Who was the first Prime Minister of Australia?

Who was the first Prime Minister of Australia? Edmund Barton was Australia’s first Prime Minister, taking office on 1 January 1901 when the Commonwealth of Australia was created.

A leading supporter of Federation, Barton helped unite the separate Australian colonies into one national government. Governor-General Lord Hopetoun commissioned him to form the first federal ministry after an initial political confusion known as the “Hopetoun Blunder.” Barton also served as Minister for External Affairs in his own government.

Barton led Australia through its first federal election, held in March 1901, and his Protectionist government formed the foundation of the new Commonwealth’s administration. He served until 24 September 1903, when he resigned to become one of the inaugural justices of the High Court of Australia.

A common mix-up is William Lyne, the New South Wales premier whom Hopetoun first asked to form a government. Lyne could not secure enough support, so Barton became the accepted leader of the first Commonwealth ministry. Barton was later knighted and is often referred to as Sir Edmund Barton.