# List of premiers of South Australia by time in office

This is a list of premiers of South Australia by time in office. The basis of the list is the inclusive number of years and days between dates.

## Rank by time in office
### Parties

Australian Labor Party  Liberal Party of Australia  Liberal and Country League / Liberal Federation  Non-Party Conservatism  Non-Party Liberalism
| Rank | No. | Officeholder | Party | District | Assumed office | Left office | Time in office (term) | Time in office (total) | Election wins |
| 1. | 33rd | Sir Thomas Playford (1896–1981) GCMG | Liberal & Country League | MP for Murray (1933–1938) Gumeracha (1938–1968) | 5 November 1938 | 10 March 1965 | | 26 years, 125 days | 1941 1944 1947 1950 1953 1956 1959 1962 |
| 2. | 39th | John Bannon (1943–2015) AO | Labor | MP for Ross Smith (1977–1993) | 10 November 1982 | 4 September 1992 | | 9 years, 299 days | 1982 1985 1989 |
| 3. | 44th | Mike Rann (1953– ) AC, CNZM | Labor | MP for Ramsay (1993–2012) | 5 March 2002 | 21 October 2011 | | 9 years, 230 days | 2002 2006 2010 |
| 4. | 35th | Don Dunstan (1926–1999) AC, QC | Labor | MP for Norwood (1953–1979) | 1 June 1967 | 17 April 1968 | 321 days | 9 years, 214 days | 1970 1973 1975 1977 |
| 4. | 35th | Don Dunstan (1926–1999) AC, QC | Labor | MP for Norwood (1953–1979) | 2 June 1970 | 15 February 1979 | 8 years, 258 days | 9 years, 214 days | 1970 1973 1975 1977 |
| 5. | 31st | Sir Richard Butler (1885–1966) KCMG | Liberal & Country League | MP for Wooroora (1921–1938) Light (1938–1938) | 8 April 1927 | 17 April 1930 | 3 years, 9 days | 8 years, 210 days | 1927 1933 1938 |
| 5. | 31st | Sir Richard Butler (1885–1966) KCMG | Liberal & Country League | MP for Wooroora (1921–1938) Light (1938–1938) | 18 April 1933 | 5 November 1938 | 5 years, 201 days | 8 years, 210 days | 1927 1933 1938 |
| 6. | 25th | Archibald Peake (1859–1920) | Liberal & Democratic Union | MP for Victoria & Albert (1902–1915) Alexandra (1915–1920) | 5 June 1909 | 3 June 1910 | 363 days | 6 years, 312 days | 1912 1918 |
| 6. | 25th | Archibald Peake (1859–1920) | Liberal Union | MP for Victoria & Albert (1902–1915) Alexandra (1915–1920) | 17 February 1912 | 3 April 1915 | 3 years, 45 days | 6 years, 312 days | 1912 1918 |
| 6. | 25th | Archibald Peake (1859–1920) | Liberal Union | MP for Victoria & Albert (1902–1915) Alexandra (1915–1920) | 14 July 1917 | 8 April 1920 | 2 years, 269 days | 6 years, 312 days | 1912 1918 |
| 7. | 20th | Charles Kingston (1850–1908) PC, KC | Non-Party Liberalism | MP for West Adelaide (1881–1900) | 16 June 1893 | 1 December 1899 | | 6 years, 168 days | 1893 1896 1899 |
| 8. | 45th | Jay Weatherill (1964– ) AO | Labor | MP for Cheltenham (2002–2018) | 21 October 2011 | 19 March 2018 | | 6 years, 149 days | 2014 |
| 9. | 42nd | John Olsen (1945– ) AO | Liberal | MP for Kavel (1992–2002) | 28 November 1996 | 22 October 2001 | | 4 years, 328 days | 1997 |
| 10. | 8th | Sir Henry Ayers (1821–1897) GCMG | No Party Alignment | Member of the Legislative Council (1857–1893) | 15 July 1863 | 4 August 1864 | 1 year, 20 days | 4 years, 34 days | |
| 10. | 8th | Sir Henry Ayers (1821–1897) GCMG | No Party Alignment | Member of the Legislative Council (1857–1893) | 20 September 1865 | 23 October 1865 | 33 days | 4 years, 34 days | |
| 10. | 8th | Sir Henry Ayers (1821–1897) GCMG | No Party Alignment | Member of the Legislative Council (1857–1893) | 3 May 1867 | 24 September 1868 | 1 year, 144 days | 4 years, 34 days | |
| 10. | 8th | Sir Henry Ayers (1821–1897) GCMG | No Party Alignment | Member of the Legislative Council (1857–1893) | 13 October 1868 | 3 November 1868 | 21 days | 4 years, 34 days | |
| 10. | 8th | Sir Henry Ayers (1821–1897) GCMG | No Party Alignment | Member of the Legislative Council (1857–1893) | 22 January 1872 | 22 July 1873 | 1 year, 151 days | 4 years, 34 days | |
| 11. | 28th | Sir Henry Barwell (1877–1959) KCMG | Liberal Federation | MP for Stanley (1915–1925) | 8 April 1920 | 16 April 1924 | | 4 years, 8 days | 1921 |
| 12. | 46th | Steven Marshall (1968– ) | Liberal | MP for Norwood (2010–2014) Dunstan (2014–) | 19 March 2018 | 21 March 2022 | | 4 years, 2 days | 2018 |
| 13. | 17th | Thomas Playford (1837–1915) | No Party Alignment | MP for Newcastle (1887–1890) East Torrens (1890–1894) | 11 June 1887 | 27 June 1889 | 2 years, 16 days | 3 years, 323 days | |
| 13. | 17th | Thomas Playford (1837–1915) | No Party Alignment | MP for Newcastle (1887–1890) East Torrens (1890–1894) | 19 August 1890 | 21 June 1892 | 1 year, 307 days | 3 years, 323 days | |
| 14. | 24th | Thomas Price (1852–1909) | Labor | MP for Torrens (1902–1909) | 26 July 1905 | 5 June 1909 | | 3 years, 314 days | 1905 1906 |
| 15. | 22nd | John Jenkins (1851–1923) | Non-Party Liberalism | MP for Torrens (1901–1905) | 15 May 1901 | 1 March 1905 | | 3 years, 290 days | 1902 |
| 16. | 13th | Lionel Hill (1881–1963) | Labor | MP for Port Pirie (1918–1933) | 28 August 1926 | 8 April 1927 | 223 days | 3 years, 160 days | 1930 |
| 16. | 13th | Lionel Hill (1881–1963) | Labor | MP for Port Pirie (1918–1933) | 17 April 1930 | 14 August 1931 | 1 year, 119 days | 3 years, 160 days | 1930 |
| 16. | 13th | Lionel Hill (1881–1963) | Parliamentary Labor | MP for Port Pirie (1918–1933) | 14 August 1931 | 13 February 1933 | 1 year, 183 days | 3 years, 160 days | 1930 |
| 17. | 38th | Dr David Tonkin (1929–2000) AO | Liberal | MP for Bragg (1970–1983) | 18 September 1979 | 10 November 1982 | | 3 years, 53 days | 1979 |
| 18. | 11th | Sir James Boucaut (1831–1916) KCMG | No Party Alignment | MP for Encounter Bay (1875–1878) | 28 March 1866 | 3 May 1867 | 1 year, 36 days | 3 years, 10 days | |
| 18. | 11th | Sir James Boucaut (1831–1916) KCMG | No Party Alignment | MP for Encounter Bay (1875–1878) | 3 June 1875 | 6 June 1876 | 1 year, 3 days | 3 years, 10 days | |
| 18. | 11th | Sir James Boucaut (1831–1916) KCMG | No Party Alignment | MP for Encounter Bay (1875–1878) | 26 October 1877 | 27 September 1878 | 336 days | 3 years, 10 days | |
| 19. | 15th | Sir John Bray (1842–1894) KCMG, JP | No Party Alignment | MP for East Adelaide (1871–1892) | 24 June 1881 | 16 June 1884 | | 2 years, 358 days | |
| 20. | 41st | Dean Brown (1943– ) AO | Liberal | MP for Finniss (1993–2006) | 14 December 1993 | 28 November 1996 | | 2 years, 350 days | 1993 |
| 21. | 47th | Peter Malinauskas (1980– ) | Labor | Member of the Legislative Council (2015–2018) MP for Croydon (2018– ) | 21 March 2022 | Incumbent | | 2 years, 278 days | 2022 |
| 22. | 14th | Sir William Morgan (1828–1883) KCMG | No Party Alignment | Member of the Legislative Council (1867–1884) | 27 September 1878 | 24 June 1881 | | 2 years, 270 days | |
| 23. | 9th | Sir Arthur Blyth (1823–1891) KCMG | No Party Alignment | MP for Gumeracha (1857–1868) | 4 August 1864 | 22 March 1865 | 230 days | 2 years, 254 days | |
| 23. | 9th | Sir Arthur Blyth (1823–1891) KCMG | No Party Alignment | MP for Gumeracha (1870–1875) | 10 November 1871 | 22 January 1872 | 73 days | 2 years, 254 days | |
| 23. | 9th | Sir Arthur Blyth (1823–1891) KCMG | No Party Alignment | MP for Gumeracha (1870–1875) | 22 July 1873 | 3 June 1875 | 1 year, 316 days | 2 years, 254 days | |
| 24. | 16th | Sir John Downer (1843–1915) KCMG, QC | No Party Alignment | MP for Barossa (1878–1901) | 16 June 1885 | 11 June 1887 | 1 year, 360 days | 2 year, 239 days | |
| 24. | 16th | Sir John Downer (1843–1915) KCMG, QC | Non-Party Conservatism | MP for Barossa (1878–1901) | 15 October 1892 | 16 June 1893 | 244 days | 2 year, 239 days | |
| 25. | 4th | Sir Richard Hanson (1805–1876) | No Party Alignment | MP for Adelaide (1857–1861) | 30 September 1857 | 9 May 1860 | | 2 years, 222 days | |
| 26. | 13th | Sir John Colton (1823–1902) KCMG | No Party Alignment | MP for Noarlunga (1875–1878) (1889–1887) | 6 June 1876 | 26 October 1877 | 1 year, 142 days | 2 years, 142 days | |
| 26. | 13th | Sir John Colton (1823–1902) KCMG | No Party Alignment | MP for Noarlunga (1875–1878) (1889–1887) | 16 June 1884 | 16 June 1885 | 1 year, 0 days | 2 years, 142 days | |
| 27. | 29th | John Gunn (1884–1959) | Labor | MP for Adelaide (1918–1926) | 16 April 1924 | 28 August 1926 | | 2 years, 134 days | 1924 |
| 28. | 27th | Crawford Vaughan (1874–1947) | Labor | MP for Sturt (1915–1918) | 3 April 1915 | 13 February 1917 | 1 year, 316 days | 2 years, 102 days | 1915 |
| 28. | 27th | Crawford Vaughan (1874–1947) | National Labor | MP for Sturt (1915–1918) | 13 February 1917 | 14 July 1917 | 151 days | 2 years, 102 days | 1915 |
| 29. | 34th | Frank Walsh (1897–1968) | Labor | MP for Edwardstown (1956–1968) | 10 March 1965 | 1 June 1967 | | 2 years, 83 days | 1965 |
| 30. | 36th | Steele Hall (1928–2024) | Liberal & Country League | MP for Gouger (1959–1973) | 17 April 1968 | 2 June 1970 | | 2 years, 46 days | 1968 |
| 31. | 10th | John Hart (1809–1873) | No Party Alignment | MP for Port Adelaide (1862–1866) Light (1868–1870) The Burra (1870–1873) | 23 October 1865 | 28 March 1866 | 156 days | 1 year, 339 days | |
| 31. | 10th | John Hart (1809–1873) | No Party Alignment | MP for Port Adelaide (1862–1866) Light (1868–1870) The Burra (1870–1873) | 24 September 1868 | 13 October 1868 | 19 days | 1 year, 339 days | |
| 31. | 10th | John Hart (1809–1873) | No Party Alignment | MP for Port Adelaide (1862–1866) Light (1868–1870) The Burra (1870–1873) | 30 May 1870 | 10 November 1871 | 1 year, 164 days | 1 year, 339 days | |
| 32. | 19th | Sir Frederick Holder (1850–1909) KCMG | No Party Alignment | MP for Burra (1887–1901) | 21 June 1892 | 15 October 1892 | 116 days | 1 year, 274 days | |
| 32. | 19th | Sir Frederick Holder (1850–1909) KCMG | Non-Party Liberalism | MP for Burra (1887–1901) | 8 December 1899 | 15 May 1901 | 1 year, 158 days | 1 year, 274 days | |
| 33. | 6th | George Waterhouse (1824–1906) | No Party Alignment | Member of the Legislative Council (1860–1864) | 8 October 1861 | 4 July 1863 | | 1 year, 269 days | |
| 34. | 26th | John Verran (1856–1932) | Labor | MP for Wallaroo (1901–1918) | 3 June 1910 | 17 February 1912 | | 1 year, 259 days | 1910 |
| 35. | 12th | Henry Strangways (1832–1920) | No Party Alignment | MP for West Torrens (1862–1871) | 3 November 1868 | 30 May 1870 | | 1 year, 208 days | |
| 36. | 5th | Thomas Reynolds (1818–1875) | No Party Alignment | MP for Adelaide (1860–1862) | 9 May 1860 | 8 October 1861 | | 1 year, 152 days | |
| 37. | 40th | Lynn Arnold (1949– ) AO | Labor | MP for Ramsay (1985–1993) | 4 September 1992 | 14 December 1993 | | 1 year, 101 days | |
| 38. | 18th | Sir John Cockburn (1850–1929) KCMG | No Party Alignment | MP for Mount Barker (1887–1898) | 27 June 1889 | 19 August 1890 | | 1 year, 53 days | 1890 |
| 39. | 1st | Boyle Travers Finniss (1807–1893) | No Party Alignment | MP for Adelaide (1857–1860) | 24 October 1856 | 21 August 1857 | | 301 days | |
| 40. | 37th | Des Corcoran (1928–2004) AO | Labor | MP for Hartley (1977–1982) | 15 February 1979 | 18 September 1979 | | 215 days | |
| 41. | 7th | Francis Dutton (1818–1877) CMG | No Party Alignment | MP for Light (1862–1865) | 4 July 1863 | 15 July 1863 | 11 days | 193 days | |
| 41. | 7th | Francis Dutton (1818–1877) CMG | No Party Alignment | MP for Light (1862–1865) | 22 March 1865 | 20 September 1865 | 182 days | 193 days | |
| 42. | 23rd | Sir Richard Butler (1850–1925) | Non-Party Conservatism | MP for Barossa (1902–1924) | 1 March 1905 | 26 July 1905 | | 147 days | |
| 43. | 43rd | Rob Kerin (1954– ) | Liberal | MP for Frome (1993–2008) | 22 October 2001 | 5 March 2002 | | 134 days | |
| 44. | 32nd | Robert Richards (1885–1967) | Parliamentary Labor | MP for Wallaroo (1918–1949) | 13 February 1933 | 18 April 1933 | | 64 days | |
| 45. | 3rd | Sir Robert Torrens (1814–1884) GCMG | No Party Alignment | MP for Adelaide (1857–1858) | 1 September 1857 | 30 September 1857 | | 29 days | |
| 46. | 2nd | John Baker (1813–1872) | No Party Alignment | Member of the Legislative Council (1857–1861) | 21 August 1857 | 1 September 1857 | | 11 days | |
| 47. | 21st | Vaiben Louis Solomon (1853–1908) | Non-Party Conservatism | MP for Northern Territory (1891–1901) | 1 December 1899 | 8 December 1899 | | 7 days | |

## Total time in office of political parties in South Australia

South Australian Parliament – 61422 days as of 24 December 2024

### Current parties

* Australian Labor Party – 20512 days as of 24 December 2024.
* Liberal Party of Australia – 5619 days.

### Other parties

* Conservative or Liberal (Pre 1975): 17415 days.
** Liberal and Country League – 12427 days.
** Liberal Federation – 2453 days.
** Liberal Union – 2141 days.
** Liberal and Democratic Union – 394 days.

### Before political parties

* Independent – 13141 days
* Non-Party Conservatism – 401 days.
* Non-Party Liberalism – 4271 days.