The role of Governor-General in Australia, 1901-1927

Abstract

At the beginning of the twentieth century the office of Governor-General was an important and delicate component of the Imperial system. By becoming a self-governing colony 'under the Crown' Australia was able to remain safely within the Empire without the irritation of Downing Street interference in its domestic affairs. At the same time the British Government was content to retain within the colonial executive an agent of the central authority. In this capacity his chief task was to guard Imperial interests, in addition to his constitutional and social functions as Representative of the Crown. Consequently, the first Governor-General, Lord Hopetoun, was both local constitutional monarch and Imperial diplomat. Show more