 August 2023 was the oldest and most recent premier to die without ever acquiring this distinction.

Premier	Period when oldest living premier		Age		Duration
	Start date	End date	at start	at end
Robert Herbert	10 December 1859	1 February 1866	28 years, 181 days	34 years, 234 days	6 years, 53 days
Arthur Macalister	1 February 1866	15 August 1867	48 years, 14 days	49 years, 209 days	1 year, 195 days
Robert Mackenzie	15 August 1867	19 September 1873	56 years, 25 days	62 years, 60 days	6 years, 35 days
Arthur Macalister	19 September 1873	23 March 1883	55 years, 244 days	65 years, 64 days	9 years, 185 days
Arthur Hunter Palmer	23 March 1883	20 March 1898	63 years, 85 days	78 years, 82 days	14 years, 362 days
John Douglas	20 March 1898	23 July 1904	70 years, 14 days	76 years, 139 days	6 years, 125 days
Robert Herbert	23 July 1904	6 May 1905	73 years, 41 days	73 years, 328 days	287 days
Hugh Nelson	6 May 1905	1 January 1906	71 years, 126 days	72 years, 1 day	240 days
Samuel Griffith	1 January 1906	9 August 1920	60 years, 194 days	75 years, 49 days	14 years, 221 days
Robert Philp	9 August 1920	17 July 1922	68 years, 225 days	70 years, 201 days	1 year, 342 days
Digby Denham	17 July 1922	10 May 1944	63 years, 173 days	85 years, 106 days	21 years, 298 days
Frank Arthur Cooper	10 May 1944	30 November 1949	71 years, 299 days	77 years, 137 days	5 years, 204 days
Arthur Edward Moore	30 November 1949	7 January 1963	73 years, 294 days	86 years, 332 days	13 years, 38 days
Frank Nicklin	7 January 1963	29 January 1978	67 years, 154 days	82 years, 176 days	15 years, 22 days
Vince Gair	29 January 1978	11 November 1980	76 years, 338 days	79 years, 260 days	2 years, 287 days
Joh Bjelke-Petersen	11 November 1980	23 April 2005	69 years, 303 days	94 years, 100 days	24 years, 163 days
Russell Cooper	23 April 2005	Current oldest living premier	64 years, 78 days	Current oldest living premier	19 years, 213 days
Premier	Start date	End date	Age at start	Age at end	Duration

See also

• Premier of Queensland
• List of premiers of Queensland by time in office
• List of prime ministers of Australia by age
• List of premiers of New South Wales by age
• List of premiers of South Australia by age
• List of premiers of Tasmania by age
• List of premiers of Victoria by age
• List of premiers of Western Australia by age

References

This article "List of premiers of Queensland by age" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:List of premiers of Queensland by age. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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