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List of premiers of Western Australia by age

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki

Living as of 5 November 2024
Premier Date of birth Premier
Peter Dowding (1943-10-06) 6 October 1943 (age 81) 1988–1990
Brian Burke (1947-02-25) 25 February 1947 (age 77) 1983–1988
Richard Court (1947-09-27) 27 September 1947 (age 77) 1993–2001
Carmen Lawrence (1948-03-02) 2 March 1948 (age 76) 1995–2005
Colin Barnett (1950-07-15) 15 July 1950 (age 74) 2008–2017
Geoff Gallop (1951-09-27) 27 September 1951 (age 73) 2001–2006
Alan Carpenter (1957-01-04) 4 January 1957 (age 67) 2006–2008
Roger Cook (1965-08-20) 20 August 1965 (age 59) 2023–
Mark McGowan (1967-07-13) 13 July 1967 (age 57) 2017–2023

This is a list of premiers of Western 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 5 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[edit]

The median age of a Premier on the first day of their first term is roughly 49 years, and 353 days which falls between Mark McGowan and Philip Collier. The youngest person to assume the office was John Scaddan at 35 years and 64 days. The oldest person to assume office was John Tonkin at 69 years and 29 days.

The oldest living former premier is Peter Dowding, born 6 October 1943 (age 81 years, 30 days). The youngest living former premier is Mark McGowan, born 13 July 1967, (age 57 years, 115 days).

The longest-lived premier was Charles Court who died on 22 December 2007 aged 96 years and 84 days. John Tonkin was the second longest-lived premier, aged 93 years and 260 days, 2 years and 189 days short of Court. The oldest living premier, Peter Dowding will tie Tonkin if he lives to 23 June 2037, and tie Court if he lives to 29 December 2039. The shortest-lived Premier was George Leake who died in office at the age of 45 years and 203 days on 24 June 1902.

The premier with the longest retirement is Frank Wise. He left office on 1 April 1947, and died 39 years and 89 days later on 29 June 1986. Brian Burke left office on 25 February 1988. If he's still alive on 25 May 2027, he will surpass Wise's record, and become the premier with the longest retirement. The premier with the shortest retirement is Frank Wilson, who died on 7 December 1918, 1 year and 162 days after leaving office on 28 June 1917.

# Premier Born Took office Age Left office Age Died Length of retirement Lifespan
1 John Forrest 22 August 1847 29 December 1890 43 years, 129 days 15 February 1901 53 years, 177 days 2 September 1918 17 years, 199 days 71 years, 11 days
2 George Throssell 23 May 1840 15 February 1901 60 years, 268 days 27 May 1901 61 years, 4 days 30 August 1910 9 years, 95 days 70 years, 99 days
3 George Leake 3 December 1856 27 May 1901 44 years, 175 days 24 June 1902[1] 45 years, 203 days 24 June 1902 N/A 45 years, 203 days
4 Alf Morgans 17 February 1850 21 November 1901 51 years, 277 days 23 December 1901 51 years, 309 days 10 August 1933 31 years, 230 days 83 years, 174 days
5 Walter James 29 March 1863 1 July 1902 39 years, 94 days 10 August 1904 41 years, 134 days 3 January 1943 38 years, 146 days 79 years, 280 days
6 Henry Daglish 18 November 1866 10 August 1904 37 years, 266 days 25 August 1905 38 years, 280 days 16 August 1920 14 years, 357 days 53 years, 272 days
7 Hector Rason 18 June 1858 25 August 1905 47 years, 68 days 7 May 1906 47 years, 323 days 15 March 1927 20 years, 312 days 68 years, 270 days
8 Newton Moore 17 May 1870 7 May 1906 35 years, 355 days 16 September 1910 40 years, 122 days 28 October 1936 26 years, 42 days 66 years, 164 days
9 Frank Wilson 12 May 1859 16 September 1910 51 years, 127 days 28 June 1917 58 years, 47 days 7 December 1918 1 year, 162 days 59 years, 209 days
10 John Scaddan 4 August 1876 7 October 1911 35 years, 64 days 26 July 1916 39 years, 357 days 21 November 1934 18 years, 118 days 58 years, 109 days
11 Henry Lefroy 24 March 1854 28 June 1917 63 years, 96 days 17 April 1919 65 years, 24 days 19 March 1930 10 years, 336 days 75 years, 360 days
12 Hal Colebatch 29 March 1872 17 April 1919 47 years, 19 days 17 May 1919 47 years, 49 days 12 February 1953 33 years, 271 days 80 years, 320 days
13 James Mitchell 27 April 1866 17 May 1919 53 years, 20 days 24 April 1933 66 years, 362 days 26 July 1951 18 years, 93 days 85 years, 90 days
14 Philip Collier 21 April 1873 16 April 1924 50 years, 361 days 19 August 1936 63 years, 120 days 18 October 1948 12 years, 60 days 75 years, 180 days
15 John Willcock 9 August 1879 20 August 1936 57 years, 11 days 31 July 1945 65 years, 356 days 7 June 1956 11 years, 311 days 77 years, 302 days
16 Frank Wise 30 May 1897 31 July 1945 48 years, 62 days 1 April 1947 49 years, 306 days 29 June 1986 39 years, 89 days 89 years, 30 days
17 Ross McLarty 17 March 1891 1 April 1947 56 years, 15 days 23 February 1953 61 years, 343 days 22 December 1962 9 years, 302 days 71 years, 280 days
18 Albert Hawke 3 December 1900 23 February 1953 52 years, 82 days 2 April 1959 58 years, 120 days 14 February 1986 26 years, 318 days 85 years, 73 days
19 David Brand 1 August 1912 2 April 1959 46 years, 244 days 3 March 1971 58 years, 214 days 15 April 1979 8 years, 43 days 66 years, 257 days
20 John Tonkin 2 February 1902 3 March 1971 69 years, 29 days 8 April 1974 72 years, 65 days 20 October 1995 21 years, 195 days 93 years, 260 days
21 Charles Court 29 September 1911 8 April 1974 62 years, 191 days 25 January 1982 70 years, 118 days 22 December 2007 25 years, 331 days 96 years, 84 days
22 Ray O'Connor 6 March 1926 25 January 1982 55 years, 325 days 25 February 1983 56 years, 356 days 25 February 2013 30 years, 0 days 86 years, 356 days
23 Brian Burke 25 February 1947 25 February 1983 36 years, 0 days 25 February 1988 41 years, 0 days 36 years, 254 days 77 years, 254 days
24 Peter Dowding 6 October 1943 25 February 1988 44 years, 142 days 12 February 1990 46 years, 129 days 34 years, 267 days 81 years, 30 days
25 Carmen Lawrence 2 March 1948 12 February 1990 41 years, 347 days 16 February 1993 44 years, 351 days 31 years, 263 days 76 years, 248 days
26 Richard Court 27 September 1947 16 February 1993 45 years, 142 days 10 February 2001 53 years, 136 days 23 years, 269 days 77 years, 39 days
27 Geoff Gallop 27 September 1951 10 February 2001 49 years, 136 days 25 January 2006 54 years, 120 days 18 years, 285 days 73 years, 39 days
28 Alan Carpenter 4 January 1957 25 January 2006 49 years, 21 days 23 September 2008 51 years, 263 days 16 years, 43 days 67 years, 306 days
29 Colin Barnett 15 July 1950 23 September 2008 58 years, 70 days 17 March 2017 66 years, 245 days 7 years, 233 days 74 years, 113 days
30 Mark McGowan 13 July 1967 17 March 2017 49 years, 247 days 8 June 2023 55 years, 330 days 1 year, 150 days 57 years, 115 days
31 Roger Cook 20 August 1965 8 June 2023 55 years, 330 days Incumbent Incumbent Incumbent 59 years, 77 days

[2]

Timeline of living premiers[edit]

This is a chronological list of all who served as the Premier of Western 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 John Forrest in December 1890 and ending with the appointment of George Throssell in February 1901.

There have been four time periods when 9 living current or former premiers co-existed. The first period was from the appointment of Henry Lefroy on 28 June 1917 to the death of John Forrest on 2 September 1918. The second period was from the appointment of James Mitchell on 17 May 1919 to the death of Henry Dalglish on 16 August 1920. The third and longest period was from the appointment of Philip Collier on 16 April 1924 to the death of Hector Rason on 15 March 1927. The fourth and most recent period has been ongoing since the appointment of Roger Cook on 8 June 2023.

If one includes future premiers as well as past and current premiers, there have been two time periods when 19 different premiers co-existed. (see Statistics)

Number of premiers alive at each moment in Western Australian history
Start date End date Start event Duration End event Living premiers
29 December 1890 15 February 1901 Appointment of John Forrest 10 years, 47 days Appointment of George Throssell 1 Forrest
15 February 1901 27 May 1901 Appointment of George Throssell 102 days Appointment of George Leake 2 Forrest
Throssell
27 May 1901 21 November 1901 Appointment of George Leake 178 days Appointment of Alf Morgans 3 Forrest
Throssell
Leake
21 November 1901 24 June 1902 Appointment of Alf Morgans 215 days Death of George Leake 4 Forrest
Throssell
Leake
Morgans
24 June 1902 1 July 1902 Death of George Leake 7 days Appointment of Walter James 3 Forrest
Throssell
Morgans
1 July 1902 10 August 1904 Appointment of Walter James 2 years, 40 days Appointment of Henry Dalglish 4 Forrest
Throssell
Morgans
James
10 August 1904 25 August 1905 Appointment of Henry Dalglish 1 year, 15 days Appointment of Hector Rason 5 Forrest
Throssell
Morgans
James
Dalglish
25 August 1905 7 May 1906 Appointment of Hector Rason 255 days Appointment of Newton Moore 6 Forrest
Throssell
Morgans
James
Dalglish
Rason
7 May 1906 30 August 1910 Appointment of Newton Moore 4 years, 115 days Death of George Throssell 7 Forrest
Throssell
Morgans
James
Dalglish
Rason
Moore
30 August 1910 16 September 1910 Death of George Throssell 17 days Appointment of Frank Wilson 6 Forrest
Morgans
James
Dalglish
Rason
Moore
16 September 1910 7 October 1911 Appointment of Frank Wilson 1 year, 21 days Appointment of John Scaddan 7 Forrest
Morgans
James
Dalglish
Rason
Moore
Wilson
7 October 1911 28 June 1917 Appointment of John Scaddan 5 years, 264 days Appointment of Henry Lefroy 8 Forrest
Morgans
James
Dalglish
Rason
Moore
Wilson
Scaddan
28 June 1917 2 September 1918 Appointment of Henry Lefroy 1 year, 66 days Death of John Forrest 9 Forrest
Morgans
James
Dalglish
Rason
Moore
Wilson
Scaddan
Lefroy
2 September 1918 7 December 1918 Death of John Forrest 96 days Death of Frank Wilson 8 Morgans
James
Dalglish
Rason
Moore
Wilson
Scaddan
Lefroy
7 December 1918 17 April 1919 Death of Frank Wilson 131 days Appointment of Hal Colebatch 7 Morgans
James
Dalglish
Rason
Moore
Scaddan
Lefroy
17 April 1919 17 May 1919 Appointment of Hal Colebatch 30 days Appointment of James Mitchell 8 Morgans
James
Dalglish
Rason
Moore
Scaddan
Lefroy
Colebatch
17 May 1919 16 August 1920 Appointment of James Mitchell 1 year, 91 days Death of Henry Dalglish 9 Morgans
James
Dalglish
Rason
Moore
Scaddan
Lefroy
Colebatch
Mitchell
16 August 1920 16 April 1924 Death of Henry Dalglish 3 years, 244 days Appointment of Philip Collier 8 Morgans
James
Rason
Moore
Scaddan
Lefroy
Colebatch
Mitchell
16 April 1924 15 March 1927 Appointment of Philip Collier 2 years, 333 days Death of Hector Rason 9 Morgans
James
Rason
Moore
Scaddan
Lefroy
Colebatch
Mitchell
Collier
15 March 1927 19 March 1930 Death of Hector Rason 3 years, 4 days Death of Henry Lefroy 8 Morgans
James
Moore
Scaddan
Lefroy
Colebatch
Mitchell
Collier
19 March 1930 10 August 1933 Death of Henry Lefroy 3 years, 144 days Death of Alf Morgans 7 Morgans
James
Moore
Scaddan
Colebatch
Mitchell
Collier
10 August 1933 21 November 1934 Death of Alf Morgans 1 year, 103 days Death of John Scaddan 6 James
Moore
Scaddan
Colebatch
Mitchell
Collier
21 November 1934 20 August 1936 Death of John Scaddan 1 year, 273 days Appointment of John Willcock 5 James
Moore
Colebatch
Mitchell
Collier
20 August 1936 28 October 1936 Appointment of John Willcock 69 days Death of Newton Moore 6 James
Moore
Colebatch
Mitchell
Collier
Willcock
28 October 1936 3 January 1943 Death of Newton Moore 6 years, 67 days Death of Walter James 5 James
Colebatch
Mitchell
Collier
Willcock
3 January 1943 31 July 1945 Death of Walter James 2 years, 209 days Appointment of Frank Wise 4 Colebatch
Mitchell
Collier
Willcock
31 July 1945 1 April 1947 Appointment of Frank Wise 1 year, 244 days Appointment of Ross McLarty 5 Colebatch
Mitchell
Collier
Willcock
Wise
1 April 1947 18 October 1948 Appointment of Ross McLarty 1 year, 200 days Death of Philip Collier 6 Colebatch
Mitchell
Collier
Willcock
Wise
McLarty
18 October 1948 26 July 1951 Death of Philip Collier 2 years, 281 days Death of James Mitchell 5 Colebatch
Mitchell
Willcock
Wise
McLarty
26 July 1951 12 February 1953 Death of James Mitchell 1 year, 201 days Death of Hal Colebatch 5 Colebatch
Willcock
Wise
McLarty
12 February 1953 23 February 1953 Death of Hal Colebatch 0 days Appointment of Albert Hawke 3 Willcock
Wise
McLarty
23 February 1953 7 June 1956 Appointment of Albert Hawke 3 years, 105 days Death of John Willcock 4 Willcock
Wise
McLarty
Hawke
7 June 1956 2 April 1959 Death of John Willcock 2 years, 299 days Appointment of David Brand 3 Wise
McLarty
Hawke
2 April 1959 22 December 1962 Appointment of David Brand 3 years, 264 days Death of Ross McLarty 4 Wise
McLarty
Hawke
Brand
22 December 1962 3 March 1971 Death of Ross McLarty 8 years, 71 days Appointment of John Tonkin 3 Wise
Hawke
Brand
3 March 1971 8 April 1974 Appointment of John Tonkin 3 years, 36 days Appointment of Charles Court 4 Wise
Hawke
Brand
Tonkin
8 April 1974 15 April 1979 Appointment of Charles Court 5 years, 7 days Death of David Brand 5 Wise
Hawke
Brand
Tonkin
C. Court
15 April 1979 25 January 1982 Death of David Brand 2 years, 285 days Appointment of Ray O'Connor 4 Wise
Hawke
Tonkin
C. Court
25 January 1982 25 February 1983 Appointment of Ray O'Connor 1 year, 31 days Appointment of Brian Burke 5 Wise
Hawke
Tonkin
C. Court
O'Connor
25 February 1983 14 February 1986 Appointment of Brian Burke 2 years, 354 days Death of Albert Hawke 6 Wise
Hawke
Tonkin
C. Court
O'Connor
Burke
14 February 1986 29 June 1986 Death of Albert Hawke 135 days Death of Frank Wise 5 Wise
Tonkin
C. Court
O'Connor
Burke
29 June 1986 25 February 1988 Death of Frank Wise 1 year, 241 days Appointment of Peter Dowding 4 Tonkin
C. Court
O'Connor
Burke
25 February 1988 12 February 1990 Appointment of Peter Dowding 1 year, 352 days Appointment of Carmen Lawrence 5 Tonkin
C. Court
O'Connor
Burke
Dowding
12 February 1990 16 February 1993 Appointment of Carmen Lawrence 3 years, 4 days Appointment of Richard Court 6 Tonkin
C. Court
O'Connor
Burke
Dowding
Lawrence
16 February 1993 20 October 1995 Appointment of Richard Court 2 years, 246 days Death of John Tonkin 7 Tonkin
C. Court
O'Connor
Burke
Dowding
Lawrence
R. Court
20 October 1995 10 February 2001 Death of John Tonkin 5 years, 113 days Appointment of Geoff Gallop 6 C. Court
O'Connor
Burke
Dowding
Lawrence
R. Court
10 February 2001 25 January 2006 Appointment of Geoff Gallop 4 years, 349 days Appointment of Alan Carpenter 7 C. Court
O'Connor
Burke
Dowding
Lawrence
R. Court
Gallop
25 January 2006 22 December 2007 Appointment of Alan Carpenter 1 year, 331 days Death of Charles Court 8 C. Court
O'Connor
Burke
Dowding
Lawrence
R. Court
Gallop
Carpenter
22 December 2007 23 September 2008 Death of Charles Court 276 days Appointment of Colin Barnett 7 O'Connor
Burke
Dowding
Lawrence
R. Court
Gallop
Carpenter
23 September 2008 25 February 2013 Appointment of Colin Barnett 4 years, 155 days Death of Ray O'Connor 8 O'Connor
Burke
Dowding
Lawrence
R. Court
Gallop
Carpenter
Barnett
25 February 2013 17 March 2017 Death of Ray O'Connor 4 years, 20 days Appointment of Mark McGowan 7 Burke
Dowding
Lawrence
R. Court
Gallop
Carpenter
Barnett
17 March 2017 8 June 2023 Appointment of Mark McGowan 6 years, 83 days Appointment of Roger Cook 8 Burke
Dowding
Lawrence
R. Court
Gallop
Carpenter
Barnett
McGowan
8 June 2023 present Appointment of Roger Cook 1 year, 150 days present 9 Burke
Dowding
Lawrence
R. Court
Gallop
Carpenter
Barnett
McGowan
Cook

Statistics[edit]

Oldest living premiers of Western Australia[edit]

Not all premiers live to become the oldest of their time. Of the 22 deceased premiers, 12 eventually became the oldest of their time, while 10 did not. Frank Wise became the oldest living premier when Ross McLarty died in 1962 and remained so until his death in 1986, for a record 23 years and 189 days. Hal Colebatch became the oldest living premier when James Mitchell died in 1951, but he survived Mitchell by only 1 year and 201 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. John Forrest lost this distinction when George Throssell was appointed, but when Throssell died in 1910, Forrest regained it again until his own death in 1918 for a total period of 18 years and 51 days. John Tonkin was the oldest to acquire this distinction at the age of 84 years, and 147 days. Albert Hawke, who was aged 85 years, and 73 days when he died, on 14 February 1986 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
John Forrest 29 December 1890 15 February 1901 43 years, 129 days 53 years, 177 days 10 years, 48 days
George Throssell 15 February 1901 30 August 1910 60 years, 268 days 70 years, 99 days 9 years, 196 days
John Forrest 30 August 1910 2 September 1918 63 years, 8 days 71 years, 11 days 8 years, 3 days
Alf Morgans 2 September 1918 10 August 1933 68 years, 197 days 83 years, 174 days 14 years, 342 days
Walter James 10 August 1933 3 January 1943 70 years, 134 days 79 years, 280 days 9 years, 146 days
James Mitchell 3 January 1943 26 July 1951 76 years, 251 days 85 years, 90 days 8 years, 204 days
Hal Colebatch 26 July 1951 12 February 1953 79 years, 119 days 80 years, 320 days 1 year, 201 days
John Willcock 12 February 1953 7 June 1956 73 years, 187 days 76 years, 303 days 3 years, 116 days
Ross McLarty 7 June 1956 22 December 1962 65 years, 82 days 71 years, 280 days 6 years, 198 days
Frank Wise 22 December 1962 29 June 1986 65 years, 206 days 89 years, 30 days 23 years, 189 days
John Tonkin 29 June 1986 20 October 1995 84 years, 147 days 93 years, 260 days 9 years, 113 days
Charles Court 20 October 1995 22 December 2007 84 years, 21 days 96 years, 84 days 12 years, 63 days
Ray O'Connor 22 December 2007 25 February 2013 81 years, 291 days 86 years, 356 days 5 years, 65 days
Peter Dowding 25 February 2013 Current oldest living premier 69 years, 142 days Current oldest living premier 11 years, 254 days
Premier Start date End date Age at start Age at end Duration

[3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. Died in office on this date.
  2. Updated daily according to UTC.
  3. Updated daily according to UTC.


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