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Before the 1890s there was no formal party system in Victoria. Party labels before that time indicate a general tendency only. From the 1880s until after Federation in 1901 Victorian politics were dominated by Protectionist Liberals, who were opposed by Free Trade Conservatives. The Labor Party did not emerge as a major party until after 1910, which meant that Victoria was slow to develop a two-party system. Labor did not win a majority in the Legislative Assembly until 1952, and until that time weak minority governments were common. Since 1952 Victoria has had a stable two-party system.
See Premiers of the Australian states for a description and history of the office of Premier.
| Premier | Party | Took office |
|---|---|---|
| William Haines | - | 30 November 1855 |
| John O'Shanassy | - | 11 March 1857 |
| William Haines | - | 29 April 1857 |
| John O'Shanassy | - | 10 March 1858 |
| William Nicholson | - | 27 October 1859 |
| Richard Heales | - | 26 November 1860 |
| John O'Shanassy | - | 14 November 1861 |
| James McCulloch | - | 27 June 1863 |
| Charles Sladen | - | 6 May 1868 |
| James McCulloch | - | 11 July 1868 |
| John MacPherson | - | 20 September 1869 |
| Sir James McCulloch | - | 9 April 1870 |
| Charles Gavan Duffy | - | 19 June 1871 |
| James Francis | - | 10 June 1872 |
| George Kerferd | - | 31 July 1874 |
| Graham Berry | Liberal | 7 August 1875 |
| Sir James McCulloch | - | 20 October 1875 |
| Graham Berry | Liberal | 21 May 1877 |
| James Service | - | 5 March 1880 |
| Graham Berry | Liberal | 3 August 1880 |
| Sir Bryan O'Loghlen | - | 9 July 1881 |
| James Service | - | 8 March 1883 |
| Duncan Gillies | Conservative | 18 February 1886 |
| James Munro | Conservative | 5 November 1890 |
| William Shiels | Liberal | 16 February 1892 |
| Sir James Patterson | Conservative | 23 January 1893 |
| Sir George Turner | Liberal | 27 September 1894 |
| Allan McLean | Liberal | 5 December 1899 |
| Sir George Turner | Liberal | 19 November 1900 |
| Alexander Peacock | Liberal | 12 February 1901 |
| William Irvine | Reform | 10 June 1902 |
| Sir Thomas Bent | Reform | 16 February 1904 |
| John Murray | Comwlth Liberal | 8 January 1909 |
| William Watt | Comwlth Liberal | 18 May 1912 |
| George Elmslie | Labor | 9 December 1913 |
| William Watt | Comwlth Liberal | 22 December 1913 |
| Sir Alexander Peacock | Comwlth Liberal | 18 June 1914 |
| John Bowser | Nationalist | 29 November 1917 |
| Harry Lawson | Nationalist | 21 March 1918 |
| Sir Alexander Peacock | Nationalist | 28 April 1924 |
| George Prendergast | Labor | 18 July 1924 |
| John Allan | Country Party | 18 November 1924 |
| Edmond Hogan | Labor | 20 May 1927 |
| Sir William McPherson | Nationalist | 22 November 1928 |
| Edmond Hogan | Labor | 12 December 1929 |
| Sir Stanley Argyle | United Australia | 19 May 1932 |
| Albert Dunstan | Country Party | 2 April 1935 |
| John Cain | Labor | 14 September 1943 |
| Albert Dunstan | Country Party | 18 September 1943 |
| Ian McFarlan | Liberal | 2 October 1945 |
| John Cain | Labor | 21 November 1945 |
| Thomas Hollway | Liberal | 20 November 1947 |
| John McDonald | Country Party | 27 June 1950 |
| Thomas Hollway | Electoral Reform | 28 October 1952 |
| John McDonald | Country Party | 31 October 1952 |
| John Cain | Labor | 17 December 1952 |
| Sir Henry Bolte | Liberal | 7 June 1955 |
| Rupert Hamer | Liberal | 23 August 1972 |
| Lindsay Thompson | Liberal | 5 June 1981 |
| John Cain | Labor | 8 April 1982 |
| Joan Kirner | Labor | 9 August 1990 |
| Jeff Kennett | Liberal | 6 October 1992 |
| Steve Bracks | Labor | 19 October 1999 |