George Waterhouse

6th Premier of South Australia

George Marsden Waterhouse became South Australia’s 6th premier in October 1861 after previously serving as chief secretary in the First Reynolds Ministry. Waterhouse stood on a platform of economic development in the colony and support of free trade. As Premier, he became involved in the Justice Boothby Affair. The Waterhouse government collapsed after only two years as a result of allegations of financial irregularities and misappropriation of funds. In 1869 Waterhouse migrated to New Zealand where he served as a member of the Legislative Council for twenty years during which time he also served as New Zealand’s 7th premier.