List of premiers of South Australia by age

Living as of 22 November 2024

Premier	Date of birth	Premier
Dean Brown	(1943-04-05) 5 April 1943	1993–1996
John Olsen	(1945-06-07) 7 June 1945	1996–2001
Lynn Arnold	(1949-01-27) 27 January 1949	1992–1993
Mike Rann	(1953-01-05) 5 January 1953	2002–2011
Rob Kerin	(1954-01-04) 4 January 1954	2001–2002
Jay Weatherill	(1964-04-03) 3 April 1964	2011–2018
Steven Marshall	(1968-01-21) 21 January 1968	2018–2022
Peter Malinauskas	(1980-08-14) 14 August 1980	2022–

This is a list of premiers of South Australia 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 44 years, and 285 days which falls between Francis Dutton and Lionel Hill. The youngest person to assume the office was James Boucaut at 34 years and 150 days. The oldest person to assume office was Frank Walsh at 67 years and 247 days.

The oldest living former premier is Dean Brown, born 5 April 1943 (age 81 years, 231 days). The youngest living former premier is Steven Marshall, born 21 January 1968, (age 56 years, 306 days). The youngest living premier is the incumbent Peter Malinauskas, born 14 August 1980, (age 44 years, 100 days).

The longest-lived premier was Steele Hall who died on 10 June 2024 aged 95 years and 193 days. Henry Strangways was the second longest-lived premier, aged 87 years and 88 days. Hall surpassed Strangways' lifespan on 26 February 2016. The oldest living premier, Dean Brown, will tie Strangways if he lives to 2 July 2030, and tie Hall if he lives to 15 October 2039. The shortest-lived premier was John Cox Bray who died at the age of 52 years and 13 days on 13 June 1894.

The premier with the longest retirement is Steele Hall. He left office on 2 June 1970, and died 54 years and 8 days later on 10 June 2024. He surpassed the previous record, held by Henry Strangways (49 years, 256 days) on 13 February 2020. The premier with the shortest retirement is Frank Walsh, who died on 18 May 1968, 352 days after leaving office on 1 June 1967.

#	Premier	Born	Took office	Age	Left office	Age	Died	Length of retirement	Lifespan
1	B. T. Finniss	18 August 1807	24 October 1856	48 years, 67 days	21 August 1857	49 years, 3 days	24 December 1893	36 years, 125 days	85 years, 128 days
2	John Baker	28 December 1813	21 August 1857	43 years, 236 days	1 September 1857	43 years, 247 days	19 May 1872	14 years, 261 days	58 years, 143 days
3	Robert Richard Torrens	1 July 1814	1 September 1857	43 years, 62 days	30 September 1857	43 years, 91 days	31 August 1884	26 years, 336 days	70 years, 61 days
4	Richard Hanson	6 December 1805	30 September 1857	51 years, 298 days	9 May 1860	54 years, 155 days	4 March 1876	15 years, 300 days	70 years, 89 days
5	Thomas Reynolds	27 January 1818	9 May 1860	42 years, 103 days	8 October 1861	43 years, 254 days	25 February 1875	13 years, 140 days	57 years, 29 days
6	George Waterhouse	6 April 1824	8 October 1861	37 years, 185 days	4 July 1863	39 years, 89 days	6 August 1906	43 years, 33 days	82 years, 122 days
7	Francis Dutton	18 October 1818	4 July 1863	44 years, 259 days	20 September 1865	46 years, 337 days	25 January 1877	11 years, 127 days	58 years, 99 days
8	Henry Ayers	1 May 1821	15 July 1863	42 years, 75 days	22 July 1873	52 years, 82 days	11 June 1897	23 years, 324 days	76 years, 41 days
9	Arthur Blyth	19 March 1823	4 August 1864	41 years, 138 days	3 June 1875	52 years, 76 days	7 December 1891	16 years, 187 days	68 years, 263 days
10	John Hart	25 February 1809	23 October 1865	56 years, 240 days	10 November 1871	62 years, 258 days	28 January 1873	1 year, 79 days	63 years, 338 days
11	James Boucaut	29 October 1831	28 March 1866	34 years, 150 days	19 January 1887	46 years, 333 days	1 February 1916	37 years, 127 days	84 years, 95 days
12	Henry Strangways	14 November 1832	3 November 1868	35 years, 355 days	30 May 1870	37 years, 197 days	10 February 1920	49 years, 256 days	87 years, 88 days
13	John Colton	23 September 1823	6 June 1876	52 years, 257 days	16 June 1885	61 years, 266 days	6 February 1902	16 years, 235 days	78 years, 136 days
14	William Morgan	12 September 1828	27 September 1878	50 years, 15 days	24 June 1881	52 years, 285 days	2 November 1883	2 years, 131 days	55 years, 51 days
15	John Cox Bray	31 May 1842	24 June 1881	39 years, 24 days	16 June 1884	42 years, 16 days	13 June 1894	9 years, 362 days	52 years, 13 days
16	John Downer	6 July 1843	16 June 1885	41 years, 345 days	16 June 1893	49 years, 345 days	2 August 1915	22 years, 47 days	72 years, 27 days
17	Thomas Playford II	26 November 1837	11 June 1887	49 years, 197 days	21 June 1892	54 years, 208 days	19 April 1915	22 years, 302 days	77 years, 144 days
18	John Cockburn	23 August 1850	27 June 1889	38 years, 308 days	19 August 1890	39 years, 361 days	26 November 1929	39 years, 99 days	79 years, 95 days
19	Frederick Holder	12 May 1850	21 June 1892	42 years, 40 days	15 May 1901	51 years, 3 days	23 July 1909	8 years, 69 days	59 years, 72 days
20	Charles Kingston	22 October 1850	16 June 1893	42 years, 237 days	1 December 1899	49 years, 40 days	11 May 1908	8 years, 162 days	57 years, 202 days
21	Vaiben Louis Solomon	13 May 1853	1 December 1899	46 years, 202 days	8 December 1899	46 years, 209 days	20 October 1908	8 years, 317 days	55 years, 160 days
22	John Jenkins	8 September 1851	15 May 1901	49 years, 249 days	1 March 1905	53 years, 174 days	22 February 1923	17 years, 358 days	71 years, 167 days
23	Richard Butler	3 December 1850	1 March 1905	54 years, 88 days	26 July 1905	54 years, 235 days	28 April 1925	19 years, 276 days	74 years, 146 days
24	Thomas Price	19 January 1852	26 July 1905	53 years, 188 days	31 May 1909	57 years, 132 days	31 May 1909	N/A	57 years, 132 days
25	Archibald Peake	15 January 1859	5 June 1909	50 years, 141 days	6 April 1920	61 years, 82 days	6 April 1920	N/A	61 years, 82 days
26	John Verran	9 July 1856	3 June 1910	53 years, 329 days	17 February 1912	55 years, 223 days	7 June 1932	20 years, 111 days	75 years, 334 days
27	Crawford Vaughan	14 July 1874	3 April 1915	40 years, 263 days	14 July 1917	43 years, 0 days	15 December 1947	30 years, 154 days	73 years, 154 days
28	Henry Barwell	26 February 1877	8 April 1920	43 years, 42 days	16 April 1924	47 years, 50 days	30 September 1959	35 years, 167 days	82 years, 216 days
29	John Gunn	16 December 1884	16 April 1924	39 years, 122 days	28 August 1926	41 years, 255 days	27 June 1959	32 years, 303 days	74 years, 193 days
30	Lionel Hill	14 May 1881	28 August 1926	45 years, 106 days	13 February 1933	51 years, 275 days	19 March 1963	30 years, 34 days	81 years, 309 days
31	Richard Layton Butler	31 March 1885	8 April 1927	42 years, 8 days	5 November 1938	53 years, 219 days	21 January 1966	27 years, 77 days	80 years, 296 days
32	Robert Richards	31 May 1885	13 February 1933	47 years, 258 days	13 February 1933	47 years, 322 days	24 April 1967	34 years, 6 days	81 years, 328 days
33	Thomas Playford IV	5 July 1896	5 November 1938	42 years, 123 days	10 March 1965	68 years, 248 days	16 June 1981	16 years, 98 days	84 years, 346 days
34	Frank Walsh	6 July 1897	10 March 1965	67 years, 247 days	1 June 1967	69 years, 330 days	18 May 1968	352 days	70 years, 317 days
35	Don Dunstan	21 September 1926	1 June 1967	40 years, 253 days	15 February 1979	52 years, 147 days	6 February 1999	19 years, 356 days	72 years, 138 days
36	Steele Hall	30 November 1928	17 April 1968	39 years, 139 days	2 June 1970	41 years, 184 days	10 June 2024	54 years, 8 days	95 years, 193 days
37	Des Corcoran	8 November 1928	15 February 1979	50 years, 99 days	15 February 1979	50 years, 314 days	3 January 2004	24 years, 107 days	75 years, 56 days
38	David Tonkin	20 July 1929	18 September 1979	53 years, 113 days	10 November 1982	53 years, 113 days	2 October 2000	17 years, 327 days	71 years, 74 days
39	John Bannon	7 May 1943	10 November 1982	39 years, 187 days	4 September 1992	49 years, 120 days	13 December 2015	23 years, 100 days	72 years, 220 days
40	Lynn Arnold	27 January 1949	4 September 1992	43 years, 221 days	14 December 1993	44 years, 321 days		30 years, 344 days	75 years, 300 days
41	Dean Brown	5 April 1943	14 December 1993	50 years, 253 days	28 November 1996	53 years, 237 days		27 years, 360 days	81 years, 231 days
42	John Olsen	7 June 1945	28 November 1996	51 years, 174 days	22 October 2001	56 years, 137 days		23 years, 31 days	79 years, 168 days
43	Rob Kerin	4 January 1954	22 October 2001	47 years, 291 days	5 March 2002	48 years, 60 days		22 years, 262 days	70 years, 323 days
44	Mike Rann	5 January 1953	5 March 2002	49 years, 59 days	21 October 2011	58 years, 289 days		13 years, 32 days	71 years, 322 days
45	Jay Weatherill	3 April 1964	21 October 2011	47 years, 201 days	19 March 2018	53 years, 350 days		6 years, 248 days	60 years, 233 days
46	Steven Marshall	21 January 1968	19 March 2018	50 years, 57 days	21 March 2022	54 years, 59 days		2 years, 246 days	56 years, 306 days
47	Peter Malinauskas	14 August 1980	21 March 2022	41 years, 219 days	Incumbent	Incumbent		Incumbent	44 years, 100 days

Timeline of living premiers

This is a chronological list of all who served as the Premier of South Australia 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 B. T. Finniss in October 1856 and ending with the appointment of John Baker in August 1857.

There have been three time periods when 12 living current or former premiers co-existed. The first and longest period was from the appointment of Henry Strangways on 3 November 1868 to the death of John Baker on 19 May 1872. The second period was from the appointment of Charles Kingston on 16 June 1893 to the death of B. T. Finniss on 24 December 1893. The third and most recent period was from the appointment of Thomas Price on 26 July 1905 to the death of George Waterhouse on 6 August 1900.

If one includes future premiers as well as past and current premiers, there has been only one time period when 26 different premiers co-existed. (see Statistics)

Number of premiers alive at each moment in South Australian history

Start date	End date	Start event	Duration	End event	Living premiers
24 October 1856	21 August 1857	Appointment of B. T. Finniss	301 days	Appointment of John Baker	1	Finniss
21 August 1857	1 September 1857	Appointment of John Baker	11 days	Appointment of Robert Richard Torrens	2	Finniss Baker
1 September 1857	30 September 1857	Appointment of Robert Richard Torrens	29 days	Appointment of Richard Hanson	3	Finniss Baker Torrens
30 September 1857	9 May 1860	Appointment of Richard Hanson	2 years, 222 days	Appointment of Thomas Reynolds	4	Finniss Baker Torrens Hanson
9 May 1860	8 October 1861	Appointment of Thomas Reynolds	1 year, 152 days	Appointment of George Waterhouse	5	Finniss Baker Torrens Hanson Reynolds
8 October 1861	4 July 1863	Appointment of George Waterhouse	1 year, 269 days	Appointment of Francis Dutton	6	Finniss Baker Torrens Hanson Reynolds Waterhouse
4 July 1863	15 July 1863	Appointment of Francis Dutton	11 days	Appointment of Henry Ayers	7	Finniss Baker Torrens Hanson Reynolds Waterhouse Dutton
15 July 1863	4 August 1864	Appointment of Henry Ayers	1 year, 20 days	Appointment of Arthur Blyth	8	Finniss Baker Torrens Hanson Reynolds Waterhouse Dutton Ayers
4 August 1864	23 October 1865	Appointment of Arthur Blyth	1 year, 80 days	Appointment of John Hart	9	Finniss Baker Torrens Hanson Reynolds Waterhouse Dutton Ayers Blyth
23 October 1865	28 March 1866	Appointment of John Hart	156 days	Appointment of James Boucaut	10	Finniss Baker Torrens Hanson Reynolds Waterhouse Dutton Ayers Blyth Hart
28 March 1866	3 November 1868	Appointment of James Boucaut	2 years, 220 days	Appointment of Henry Strangways	11	Finniss Baker Torrens Hanson Reynolds Waterhouse Dutton Ayers Blyth Hart Boucaut
3 November 1868	19 May 1872	Appointment of Henry Strangways	3 years, 198 days	Death of John Baker	12	Finniss Baker Torrens Hanson Reynolds Waterhouse Dutton Ayers Blyth Hart Boucaut Strangways
19 May 1872	28 January 1873	Death of John Baker	254 days	Death of John Hart	11	Finniss Torrens Hanson Reynolds Waterhouse Dutton Ayers Blyth Hart Boucaut Strangways
28 January 1873	25 February 1875	Death of John Hart	2 years, 28 days	Death of Thomas Reynolds	10	Finniss Torrens Hanson Reynolds Waterhouse Dutton Ayers Blyth Boucaut Strangways
25 February 1875	4 March 1876	Death of Thomas Reynolds	1 year, 8 days	Death of Richard Hanson	9	Finniss Torrens Hanson Waterhouse Dutton Ayers Blyth Boucaut Strangways
4 March 1876	6 June 1876	Death of Richard Hanson	94 days	Appointment of John Colton	8	Finniss Torrens Waterhouse Dutton Ayers Blyth Boucaut Strangways
6 June 1876	25 January 1877	Appointment of John Colton	233 days	Death of Francis Dutton	9	Finniss Torrens Waterhouse Dutton Ayers Blyth Boucaut Strangways Colton
25 January 1877	27 September 1878	Death of Francis Dutton	1 year, 245 days	Appointment of William Morgan	8	Finniss Torrens Waterhouse Ayers Blyth Boucaut Strangways Colton
27 September 1878	24 June 1881	Appointment of William Morgan	2 years, 270 days	Appointment of John Cox Bray	9	Finniss Torrens Waterhouse Ayers Blyth Boucaut Strangways Colton Morgan
24 June 1881	2 November 1883	Appointment of John Cox Bray	2 years, 132 days	Death of William Morgan	10	Finniss Torrens Waterhouse Ayers Blyth Boucaut Strangways Colton Morgan Bray
2 November 1883	31 August 1884	Death of William Morgan	302 days	Death of Robert Richard Torrens	9	Finniss Torrens Waterhouse Ayers Blyth Boucaut Strangways Colton Bray
31 August 1884	16 June 1885	Death of Robert Richard Torrens	289 days	Appointment of John Downer	8	Finniss Waterhouse Ayers Blyth Boucaut Strangways Colton Bray
16 June 1885	11 June 1887	Appointment of John Downer	1 year, 360 days	Appointment of Thomas Playford II	9	Finniss Waterhouse Ayers Blyth Boucaut Strangways Colton Bray Downer
11 June 1887	27 June 1889	Appointment of Thomas Playford II	2 years, 16 days	Appointment of John Cockburn	10	Finniss Waterhouse Ayers Blyth Boucaut Strangways Colton Bray Downer Playford II
27 June 1889	7 December 1891	Appointment of John Cockburn	2 years, 163 days	Death of Arthur Blyth	11	Finniss Waterhouse Ayers Blyth Boucaut Strangways Colton Bray Downer Playford II Cockburn
7 December 1891	21 June 1892	Death of Arthur Blyth	197 days	Appointment of Frederick Holder	10	Finniss Waterhouse Ayers Boucaut Strangways Colton Bray Downer Playford II Cockburn
21 June 1892	16 June 1893	Appointment of Frederick Holder	360 days	Appointment of Charles Kingston	11	Finniss Waterhouse Ayers Boucaut Strangways Colton Bray Downer Playford II Cockburn Holder
16 June 1893	24 December 1893	Appointment of Charles Kingston	191 days	Death of B. T. Finniss	12	Finniss Waterhouse Ayers Boucaut Strangways Colton Bray Downer Playford II Cockburn Holder Kingston
24 December 1893	13 June 1894	Death of B. T. Finniss	171 days	Death of John Cox Bray	11	Waterhouse Ayers Boucaut Strangways Colton Bray Downer Playford II Cockburn Holder Kingston
13 June 1894	11 June 1897	Death of John Cox Bray	2 years, 363 days	Death of Henry Ayers	10	Waterhouse Ayers Boucaut Strangways Colton Downer Playford II Cockburn Holder Kingston
11 June 1897	1 December 1899	Death of Henry Ayers	2 years, 173 days	Appointment of Vaiben Louis Solomon	9	Waterhouse Boucaut Strangways Colton Downer Playford II Cockburn Holder Kingston
1 December 1899	15 May 1901	Appointment of Vaiben Louis Solomon	1 year, 165 days	Appointment of John Jenkins	10	Waterhouse Boucaut Strangways Colton Downer Playford II Cockburn Holder Kingston Solomon
15 May 1901	6 February 1902	Appointment of John Jenkins	267 days	Death of John Colton	11	Waterhouse Boucaut Strangways Colton Downer Playford II Cockburn Holder Kingston Solomon Jenkins
6 February 1902	1 March 1905	Death of John Colton	3 years, 23 days	Appointment of Richard Butler	10	Waterhouse Boucaut Strangways Downer Playford II Cockburn Holder Kingston Solomon Jenkins
1 March 1905	26 July 1905	Appointment of Richard Butler	147 days	Appointment of Thomas Price	11	Waterhouse Boucaut Strangways Downer Playford II Cockburn Holder Kingston Solomon Jenkins R. Butler
26 July 1905	6 August 1906	Appointment of Thomas Price	1 year, 11 days	Death of George Waterhouse	12	Waterhouse Boucaut Strangways Downer Playford II Cockburn Holder Kingston Solomon Jenkins R. Butler Price
6 August 1906	11 May 1908	Death of George Waterhouse	1 year, 279 days	Death of Charles Kingston	11	Boucaut Strangways Downer Playford II Cockburn Holder Kingston Solomon Jenkins R. Butler Price
11 May 1908	20 October 1908	Death of Charles Kingston	162 days	Death of Vaiben Louis Solomon	10	Boucaut Strangways Downer Playford II Cockburn Holder Solomon Jenkins R. Butler Price
20 October 1908	5 June 1909	Death of Vaiben Louis Solomon	228 days	Death of Thomas Price	9	Boucaut Strangways Downer Playford II Cockburn Holder Jenkins R. Butler Price
5 June 1909	23 July 1909	Appointment of Archibald Peake	48 days	Death of Frederick Holder	9	Boucaut Strangways Downer Playford II Cockburn Holder Jenkins R. Butler Peake
23 July 1909	3 June 1910	Death of Frederick Holder	315 days	Appointment of John Verran	8	Boucaut Strangways Downer Playford II Cockburn Jenkins R. Butler Peake
3 June 1910	3 April 1915	Appointment of John Verran	4 years, 304 days	Appointment of Crawford Vaughan	9	Boucaut Strangways Downer Playford II Cockburn Jenkins R. Butler Peake Verran
3 April 1915	19 April 1915	Appointment of Crawford Vaughan	16 days	Death of Thomas Playford II	10	Boucaut Strangways Downer Playford II Cockburn Jenkins R. Butler Peake Verran Vaughan
19 April 1915	2 August 1915	Death of Thomas Playford II	105 days	Death of John Downer	9	Boucaut Strangways Downer Cockburn Jenkins R. Butler Peake Verran Vaughan
2 August 1915	1 February 1916	Death of John Downer	183 days	Death of James Boucaut	8	Boucaut Strangways Cockburn Jenkins R. Butler Peake Verran Vaughan
1 February 1916	10 February 1920	Death of James Boucaut	4 years, 9 days	Death of Henry Strangways	7	Strangways Cockburn Jenkins R. Butler Peake Verran Vaughan
10 February 1920	6 April 1920	Death of Henry Strangways	56 days	Death of Archibald Peake	6	Cockburn Jenkins R. Butler Peake Verran Vaughan
6 April 1920	8 April 1920	Death of Archibald Peake	2 days	Appointment of Henry Barwell	5	Cockburn Jenkins R. Butler Verran Vaughan
8 April 1920	22 February 1923	Appointment of Henry Barwell	2 years, 320 days	Death of John Jenkins	6	Cockburn Jenkins R. Butler Verran Vaughan Barwell
22 February 1923	16 April 1924	Death of John Jenkins	1 year, 54 days	Appointment of John Gunn	5	Cockburn R. Butler Verran Vaughan Barwell
16 April 1924	28 April 1925	Appointment of John Gunn	1 year, 12 days	Death of Richard Butler	6	Cockburn R. Butler Verran Vaughan Barwell Gunn
28 April 1925	28 August 1926	Death of Richard Butler	1 year, 122 days	Appointment of Lionel Hill	5	Cockburn Verran Vaughan Barwell Gunn
28 August 1926	8 April 1927	Appointment of Lionel Hill	223 days	Appointment of Richard Layton Butler	6	Cockburn Verran Vaughan Barwell Gunn Hill
8 April 1927	26 November 1929	Appointment of Richard Layton Butler	2 years, 235 days	Death of John Cockburn	7	Cockburn Verran Vaughan Barwell Gunn Hill R.L. Butler
26 November 1929	7 June 1932	Death of John Cockburn	2 years, 191 days	Death of John Verran	6	Verran Vaughan Barwell Gunn Hill R.L. Butler
7 June 1932	13 February 1933	Death of John Verran	251 days	Appointment of Robert Richards	5	Vaughan Barwell Gunn Hill R.L. Butler
13 February 1933	5 November 1938	Appointment of Robert Richards	5 years, 265 days	Appointment of Thomas Playford IV	6	Vaughan Barwell Gunn Hill R.L. Butler Richards
5 November 1938	15 December 1947	Appointment of Thomas Playford IV	9 years, 40 days	Death of Crawford Vaughan	7	Vaughan Barwell Gunn Hill R.L. Butler Richards Playford IV
15 December 1947	27 June 1959	Death of Crawford Vaughan	11 years, 194 days	Death of John Gunn	6	Barwell Gunn Hill R.L. Butler Richards Playford IV
27 June 1959	30 September 1959	Death of John Gunn	95 days	Death of Henry Barwell	5	Barwell Hill R.L. Butler Richards Playford IV
30 September 1959	19 March 1963	Death of Henry Barwell	3 years, 170 days	Death of Lionel Hill	4	Hill R.L. Butler Richards Playford IV
19 March 1963	10 March 1965	Death of Lionel Hill	1 year, 356 days	Appointment of Frank Walsh	3	R.L. Butler Richards Playford IV
10 March 1965	21 January 1966	Appointment of Frank Walsh	317 days	Death of Richard Layton Butler	4	R.L. Butler Richards Playford IV Walsh
21 January 1966	24 April 1967	Death of Richard Layton Butler	1 year, 93 days	Death of Robert Richards	3	Richards Playford IV Walsh
24 April 1967	1 June 1967	Death of Robert Richards	38 days	Appointment of Don Dunstan	2	Playford IV Walsh
1 June 1967	17 April 1968	Appointment of Don Dunstan	321 days	Appointment of Steele Hall	3	Playford IV Walsh Dunstan
17 April 1968	18 May 1968	Appointment of Steele Hall	31 days	Death of Frank Walsh	4	Playford IV Walsh Dunstan Hall
18 May 1968	15 February 1979	Death of Frank Walsh	10 years, 273 days	Appointment of Des Corcoran	3	Playford IV Dunstan Hall
15 February 1979	18 September 1979	Appointment of Des Corcoran	215 days	Appointment of David Tonkin	4	Playford IV Dunstan Hall Corcoran
18 September 1979	16 June 1981	Appointment of David Tonkin	1 year, 271 days	Death of Thomas Playford IV	5	Playford IV Dunstan Hall Corcoran Tonkin
16 June 1981	10 November 1982	Death of Thomas Playford IV	1 year, 147 days	Appointment of John Bannon	4	Dunstan Hall Corcoran Tonkin
10 November 1982	4 September 1992	Appointment of John Bannon	9 years, 299 days	Appointment of Lynn Arnold	5	Dunstan Hall Corcoran Tonkin Bannon
4 September 1992	14 December 1993	Appointment of Lynn Arnold	1 year, 101 days	Appointment of Dean Brown	6	Dunstan Hall Corcoran Tonkin Bannon Arnold
14 December 1993	28 November 1996	Appointment of Dean Brown	2 years, 350 days	Appointment of John Olsen	7	Dunstan Hall Corcoran Tonkin Bannon Arnold Brown
28 November 1996	6 February 1999	Appointment of John Olsen	2 years, 70 days	Death of Don Dunstan	8	Dunstan Hall Corcoran Tonkin Bannon Arnold Brown Olsen
6 February 1999	2 October 2000	Death of Don Dunstan	1 year, 239 days	Death of David Tonkin	7	Hall Corcoran Tonkin Bannon Arnold Brown Olsen
2 October 2000	22 October 2001	Death of David Tonkin	1 year, 20 days	Appointment of Rob Kerin	6	Hall Corcoran Bannon Arnold Brown Olsen
22 October 2001	5 March 2002	Appointment of Rob Kerin	134 days	Appointment of Mike Rann	7	Hall Corcoran Bannon Arnold Brown Olsen Kerin
5 March 2002	3 January 2004	Appointment of Mike Rann	1 year, 304 days	Death of Des Corcoran	8	Hall Corcoran Bannon Arnold Brown Olsen Kerin Rann
3 January 2004	21 October 2011	Death of Des Corcoran	7 years, 291 days	Appointment of Jay Weatherill	7	Hall Bannon Arnold Brown Olsen Kerin Rann
21 October 2011	13 December 2015	Appointment of Jay Weatherill	4 years, 53 days	Death of John Bannon	8	Hall Bannon Arnold Brown Olsen Kerin Rann Weatherill
13 December 2015	19 March 2018	Death of John Bannon	2 years, 96 days	Appointment of Steven Marshall	7	Hall Arnold Brown Olsen Kerin Rann Weatherill
19 March 2018	21 March 2022	Appointment of Steven Marshall	4 years, 2 days	Appointment of Peter Malinauskas	8	Hall Arnold Brown Olsen Kerin Rann Weatherill Marshall
21 March 2022	10 June 2024	Appointment of Peter Malinauskas	2 years, 81 days	Death of Steele Hall	9	Hall Arnold Brown Olsen Kerin Rann Weatherill Marshall Malinauskas
10 June 2024	present	Death of Steele Hall	165 days	present	8	Arnold Brown Olsen Kerin Rann Weatherill Marshall Malinauskas

Statistics

• Because he was the first premier, and the fact that there have been at least two premiers living since the appointment of John Baker on 21 August 1857, B. T. Finniss is the only person to ever hold the distinction of being the only living premier (from 24 October 1856 to 21 August 1857).
• In addition, John Baker (from 21 August 1857 to 1 September 1857), Thomas Playford IV, and Frank Walsh (from 24 April 1967 to 1 June 1967) are the only other persons to have been one of two or less living premiers.
• During three periods in the History of South Australia have there been 12 living premiers. The first such period was from 3 November 1868 to 19 May 1872 (when B. T. Finniss, John Baker, Robert Richard Torrens, Richard Hanson, Thomas Reynolds, George Waterhouse, Francis Dutton, Henry Ayers, Arthur Blyth, John Hart, James Boucaut, and Henry Strangways were alive). The second period was from 16 June 1893 to 24 December 1893 (when B. T. Finniss, George Waterhouse, Henry Ayers, James Boucaut, Henry Strangways, John Colton, John Cox Bray, John Downer, Thomas Playford II, John Cockburn, Frederick Holder, and Charles Kingston were alive). The third and most recent period was from 26 July 1905 to 6 August 1906 (when George Waterhouse, James Boucaut, Henry Strangways, John Downer, Thomas Playford II, John Cockburn, Frederick Holder, Charles Kingston, Vaiben Louis Solomon, John Jenkins, Richard Butler, and Thomas Price were alive). The longest period where there have been 12 living premiers was the 3 years and 198 days ending with the death of John Baker in May 1872.
• John Baker was the only person to be both one of two or less living premiers (from 21 August 1857 to 1 September 1857) and one of the 12 living premiers (from 3 November 1868 to 19 May 1872).
• There have been 24 administrations during which a premier has not died, the most recent being the administration of Steven Marshall.
  • Conversely, only during the administration of Thomas Playford IV has there been as many as four deaths during an administration (this does not include the administration of Thomas Price (whose own death was the fourth during his administrations). Only twice (during the administrations of Charles Kingston and Crawford Vaughan) has there been as many as three deaths during an administration (this does not include the administration of Archibald Peake whose own death was the third during his administration).
• John Bannon holds the distinction of serving for the longest period without the death of premier during his term (9 years and 299 days).
• The longest period between deaths of premiers was the 17 years and 235 days between the deaths of Thomas Playford IV on 16 June 1981 and Don Dunstan on 6 February 1999. The shortest period was the 56 days between the deaths of Henry Strangways on 10 February 1920 and Archibald Peake on 6 April 1920.
  • If the longest period between deaths is to be exceeded, no premier must die before 31 January 2042 (the current oldest and second oldest surviving premiers, Dean Brown and John Olsen, would then be 99 and 97 years old respectively).
  • The second longest period was the 15 years and 191 days between the deaths of John Verran on 7 June 1932 and Crawford Vaughan on 15 December 1947.
• On five occasions (in 1908, 1909, 1915, 1920 and 1959) have two premiers died in the same year.
• Following his administration's end in 1857, B. T. Finniss lived to see a record 33 administrations prior to his death in December 1893. Henry Strangways follows with 27 administrations after his own administration ended in 1870, prior to his death in February 1920. In modern times, the premier to have lived to see the most administrations following their own was Steele Hall, with 12 following the end of his administration in 1970, prior to his death in June 2024.
• If one includes future as well as past and current premiers, the record sits at 26:
  • Between Archibald Peake's birth on 15 January 1859 and John Baker's death on 19 May 1872, the following premiers were alive: B. T. Finniss, John Baker, Robert Richard Torrens, Richard Hanson, Thomas Reynolds, George Waterhouse, Francis Dutton, Henry Ayers, Arthur Blyth, John Hart, James Boucaut, Henry Strangways, John Colton, William Morgan, John Cox Bray, John Downer, Thomas Playford II, John Cockburn, Frederick Holder, Charles Kingston, Vaiben Louis Solomon, John Jenkins, Richard Butler, Thomas Price, Archibald Peake, and John Verran.
• Since the appointment of Don Dunstan on 1 June 1967 (a period of 57 years, 174 days), there have been at least three premiers living, and since the appointment of Des Corcoran on 15 February 1979 (a period of 45 years, 281 days), there have been at least four premiers living.

Oldest living premiers of South Australia

Not all premiers live to become the oldest of their time. Of the 39 deceased premiers, 18 eventually became the oldest of their time, while 21 did not (including both premiers who died in office, and 19 others). Steele Hall became the oldest living premier when Des Corcoran died in 2004 and remained so until his death in 2024 for a record period of 20 years and 159 days. He surpassed the previous record held by B. T. Finniss on 1 October 2022. Robert Richards became the oldest living premier when Richard Layton Butler died in 1966, but he survived Butler by only 1 year and 93 days.

On one occasion the oldest living premier lost this distinction not by his death, but due to the appointment of a premier who was older. B. T. Finniss lost this distinction when Richard Hanson was appointed, but when Hanson died in 1876, Finniss regained it again until his own death in 1893 for total period of 18 years and 271 days.

Henry Strangways was the oldest to acquire this distinction at the age of 83 years and 89 days. Thomas Playford II, who was aged 77 years and 144 days when he died, on 19 April 1915 was the oldest premier to die without ever acquiring this distinction. John Bannon who died on 13 December 2015 aged 72 years and 220 days is the 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
B. T. Finniss	24 October 1856	30 September 1857	49 years, 67 days	50 years, 43 days	341 days
Richard Hanson	30 September 1857	4 March 1876	51 years, 298 days	70 years, 89 days	18 years, 156 days
B. T. Finniss	4 March 1876	24 December 1893	68 years, 199 days	86 years, 128 days	17 years, 295 days
Henry Ayers	24 December 1893	11 June 1897	72 years, 237 days	76 years, 41 days	3 years, 169 days
John Colton	11 June 1897	6 February 1902	73 years, 261 days	78 years, 136 days	4 years, 240 days
George Waterhouse	6 February 1902	6 August 1906	77 years, 306 days	82 years, 122 days	4 years, 181 days
James Boucaut	6 August 1906	1 February 1916	74 years, 281 days	84 years, 95 days	9 years, 179 days
Henry Strangways	1 February 1916	10 February 1920	83 years, 79 days	87 years, 88 days	4 years, 9 days
John Cockburn	10 February 1920	26 November 1929	69 years, 171 days	79 years, 95 days	9 years, 289 days
John Verran	26 November 1929	7 June 1932	73 years, 140 days	75 years, 334 days	2 years, 194 days
Crawford Vaughan	7 June 1932	25 December 1947	57 years, 329 days	73 years, 164 days	15 years, 201 days
Henry Barwell	25 December 1947	30 September 1959	70 years, 302 days	82 years, 216 days	11 years, 279 days
Lionel Hill	30 September 1959	19 March 1963	78 years, 139 days	81 years, 309 days	3 years, 170 days
Richard Layton Butler	19 March 1963	21 January 1966	77 years, 353 days	80 years, 296 days	2 years, 308 days
Robert Richards	21 January 1966	24 April 1967	80 years, 235 days	81 years, 328 days	1 year, 93 days
Thomas Playford IV	24 April 1967	16 June 1981	70 years, 293 days	84 years, 346 days	14 years, 53 days
Don Dunstan	16 June 1981	6 February 1999	54 years, 268 days	72 years, 138 days	17 years, 235 days
Des Corcoran	6 February 1999	3 January 2004	70 years, 90 days	75 years, 56 days	4 years, 331 days
Steele Hall	3 January 2004	10 June 2024	75 years, 34 days	95 years, 193 days	20 years, 159 days
Dean Brown	10 June 2024	Current oldest living premier	81 years, 66 days	Current oldest living premier	165 days
Premier	Start date	End date	Age at start	Age at end	Duration

See also

• Premier of South Australia
• List of premiers of South Australia 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 Queensland 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 South Australia 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 South Australia 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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