# List of South Australian royal commissions

This is a list of royal commissions and commissions of inquiry appointed by the Government of South Australia. Royal Commissions are currently held in South Australia under the terms of the Royal Commissions Act 1917.
This list includes Royal Commissions that were conducted jointly with the Government of Australia. It does not include Select Committees.
| Year(s) | Royal Commission or Commission | Commissioners |
| Province of South Australia |||
| 1859 | Royal Commission appointed by the Governor-in-Chief to inquire into the loss of the "SS Admella" | Captain Bloomfield Douglas (Chairman) William Scott Richard Tapley Handasyde Duncan Henry Strangways |
| 1861 | Royal commission on real property law | Charles Cooper (Chairman) Richard Hanson George Waterhouse Robert Torrens John Henry Barrow |
| 1864 | Royal Commission on the Customs House | John Hart Charles Henry Goode John Formby George Young |
| 1864 | Royal Commission appointed to inquire into and report on the management, etc. of the Lunatic Asylum and Hospital | William Wyatt (Chairman) George Mayo Thomas Elder Neville Blyth A. Sidney Clark |
| 1865 | Royal Commission appointed by the Governor-in-Chief to report on colonial defences | John Hart (Chairman) Henry Strangways Peter Egerton-Warburton James Hesketh Biggs George Frederick Dashwood |
| 1865 | Royal Commission appointed by the Governor-in-Chief to inquire into the state of the northern runs | Charles Bonney Wentworth Cavenagh C.J. Valentine |
| 1865–1866 | Royal Commission on the Port Harbour | John Hart (Chairman) Henry Strangways Peter Egerton-Warburton James Hesketh Biggs George Frederick Dashwood |
| 1866 | Royal Commission appointed by the Governor-in-Chief to inquire into the working of the Lands Titles Registration Office | John T. Bagot (Chairman) William Kay W.M. Letchford |
| 1866 | Royal Commission appointed by the Governor-in-Chief to inquire into the management of the Northern Territory expedition | W.L. O'Halloran (Chairman) C.H. Goode H.E. Bright |
| 1866 | Commission of Inquiry into management of Police Force | |
| 1867 | Royal Commission appointed by the Governor-in-Chief to inquire into the state of runs suffering from drought | John T. Bagot (Chairman) John Hodgkis William Townsend Neville Blyth Henry E. Bright |
| 1867 | Royal Commission appointed by the Governor-in-Chief to inquire charges against Waterworks Engineer | T. Reynolds (Chairman) William Milne John Colton David Bower John Carr Henry E. Bright Philip Santo |
| 1867–1868 | Royal Commission appointed by the Governor-in-Chief to inquire and report upon the diseases in cereals | John H. Barrow (Chairman) Thomas Hogarth William Everard W. Cavenagh |
| 1869 | Royal Commission to inquire into and report upon the public accounts | |
| 1872–1873 | Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the Intestacy, Real Property, and Testamentary Causes Acts | Rupert Ingleby (Chairman) W.C. Belt Leonard W. Thrupp William Brind F.E. Krichauff |
| 1873 | Commission of Inquiry appointed to inquire into matters in dispute in connection with the Hope Valley aqueduct contract | Philip Santo (Chairman) William Rogers James Pearce John Crozier Robert Cottrell |
| 1873–1874 | Royal Commission appointed to consider the whole matter of remuneration and classification of the Civil Service | E.W. Hitchin (Chairman) J. Boothby Frederick J. Sanderson James N. Blackmore Samuel Deering W.T. Sheppard |
| 1873–1874 | Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the whole question of the new Institute and Museum | Richard Hanson (Chairman) William Everard William Milne William Gosse Rowland Rees |
| 1874 | Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the alcoholic strength of South Australian wines | William Milne John William Lewis Richard Schomburgk Samuel Davenport Robert Dalrymple Ross |
| 1874 | Royal Commission appointed to inquire into and report upon the plans submitted in competition for the new Parliament houses and the new Institute and Museum, and the sites best suited for their erection | H.E. Bright (Chairman) William Milne G.S. Kingston J. Fisher James Pearce George C. Hawker G.T. Light W.D. Allott |
| 1874 | Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the organisation and working of the Post Office Department | William R. Boothby (Chairman) Frederick J. Sanderson William G. Cuthbertson William Longbottom Caleb Peacock H.E. Bright |
| 1874–1875 | Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the subject of railway construction | G.W. Goyder (Chairman) W. Barber Samuel Davenport Alfred Hallett William R. Boothby H.C. Mais W.L. Beare |
| 1875 | Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the best means of providing agricultural and technical education | Henry Ayers (Chairman) Ebenezer Ward John Ingleby Samuel Davenport R. Schomburgk |
| 1875–1876 | Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the whole question of sanitation for the Province | R. Rees MP (Chairman) J. Crozier MLC P. Santo MLC T. Johnson MP W. Kay MP J. Richards MP R.R. Ross MP B. Taylor MP W. Gosse A. Campbell J. Sinclair |
| 1876 | Royal Commission appointed to consider and report upon the whole question of the defences of the Province | Colonel Warburton Frederick Howard Boyle Travers Finniss William Barber Benjamin D'Urban Musgrave James Hesketh Briggs |
| 1877–1878 | Royal Commission appointed to report on the principles and working of tribunals of commerce, etc., etc. | Samuel Way (Chairman) Neville Blyth Philip Santo Henry Scott Rupert Ingleby Samuel Tomkinson |
| 1878 | Royal Commission appointed to report on the Parliament buildings site | Henry Scott (Chairman) William Milne Alexander Hay Philip Santo G.S. Kingston John Darling William Townsend |
| 1879 | Royal Commission appointed to report on the liquor laws | Samuel Tomkinson (Chairman) Joseph Fisher Henry Scott John Carr Hugh Fraser W.J. Magarey David Nock |
| 1879–1882 | Royal Commission appointed to report on public finance | Ebenezer Cooke (Chairman) J.C. Bray William B. Rounsevell David Murray S. Tomkinson W.J. Magarey R.D. Ross H.E. Bright |
| 1879 | Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the Parliament buildings site | G.S. Kingston (Chairman) Allan Campbell Henry Scott William Sandover W. Townsend E.T. Smith W.C. Buik L. Scammell |
| 1879–1882 | Royal Commission appointed to report on the public works | R.D. Ross (Chairman) George C. Hawker Lavingdon Glyde David Bower Hugh Fraser Luke L. Furner Caleb Peacock |
| 1879 | Royal Commission on sewage farm site | T. Hinginbotham (Chairman) R. Schomburgk R. Tate G. Chamier L. Scammell |
| 1880–1881 | Royal Commission appointed to report on wharves and jetties | W.H. Bean (Chairman) J.G. Ramsay Henry Scott Ebenezer Ward R.H. Ferguson H.C.E. Muecke William Kay |
| 1881 | Royal Commission appointed to report on the alleged injuries by sparrows | Samuel Davenport (Chairman) John F. Pascoe John Robertson George F. Ind George L. Barnard William Rhodes Thomas Atkinson |
| 1881–1882 | Royal Commission on the working of the Education Acts | J. Langdon Parsons (Chairman) John W. Downer John Colton Samuel Tomkinson Robert Dixon F. Basedow Ebenezer Cooke Jenkin Coles |
| 1882 | Royal Commission appointed to report on electoral districts | J.W. Downer (Chairman) J. Colton W. Gilbert W.R. Mortlock J.H. Howe H.E. Downer W.B. Roundsevell L.L. Furner |
| 1883–1885 | Royal Commission appointed to report on the Destitute Act, 1881 | Samuel James Way (Chairman) M. Salom W. Haines C.H. Goode Dr O'Connell H.W. Thompson |
| 1883–1884 | Royal Commission appointed to report upon the Adelaide and Parkside Lunatic Asylums | John Colton (Chairman) Allan Campbell J.H. Bagster Thomas Johnson Jenkin Coles Arthur John Baker Samuel D. Glyde |
| 1883–1884 | Royal Commission on railways | W.E. Matttinson (Chairman) T. Playford Thomas Burgoyne J.J. Duncan J.H. Howe H.E. Bright |
| 1886–1887 | Royal Commission on Government Stores | Samuel D. Glyde (Chairman) Luke L. Furner David Bower John Darling Jr James Duncan William Gilbert Arthur Lucas Harrold James Martin Alfred W. Meeks |
| 1887 | Royal Commission on Transcontinental railway | S. Newland (Chairman) R.C. Baker Allan Campbell Thomas Burgoyne F. Basedow David Murray John A. Cockburn |
| 1887 | Royal Commission on the utilisation of River Murray waters | |
| 1888 | Royal Commission on the land laws of South Australia | Clement Giles (Chairman) F.E.H.W. Krichauff F.W. Holder John Moule Jenkin Coles Thomas Burgoyne William Copley |
| 1888–1891 | Civil Service Commission | Samuel D. Glyde (Chairman) H.E. Bright D. Bews William Longbottom David Bower Lawrence Grayson J. Langdon Parsons John Moule |
| 1888–1889 | Royal Commission appointed to consider the desirability of establishing a State Bank and Royal Mint | Robert Caldwell (Chairman) S. Solomon William Copley F. Krichauff J.W. Castine P.McM. Glynn T. Playford Samuel Tomkinson Henry Scott |
| 1889 | Barossa water commission | Alfred Catt (Chairman) Alexander Hay R. Homburg A. McDonald Lawrence Grayson J.V. O'Loghlin J.H. Bagster John Warren |
| 1889–1890 | Royal Commission on an Angaston railway | J.H. Howe A.R. Addison J. Martin J. Downer R. Caldwell W. Gilbert C.H. Hussey |
| 1889–1890 | Mining Commission | J.H. Gordon (Chairman) Allan Campbell A.D. Handyside J.C.F. Johnson John Moule Henry Allerdale Grainger |
| 1890 | Royal Commission on the utilisation of River Murray waters | J.H. Howe P.McM. Glynn F. Krichauff A.H. Landseer Alfred Catt T. Playford James Rankine C.J.F. Johnson James W. Jones A.D. Handyside Thomas Burgoyne C.H. Hussey Allan Campbell James Martin J.C. Bray G.W. Goyder |
| 1890 | Queensland border railway commission | D. Bews (Chairman) Charles Kimber J.V. O'Loughlin J.G. Jenkins Luke L. Furner Thomas Burgoyne Allan Campbell |
| 1890 | Royal Commission on the Water Conservation Department | W.A. Horn T. Playford Alfred Catt Lawrence Grayson J.H. Howe P.McM. Glynn J. Lancelot Stirling |
| 1890 | Royal Commission on intercolonial free trade | F.W. Holder (Chairman) David Murray John Darling William Gilbert J. Hancock B. Gould J.G. Jenkins John Moule Henry Allerdale Grainger Theodore Hack A. McDonald |
| 1890–1891 | Royal Commission on landing and embarking European mails | T. Playford A.R. Addison Allan Campbell J.W. Castine Lawrence Grayson F.W. Holder J.W. White |
| 1890–1891 | Royal Commission on the Port Augusta and Cockburn railway | J. Hancock (Chairman) Alfred Catt B. Gould Laurence O'Loughlin John Miller Ebenezer Ward John J. Osman |
| 1891 | Queensland border railway commission | J. Hancock (Chairman) Thomas Burgoyne Peter P. Gillen Allan Campbell A. McDonald J. Langdon Parsons J.W. White J.G. Jenkins |
| 1891 | Royal Commission on the question of the best route for the Blyth railway extension | John Miller (Chairman) A.R. Addison J.V. O'Loghlin Ebenezer Ward William B. Rounsevell Thomas H. Brooker A. McDonald William Gilbert |
| 1891 | Pastoral lands commission | Robert Caldwell (Chairman) John Warren F.W. Holder J.R. Kelly William Copley Robert Kelly |
| 1891–1892 | Royal Commission on the valuations of pastoral improvements | James Cock Thomas Burgoyne James Hague John Miller Robert Caldwell J. Lancelot Stirling William Copley |
| 1892 | Royal Commission on the south-east drainage system | A.D. Handyside (Chairman) W. Copley R. Caldwell John J. Osman A.A. Kirkpatrick H. Bartlett William Haslam Peter P. Gillen Laurence O'Loughlin |
| 1892 | Orroroo and Port Germein railway commission | L. Grayson (Chairman) J. Warren H. Lamshed R. Kelly F.W. Holder |
| 1892 | Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the question of the expediency of constructing a graving dock in South Australia at the public expense | G. Feltham Hopkins (Chairman) Thomas Burgoyne A.R. Addison John Darling J.W. Castine A. McDonald J.G. Jenkins |
| 1892 | Shops and factories commission | C.C. Kingston (Chairman) J.A. Cockburn G. Ash Thomas H. Brooker R.S. Guthrie J. Hague J.A. McPherson |
| 1892 | Royal Commission on main roads | A.D. Handyside (Chairman) G.W. Cotton J.V. O'Loghlin B. Gould T. Hack R. Kelly J.R. Kelly G.H. Lake H. Lamshed |
| 1893 | Royal Commission on stores | T. Playford (Chairman) Thomas H. Brooker J.W. Castine D. Morley Charleston William Gilbert Theodore Hack William Haslam F.W. Holder |
| 1893 | Vermin-proof fencing commission | F.W. Holder (Chairman) J.H. Howe A.A. Kirkpatrick Ebenezer Ward T. Playford John Moule John J. Osman J.W. White |
| 1894 | Royal Commission on the utilisation of River Murray waters | Alfred Catt (Chairman) E.W. Hawker James Rankine G.W. Goyder P.McM. Glynn A.D. Handyside Thomas Burgoyne A.H. Landseer T. Playford J.C.F. Johnson F. Krichauff Allan Campbell J.H. Howe James W. Jones |
| 1895 | Royal Commission on the Northern Territory | William Haslam (Chairman) Frederick Holder James O'Loghlin John Warren William Archibald William Gilbert Vaiben Louis Solomon |
| 1895 | Royal Commission on the Adelaide Hospital | F.W. Holder A.R. Addison Thomas H. Brooker R.S. Guthrie R. Homburg Alex S. Paterson Catherine Helen Spence |
| 1896 | Royal Commission on the Beetaloo waterworks | H. Allerdale Grainger J.G. Jenkins A.R. Addison John G. Brice G. McGregor John Warren Thomas H. Brooker Charles R. Goode J.A. McPherson |
| 1896–1897 | Royal Commission on the Government wharves | Ebenezer Ward (Chairman) J.V. O'Loughlin R.S. Guthrie J. Lancelot Stirling William Russell A. McDonald J.W. Shannon |
| 1897 | Royal Commission on the Bundaleer waterworks | R.W. Foster (Chairman) John Miller A. McDonald I. MacGillivray J.G. Jenkins Ernest A. Roberts William Russell W.A. Robinson Charles Willcox |
| 1897–1898 | Pastoral lands commission | Laurence O'Loughlin (Chairman) John G. Brice Thomas Burgoyne J. Lancelot Stirling E.L. Batchelor J.H. Howe W. Copley Alex Poynton Andrew Tennant A.G. Downer |
| 1897–1898 | Royal Commission on the aged poor | William H. Carpenter (Chairman) Richard Butler H. Adams P.McM. Glynn J.H. Howe William Gilbert |
| 1898–1899 | South-eastern drainage commission | A.H. Peake J. Lewis John G. Brice G. McGregor J.T. Morris A. McDonald R.W. Foseter R. Hooper |
| 1899–1901 | Public service commission | J.V. O'Loghlin (Chairman) W.A. Robinson Alfred Catt T. Burgoyne William Copley James Hutchinson J.G. Jenkins |
| 1899–1900 | Royal Commission on Renmark and Murray River settlements | F.W. Holder (Chairman) H. Adams S. Tomkinson T. Playford F.W. Coneybeer C.M.R. Dumas J.W. Shannon J.W. Castine |
| 1900 | Royal Commission on main roads | T. Playford (Chairman) L. O'Loughlin W.O. Archibald W. Copley D. McKenzie W.H. Carpenter |
| 1900 | Royal Commission on the Taxation Acts | William Russell (Chairman) Charles Tucker C.M.R. Dumas John Warren A. McDonald F.W. Holder F.J. Hourigan |
| State of South Australia |||
| 1901 | Royal Commission on the Wine and Produce Depot | J.W. Castine (Chairman) W.O. Archibald Richard Butler A. McDonald E.L. Batchelor John Miller William Copley |
| 1902 | Wine and Produce Commission in London | Henry Allerdale Grainger (Chairman) David Murray John H. Cockburn |
| 1902 | Royal Commission on the question of the construction of a railway to Pinnaroo | John Lewis MLC (Chairman) Andrew Dods Handyside MP John Miller MP Robert Homburg MP Richard Witty Foster MP George Riddoch MLC Richard Wood MP Thomas Pascoe MLC Andrew Alexander Kirkpatrick MLC John George Bice MLC |
| 1902 | Interstate Royal Commission on the River Murray representing the States of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia | Joseph Davis (President) Stuart Murray Frederick N. Burchell |
| 1903 | Royal Commission on waterworks | John Warren (Chairman) R.W. Foster John G. Brice Thomas Pascoe Henry W. Thompson W.P. Cummins A.D. Handyside |
| 1903–1904 | Royal commission on railways | R.W. Foster (Chairman) A. von Doussa John G. Bice E.H. Coombe F.W. Coneybeer Thomas H. Brooker F.W. Peach Andrew S. Neill |
| 1905–1906 | Royal Commission on the necessity for improved facilities for the trade of the south-east | William Senior (Chairman) A.H. Peake John G. Brice A. von Doussa W.O. Archibald T. Burgoyne Alfred Catt A. McDonald F.J.T. Pflaum |
| 1906 | Royal Commission upon the question of the treatment of inebriates | Thomas H. Smeaton (Chairman) J.M. Holder Elizabeth W. Nicholls T. Pascoe Theodore Bruce W.J.P. Giddings Thomas Leahy |
| 1907 | Royal Commission upon the charges against produce merchants | Laurence O'Loughlin (Chairman) P. Allen W. Jamieson Ernest A. Roberts John Travers |
| 1907–1908 | Royal Commission on main roads | Laurence O'Loughlin (Chairman) John G. Brice A. von Doussa W.O. Archibald W.J. Blacker T. Burgoyne W. Miller William Senior |
| 1908–1909 | Royal Commission on the question of the marketing of wheat | E.H. Coombe (Chairman) Richard Butler A. McDonald Laurence O'Loughlin John Newland Ernest Roberts Crawford Vaughan C. Goode |
| 1908–1909 | Royal Commission on the Land Titles Office and General Registry of Deeds Office | R. Homburg (Chairman) J.G. Russel W. Strawbridge J. Gordon |
| 1908–1909 | Royal Commission on the conviction of Myles Flynn | John W. Downer (Chairman) Eustace B. Grundy G.J.R. Murray |
| 1909–1912 | Royal Commission on Eyre's Peninsula railways | Laurence O'Loughlin (Chairman) A. von Doussa T. Pascoe P. Allen C.H. Goode H. Chesson J. Miller |
| 1909 | Royal Commission upon the necessity of a railway to Willunga | A.H. Peake (Chairman) J.H. Howe A.R. Addison Harry Jackson David James F.J.T. Pflaum John Verran |
| 1909–1912 | Royal commission on the Murray lands railway | Laurence O'Loughlin (Chairman) H. Chesson A. von Doussa T. Pascoe J. Miller C.H. Goode P. Allen |
| 1909–1911 | Royal Commission upon the necessity for a railway through Kangaroo Island | A.H. Peake (Chairman) J.H. Howe A.R. Addison Harry Jackson David James F.J.T. Pflaum John Verran |
| 1909 | Royal Commission on the management of the Parkside Lunatic Asylum and treatment of criminal lunatics | James Gordon (Chairman) W. Ramsey Smith R.H. Edmunds |
| 1909–1910 | Royal Commission on the suggested railway deviation at Goolwa | Laurence O'Loughlin (Chairman) P. Allen A. von Doussa H. Chesson T. Pascoe J. Miller C.H. Goode |
| 1910–1912 | Royal Commission on northern railways | E.H. Coombe (Chairman) Lucas MLC Anstey MP Jamieson MP Blacker MP Blundell MP Ritchie MP Pflaum MP |
| 1910–1911 | Royal Commission on the proposed railway from Eudunda to Robertstown | Laurence O'Loughlin (Chairman) J.H. Howe John Lewis Peter Allen Thomas Burgoyne F.W. Coneybeer George Dankel K.W. Duncan J. Travers |
| 1910–1912 | Royal Commission on narrow-gauge extension and break of gauge | John Verran Theodore Bruce, Alfred von Doussa Edward Anstey Percy Heggaton William Jamieson |
| 1910–1914 | Royal Commission on the Sedan railway | Laurence O'Loughlin (Chairman) P. Allen F.W. Coneybeer G. Dankel T. Burgoyne J. Travers K.W. Duncan |
| 1910–1912 | Royal Commission on water supply | David James (Chairman) John G. Brice John Warren J. Newland L. O'Loughlin T.H. Smeaton |
| 1910–1912 | Interstate Royal Commission on border railways | John George Bice (Chairman) A.H. Peake T. Burgoyne W. Miller G. Ritchie J.H. Howe |
| 1911–1913 | Royal Commission on the Adelaide University and higher education | T. Ryan MP (Chairman) Coneybeer MP Cowan MLC Styles MLC Green MP |
| 1911 | Royal Commission on wharves and water frontages | John George Bice (Chairman) James G. Moseley J. Verran E. Klauer W.J.C. Cole I. MacGilliway B.A. Moulden |
| 1911–1912 | Royal Commission on the shortage of labour in the clothing and boot trades | H. Coombe MP F. Condon W.W. Forwood J. Gunn E. Henretty A. Hill E. Vardon A. Wallace H. Winterbottom |
| 1912 | Royal Commission on electoral registration | William Isbister (Chairman) Walter Dalton Harry Gell |
| 1913–1916 | Royal Commission on the Aborigines | William Angus (Chairman) James Jelley MLC John Lewis MLC George Ritchie MP John Verran |
| 1914–1915 | Royal Commission on the metropolitan abattoirs | J.G. Moseley MP (Chairman) J. Cowan MLC F.S. Wallis MLC E.A. Anstey MP R.P. Blundell MP H.S. Hudd MP O.H. Duhst MP |
| 1913–1915 | Royal Commission on main roads | Frederick William Young (Chairman) W. Hannaford MLC W.J.C. Cole MP W. Miller MP J. Travers MP J. Jelly MLC G. Bodey MP Frederick Coneybeer |
| 1913–1917 | Royal Commission on the municipalisation of gas and electric services | Herbert Angas Parsons (Chairman) E. Lucas MLC J.H. Vaughan C. Vaughan Robert Homburg |
| 1915–1916 | Royal Commission on electoral matters | John Albert Southwood (Chairman),ΩΩΩ Messrs E Klauer, E Lucas, A McDonald, P Rielly |
| 1916–1918 | Royal Commission on water supply | John Frederick Herbert (Chairman), Messrs D James, I MacGillvary, JG Bice, FS Wallis, P Allen, T Butterfield |
| 1916–1919 | Royal Commission on North Terrace reserves and railway centres | Thomas Hyland Smeaton (Chairman), Messrs J Carr, JH Cooke, T Green, J Gunn, GR Laffer, RA O'Connor |
| 1916 | Royal Commission on Port Adelaide road contracts | Thomas Colbatch, Peter Whitington |
| 1917–1918 | Royal Commission on government land purchases | Noel Webb (Deputy President of the Industrial Court of South Australia) |
| 1917–1918 | Royal Commission on Hannaford's quarry | W.L. Stuart (Master of the Supreme Court) |
| 1917–1921 | Royal Commission on the wheat scheme and rural industries | William Angus (Chairman) |
| 1918 | Royal Commission on the acquisition and disposal of wheat and material in connection with the South Australian wheat scheme | Noel Webb |
| 1918–1920 | Second Royal Commission on the acquisition and disposal of wheat and material in connection with the South Australian wheat scheme | Noel Webb |
| 1919 | Royal Commission on the Yatala Mental Hospital site | Walter Hannaford (Chairman), Alfred Blackwell, John Albert Southwood |
| 1919–1920 | Royal Commission on Loxton | Thomas Hewitson |
| 1919–1920 | Royal Commission on the Port Adelaide coal wharf | Henry Crosby (Chairman), Messrs JG Bice, T Pascoe, HR Buxton, VG Petherick, RS Richards, JA Southwood |
| 1921–1922 | Royal Commission on the Public Service of South Australia | Peter Whitington Thomas Gill |
| 1923–1927 | Royal Commission on law reform | FW Birrell MP (Chairman), J Carr MLC, H Tassie MLC, T Butterfield MP, P Reidy MP, AW Robinson MP, HD Young MP |
| 1923–1925 | Royal Commission on south-eastern drainage | George Kermode, Walter Colebatch, Daniel Findlater |
| 1923–1925 | Irrigation Royal Commission under section 22 of Irrigation Act, 1922 | Edgar Field, Richard Horsfield, Howard Jolley |
| 1923–1925 | Royal Commission on Eyre Peninsula transport charges and facilities | J Carr MLC, H Tassie MLC, Herbert Hudd MP, Stanley Whitford MP, Henry Crosby MP |
| 1925 | Royal Commission on plumbism | Keith R. Moore J. L. Pearson Herbert W. Gepp W. Robinette |
| 1925–1926 | Royal Commission on rural settlement | Walter Colebatch (Chairman), Walter Spafford, John Fraser |
| 1925 | Royal Commission on Port Pirie Police | John Halcombe |
| 1925 | Royal Commission on the thousand homes contract | Samuel James Mitchell (Commissioner of Insolvency) |
| 1925 | Second Royal Commission on Port Pirie Police | Reginald Nesbit (Chairman), Duncan Fraser, James Geddes |
| 1926–1927 | Royal Commission on manufacturing and secondary industries | FJ Condon MP (Chairman), T Gluyas MLC, W Morrow MLC, EC Vardon MP, E Anthoney MP, W Harvey MP, SR Whitford MP |
| 1926–1928 | Royal Commission on traffic control | AJ Blackwell (Chairman), T Gluyas, H Tassie, PF Heggaton, LA Hopkins, JAS McLauchlan, J Stanley Verran |
| 1926 | Royal Commission on release of prisoners | Sir Herbert Kingsley Paine (Judge in Insolvency) |
| 1926–1927 | Royal Commission on the pastoral industry | Theodore Ernest Day, Esquire, Surveyor-General Francis Walter Lundie, Esquire, J.P. John O'Connor, Esquire, M.P. John Edward Pick, Esquire, J.P. Arthur Graham Rymill, Esquire |
| 1926–1927 | Second Royal Commission on allegations of bribery against police officers | |
| 1927 | Royal Commission on electoral districts | |
| 1928 | Royal Commission on electoral districts | Theodore E. Day (Chairman), O.H. Stephens, C.L. Matthews |
| 1932–1933 | Royal Commission on betting | Walter Ray, Walter Hannaford, George Laffer, Jack Critchley, Arthur McArthur |
| 1933 | Royal Commission on dairy industry prices | WJ Dawkins (Chairman), Arthur J Perkins, JW Wainwright |
| 1934–1935 | Royal Commission on the fishing industry | Reginald Rudall, Herbet Hale, Ernest Sheridan |
| 1935 | Royal Commission on matters concerning the promotion and operations of certain companies in South Australia | Alexander Briskham (Registrar of Companies) |
| 1936 | Royal Commission on afforestation | FT Perry MP, VG Petherick MP, RC Mowbray MLC, EA Oates MLC, H Tasie MLC, J McInnes MP |
| 1936 | Royal Commission on lotteries | Harold Piper (Chairman), Horace Hogben MP, Collier Cudmore MLC, Frank Condon MLC, Frederick Beerworth MP |
| 1936–1937 | Inquiry commission by the South Australian Government into the system of management of libraries maintained or assisted by the State | Grenfell Price (Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Adelaide) |
| 1937–1938 | Royal Commission on transport | Geoffrey Reed (Lecturer in law at the University of Adelaide), John Wainwright, William Fowler |
| 1937–1938 | Royal Commission on betting laws and practice | Harold Piper, Kenneth Sanderson, Sidney Powell |
| 1945 | Royal Commission on the Adelaide Electric Supply Company | Geoffrey Reed (Supreme Court Justice), Professor Arthur Lang Campbell, John William Wainwright |
| 1947–1951 | Royal Commission on state transport services | Herbert Paine (Local court judge and special magistrate), William Bishop, Edmund Daly, Albert Thompson, Kenneth Wills (replaced by) Samuel Fisk |
| 1956–1957 | Royal Commission on local government; Report on creation of an additional district council district in the Upper South-East and adjustment of existing district council districts together with maps | Lawrence Johnston (Stipendiary Magistrate) |
| 1959 | Royal Commission in regard to Rupert Max Stuart | Sir J. Mellis Napier (Chairman), Geoffrey Reed (Supreme Court Justice), Bruce Ross |
| 1965–1966 | Royal Commission into the grape growing industry | G. H. P. Jeffery (Chairman and Auditor General) |
| 1966–1967 | Royal Commission into the law relating to the sale, supply and consumption of intoxicating liquors and other matters | Keith Sangster (Her Majesty's Counsel) |
| 1967 | Royal Commission into State Transport Services | Joseph Nelligan QC, Thomas Shanahan, George Jeffery (Auditor General) |
| 1967 | Royal Commission into John Douglas Murrie, Headmaster of Larrakeyah Primary School | George Walters (Supreme Court Justice) |
| 1971–1972 | Royal Commission into September Moratorium Demonstrations | Charles Bright (Supreme Court Justice) |
| 1973–1975 | Royal Commission into Local Government Areas | Gerald Ward (Chairman), Donald Pitt, Keith Hockrdige |
| 1974–1975 | Royal Commission into Monarto land transactions | Gerald Ward |
| 1974–1975 | Royal Commission into suspension of a high school student | Gordan Combe (Ombudsman) |
| 1975 | Royal Commission into allegations made by prisoners at Yatala Labour Prison | Laurence Johnston (Judge) |
| 1977 | Royal Commission into Juvenile Courts Act and other associated matters | R. F. Mohr (Supreme Court Justice) |
| 1977 | Royal Commission into law relating to shop trading hours and ancillary matters | William Lean (Industrial Commissioner) |
| 1978 | Royal Commission into law relating to the sale by retail of petroleum products | William Lean (Industrial Commissioner) |
| 1978 | Royal Commission into dismissal of Harold Hubert Salisbury | Roma Mitchell |
| 1979 | Royal Commission into the non-medical use of drugs | Ronald Sackville (Chairman, Dean of UNSW Law Faculty), Earle Hackett, Richard Nies |
| 1979 | Royal Commission into the floodlighting of Football Park at West Lakes | Peter Allan (Judge of the Industrial Court) |
| 1981–1982 | Royal Commission on allegations in relation to prisons under the charge, care and direction of the Director of the Department of Correctional Services and certain related matters | Gresley Clarkson (Queen's Counsel) |
| 1983–1984 | Splatt Royal Commission | Judge Carl Shannon (former Supreme Court Judge in NSW) |
| 1991–1993 | Royal Commission into the State Bank of South Australia | Samuel Jacobs QC (replaced by) John Mansfield |
| 1995 | Hindmarsh Island Royal Commission | Former District Court Judge, Iris Stevens, former Supreme Court Justice |
| 2004–2008 | Commission of Inquiry into Children in State Care | Ted Mullighan (Supreme Court Justice) |
| 2004–2008 | Commission of Inquiry into Children on the APY Lands | Ted Mullighan (Supreme Court Justice) |
| 2005 | Kapunda Road Royal Commission | Greg James QC |
| 2012–2013 | Royal Commission – Report of Independent Education | Bruce Debelle (Supreme Court Justice) |
| 2014–2016 | Child Protection Systems Royal Commission | Margaret Nyland (former Supreme Court Justice) |
| 2015–2016 | Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission | Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce |
| 2018–2019 | Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission | Bret Walker SC |
| 2022–2023 | Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education & Care | The Honourable Julia Gillard AC |
| 2024–2025 | Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence | Natasha Stott Despoja AO |

## Other inquiries

| Year(s) | Inquiry | Headed by |
| 1865 | Board of Inquiry on the late railway accident | |
| 1866 | Board of Inquiry appointed to investigate a charge of tampering with emigration certificates | |
| 1869 | Stockade inquiry board | |
| 1870 | Board appointed to inquire into the cause of deficiencies in certain bonded stores, and conduct of customs officers in connection therewith | |
| 1872 | Committee appointed to consider the Assembly chamber arrangement | |
| 1872 | Board of inquiry into the management of the Metropolitan Police Force | |
| 1873 | Assembly chamber committee | |
| 1875 | Committee of Inquiry appointed to inquire into the general management of the Adelaide Hospital by the paid officers of the institution | |
| 1878 | Committee on the Parliament buildings site | |
| 1878 | Committee of the Legislative Council on Parliament buildings site | |
| 1879 | Board of advice on outer harbor accommodation | |
| 1879 | Board appointed to inquire into the case of Police v. Plumridge | |
| 1880 | Board of Inquiry to investigate certain charges made against Mr. J. Boothby, Under Secretary | |
| 1880 | Board of Inquiry appointed to investigate charges laid against Mr. Josiah Boothby, C.M.G. Under Secretary and Government Statist under Civil Service Act, no 3 of 1874 | |
| 1881 | Privilege committee on the re-election of David Murray, Esq. | |
| 1883 | Inquiry into accident on Nairne railway at Blackwood | |
| 1884–1885 | Thow inquiry board, appointed to inquire into certain charges against Mr. Wm. Thow, the Locomotive Engineer of the S.A. Railways; | |
| 1885 | Patterson inquiry board appointed to inquire into certain charges against Mr R. C. Patterson, Deputy Engineer-in-Chief of the S.A. Railways | |
| 1886 | Board of Inquiry into Islington railway accident | |
| 1886 | Board of Inquiry into cause of accident on Southern railway line on Easter Monday, 26 April 1886 | |
| 1886–1888 | Board appointed by the Government to inquire into and report upon the best means of developing a general system of technical, including agricultural, education in the Province | |
| 1888 | (Public Service commission on) A.L. Thurpp's (sic) claim re wattle seed | |
| 1888 | Board appointed by the Chief Secretary to inquire into certain allegations in regard to the treatment in the Adelaide and Parkside Asylums of a pauper lunatic named George Willoughby | |
| 1890 | (Public Service commission on) A.L. Thurpp's (sic) claim re wattle seed | |
| 1890 | Board appointed by the Government to enquire into and report upon the best means of lighting by electricity the Houses of Parliament and other public buildings adjoining, and the estimated cost compared with the cost of the present system of lighting with gas | |
| 1890 | South Australian railway brakes board | |
| 1892 | Board appointed to inquire whether or not any public loss has been occasioned or permitted in connection with the pastoral valuations by the misconduct, negligence, incapacity, or error of Mr. S.G. Huebbe | |
| 1892 | Board appointed to inquire into the question of the establishment of a truant school | |
| 1894 | Committee appointed to confer with any committee of the L.C. on the necessity for better accommodation for the Council | |
| 1898 | Committee appointed by the LC on the title of "honourable" in reference to members of the LC | |
| 1899–1900 | Board appointed to inquire into charges against detective police | |
| 1902–1903 | Adelaide water supply inquiry board | |
| 1903 | Board of Inquiry re Dr. Ramsay Smith | |
| 1911 | Committee of Inquiry into alleged irregularities in connection with the Willunga railway polls | |
| 1916 | Nomenclature committee on enemy place names | |
| 1918 | Board of Inquiry into charge against the Surveyor-General Mr. N.W. Pethick | |
| 1922 | Committee appointed to inquire into dairy questions on River Murray reclaimed swamp areas | |
| 1927 | Special Committee on state finance | |
| 1927 | (Committee on) financial effect of Federation on South Australia | |
| 1930–1931 | Committee of Enquiry into education | |
| 1930–1933 | Local government commission appointed under the Local Government Areas Re-arrangement Act 1929 | Sir Edgar Bean Walter Rogers Richard Gibbins Samuel Reeves Frederick Wilson |
| 1931 | Special committee upon soldier settlement and irrigation | |
| 1931 | Agricultural settlement committee | |
| 1931–1932 | Committee of Enquiry into the Adelaide Electric Supply Co. Ltd. | |
| 1932–1933 | Committee to investigate the question of debt adjustment in respect of the agricultural and pastoral industries | |
| 1934 | Investigation committee on the Advances for Homes Acts | |
| 1934 | Committee of Inquiry on the effect of the legislation of the Commonwealth and the eastern states controlling butter and cheese, and a Commonwealth price stabilisation scheme for South Australia, or a state controlled scheme | |
| 1935–1936 | Honorary committee appointed by the Government to report upon the Road Traffic Act, 1934 and to make recommendations relating to traffic laws | |
| 1935 | Honorary committee on subordinate legislation | |
| 1937 | Committee on the operation of the South Australian Trading Stamp Act | |
| 1937 | The Committee on the proposed jetty at Port Victoria | |
| 1937 | Honorary committee on the manufacture and improvements in quality of South Australian butter | |
| 1937–1938 | State traffic committee | |
| 1937–1938 | Soil conservation committee | |
| 1937 | Building Act inquiry committee | |
| 1938 | Special committee appointed to inquire into the present ration scale and to advise the Government as to any desirable alterations or additions to the scale | |
| 1938–1939 | Committee appointed by the Government to inquire into delinquent and other children in the care of the State | |
| 1939–1940 | State traffic committee on main road lighting | |
| 1940 | Building Act inquiry committee | |
| 1942–1949 | Education inquiry committee appointed by the Government of South Australia | |
| 1943 | Committee of inquiry into electricity supply for South Australia | |
| 1943–1944 | Country freezing works committee | A. W. Pope (chairman and general manager of the Government Produce Department), A. S. Kidman, W. Robinson |
| 1944–1945 | Special committee of milk-in-schools inquiry | Dr A. Southwood (chairman), Dr Helen Mayo, Professor M. L. Mitchell |
| 1945–1946 | South Australian regional planning committee | |
| 1946–1947 | Pastoral and marginal agricultural areas inquiry committee | Charles Melville (Chairman) |
| 1946 | Committee of Inquiry for consolidating the health services of the State | Mr. Shannon, Mr. Duncan MP, Dr. A. R. Southwood (chairman of the Central Board of Health), Dr. H. M. Jay (representing the British Medical Association), Dr. E. Sandford Morgan (lay practitioner) |
| 2004–2008 | Children in State Care Commission of Inquiry | Ted Mullighan QC |