List of South Australian Royal Commissions

This is a partial list of Royal Commissions and Commissions 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. Note that this list excludes Select Committees.

1. Commission appointed by the Governor-in-Chief to inquire into the loss of the "Admella" (1859)
2. Real Property Law commission (1861)
3. Custom House commission (1864)
4. Commission appointed to inquire into and report on the management, etc. of the Lunatic Asylum and Hospital (1864)
5. Commission appointed by the Governor-in-Chief to report on colonial defences (1865)
6. Board of Inquiry on the late railway accident (1865)
7. Commission appointed by the Governor-in-Chief to inquire into the state of the northern runs (1865)
8. Port Harbor commission (1865–1866)
9. Board of Inquiry appointed to investigate a charge of tampering with emigration certificates (1866)
10. Commission appointed by the Governor-in-Chief to inquire into the working of the Lands Titles Registration Office (1866)
11. Commission appointed by the Governor-in-Chief to inquire into the management of the Northern Territory expedition (1866)
12. Commission of Inquiry into management of Police Force (1866)
13. Commission appointed by the Governor-in-Chief to inquire into the state of runs suffering from drought (1867)
14. Commission appointed by the Governor-in-Chief to inquire charges against Waterworks Engineer (1867)
15. Commission appointed by the Governor-in-Chief to inquire and report upon the diseases in cereals (1867–1868)
16. Stockade inquiry board (1869)
17. Commission to inquire into and report upon the public accounts (1869)
18. Board appointed to inquire into the cause of deficiencies in certain bonded stores, and conduct of customs officers in connection therewith (1870)
19. Committee appointed to consider the Assembly chamber arrangement (1872)
20. Board of inquiry into the management of the Metropolitan Police Force (1872)
21. Commission appointed to inquire into the Intestacy, Real Property, and Testamentary Causes Acts (1872–1873)
22. Commission of Inquiry appointed to inquire into matters in dispute in connection with the Hope Valley aqueduct contract (1873)
23. Commission appointed to consider the whole matter of remuneration and classification of the Civil Service (1873–1874)
24. Assembly chamber committee (1873)
25. Commission appointed to inquire into the whole question of the new Institute and Museum (1873–1874)
26. Commission appointed by His Excellency the Governor to inquire into the alcoholic strength of South Australian wines (1874)
27. 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 (1874)
28. Commission appointed to inquire into the organisation and working of the Post Office Department (1874)
29. Commission appointed to inquire into the subject of railway construction (1874–1875)
30. Committee of Inquiry appointed to inquire into the general management of the Adelaide Hospital by the paid officers of the institution (1875)
31. Commission appointed to inquire into the best means of providing agricultural and technical education (1875)
32. Commission appointed to inquire into the whole question of sanitation for the Province (1875–1876)
33. Commission appointed to inquire into the whole question of the defences of the Province (1876)
34. Commission appointed to report on the principles and working of tribunals of commerce, etc., etc. (1877–1878)
35. Commission appointed to report on the Parliament buildings site (1878)
36. Committee on the Parliament buildings site, 1878 (1878)
37. Committee of the LC on Parliament buildings site, 1878 (1878)
38. Commission appointed to report on the Liquor laws (1879)
39. Board of advice on outer harbor accommodation (1879)
40. Commission appointed to report on public finance; (Progress reports) (1879–1882)
41. Board appointed to inquire into the case of Police v. Plumridge (1879)
42. Commission appointed to inquire into the Parliament buildings site (1879)
43. Commission appointed to report on the public works (1879–1882)
44. Commission on sewage farm site (1879)
45. Board of Inquiry...to investigate certain charges made against Mr. J. Boothby, Under Secretary (1880)
46. Commission appointed to report on wharves and jetties (1880–1881)
47. 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 (1880)
48. Privilege committee on the re-election of David Murray, Esq. (1881)
49. Commission appointed to report on the alleged injuries by sparrows (1881)
50. Commission on the working of the Education Acts (1881–1882)
51. Commission appointed to report on electoral districts (1882)
52. Inquiry into accident on Nairne railway at Blackwood (1883)
53. Commission appointed to report on the Destitute Act, 1881 (1883–1885)
54. Commission appointed to report upon the Adelaide and Parkside Lunatic Asylums (1883–1884)
55. Commission on railways (1883–1884)
56. Thow inquiry board, appointed to inquire into certain charges against Mr. Wm. Thow, the Locomotive Engineer of the S.A. Railways; (1884–1885)
57. Patterson inquiry board appointed to inquire into certain charges against Mr. R.C. Patterson, Deputy Engineer-in-Chief of the S.A. Railways (1885)
58. Board of Inquiry into Islington railway accident (1886)
59. Board of Inquiry into cause of accident on Southern railway line on Easter Monday, 26 April 1886 (1886)
60. Commission on Government Stores (1886–1887)
61. 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 (1886–1888)
62. Commission on Transcontinental railway (1887)
63. Commission on the utilisation of River Murray waters (1887,1890,1894)
64. Commission on the Land laws of South Australia (1888)
65. (Public Service commission on) A.L. Thurpp's (sic) claim re wattle seed (1888,1890)
66. Civil Service Commission (1888–1891)
67. 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 (1888)
68. Royal Commission appointed to consider the desirability of establishing a State Bank and Royal Mint (1888–1889)
69. Barossa water commission (1899)
70. Angaston railway commission (1889–1890)
71. Mining commission (1889–1890)
72. Queensland border railway commission (1890)
73. Royal Commission on the Water Conservation Department (1890)
74. 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)
75. South Australian railway brakes board( 1890)
76. Royal Commission on intercolonial free trade (1890)
77. Royal Commission on landing and embarking European mails (1890–1891)
78. Royal Commission on the Port Augusta and Cockburn railway (1890–1891)
79. Queensland border railway commission (1891)
80. Royal Commission on the question of the best route for the Blyth railway extension (1891)
81. Pastoral lands commission (1891)
82. Royal Commission on the valuations of pastoral improvements (1891–1892)
83. 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)
84. Royal Commission on the south-east drainage system (1892)
85. Orroroo and Port Germein railway commission (1892)
86. Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the question of the expediency of constructing a graving dock in South Australia at the public expense (1892)
87. Shops and factories commission (1892)
88. Royal Commission on main roads (1892)
89. Board appointed to inquire into the question of the establishment of a truant school (1892)
90. Royal Commission on stores (1893)
91. Vermin-proof fencing commission (1893)
92. Committee appointed to confer with any committee of the L.C. on the necessity for better accommodation for the Council (1894)
93. Northern Territory commission (1895)
94. Adelaide Hospital commission (1895)
95. Royal Commission on the Beetaloo waterworks (1896)
96. Government wharves commission (1896–1897)
97. Government wharves commission (1897)
98. Bundaleeer waterworks commission (1897)
99. Pastoral lands commission (1897–1898)
100. Aged poor Royal Commission (1897–1898)
101. Committee appointed by the LC on the title of "honourable" in reference to members of the LC (1898)
102. South-eastern drainage commission (1898–1899)
103. Public service commission (1899–1901)
104. Royal Commission on Renmark and Murray River settlements (1899–1900)
105. Board appointed to inquire into charges against detective police (1899–1900)
106. Board appointed to inquire into charges against detective police (1899–1900)
107. Main roads Royal Commission (1900)
108. Taxation acts commission (1900)
109. Wine and Produce Depot commission (1901)
110. Wine and produce commission in London (1902)
111. Royal Commission on the question of the construction of a railway to Pinnaroo (1902)
112. Adelaide water supply inquiry board (1902–1903)
113. Interstate Royal Commission on the River Murray representing the States of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia (1902)
114. Waterworks commission (1903)
115. Railways commission (1903–1904)
116. Board of Inquiry re Dr. Ramsay Smith (1903)
117. Royal Commission on the necessity for improved facilities for the trade of the south-east (1905–1906)
118. Royal Commission upon the question of the treatment of inebriates (1906)
119. Royal Commission upon the charges against produce merchants (1907)
120. Royal Commission on main roads (1907–1908)
121. Royal Commission on the question of the marketing of wheat (1908–1909)
122. Royal Commission on the Land Titles Office and General Registry of Deeds Office (1908–1909)
123. Royal Commission on the conviction of Myles Flynn (1908–1909)
124. Royal Commission on Eyre's Peninsula railways (1909–1912)
125. Royal Commission upon the necessity of a railway to Willunga (1909)
126. Royal commission on the Murray lands railway (1909–1912)
127. Royal Commission upon the necessity for a railway though Kangaroo Island (1909–1911)
128. Royal Commission on the management of the Parkside Lunatic Asylum and treatment of criminal lunatics (1909)
129. Royal Commission on the suggested railway deviation at Goolwa (1909–1910)
130. Royal Commission on northern railways (1910–1912)
131. Royal Commission on the proposed railway from Eudunda to Robertstown (1910–1911)
132. Royal Commission on narrow-gauge extension and break of gauge (1910–1912)
133. Royal Commission on the Sedan railway (1910–1914)
134. Royal Commission on water supply (1910–1912)
135. Inter-state Royal Commission on border railways (1910–1912)
136. Royal Commission on the Adelaide University and higher education (1911–1913)
137. Royal Commission on wharves and water frontages (1911)
138. Committee of Inquiry ion alleged irregularities in connection with the Willunga railway polls (1911)
139. Royal Commission on the shortage of labour in the clothing and boot trades (1911–1912)
140. Royal Commission on electoral registration (1912)
141. Royal Commission on the Aborigines (1912–1916)
142. Royal Commission on the metropolitan abattoirs (1914–1915)
143. Royal Commission on main roads (1913–1915)
144. Royal Commission on the municipalisation of gas and electric services (1913–1917)
145. Royal Commission on electoral matters (1915–1916)
146. Royal Commission on water supply (1916–1918)
147. North Terrace reserves and railway centres Royal Commission (1916–1919)
148. Nomenclature committee on enemy place names (1916)
149. Royal Commission on Port Adelaide Road contracts (1916)
150. Royal Commission on government land purchases (1917–1918)
151. Royal Commission on Hannaford's quarry (1917–1918)
152. Royal Commission on the wheat scheme and rural industries (1917–1921)
153. Board of Inquiry into charge against the Surveyor-General Mr. N.W. Pethick (1918)
154. Royal Commission on the Acquisition and disposal of wheat and material in connection with the South Australian wheat schemed (1918)
155. Railway inquiry commission (1918)
156. Second Royal Commission on the acquisition and disposal of wheat and material in connection with the South Australian wheat scheme (1918–1920)
157. Royal Commission on the Yatala Mental Hospital site (1919)
158. Loxton Royal Commission (1919–1920)
159. Royal Commission on the Port Adelaide coal wharf (1919–1920)
160. Royal Commission on the Public Service of South Australia (1921–1922)
161. Committee appointed to inquire into dairy questions on River Murray reclaimed swamp areas 1922)
162. Royal Commission on law reform (1923–1927)
163. Royal Commission on south-eastern drainage (1923–1925)
164. Irrigation Royal Commission under section 22 of Irrigation Act, 1922 (1923–1925)
165. Royal Commission on Eyre Peninsula transport charges and facilities (1923–1925)
166. Royal Commission on plumbism (1925)
167. Royal Commission on rural settlement (1925–1926)
168. Royal Commission on Port Pirie Police (1925)
169. Royal Commission on the thousand homes contract (1925)
170. Second Royal Commission on Port Pirie Police (1925)
171. Royal Commission on manufacturing and secondary industries (1926–1927)
172. Royal Commission on traffic control (1926–1928)
173. Royal Commission on release of prisoners (1926)
174. Royal Commission on the pastoral industry (1926–1927)
175. Second Royal Commission on allegations of bribery against police officers (1926–1927)
176. Special Committee on state finance (1927)
177. Royal Commission on electoral districts (1927)
178. (Committee on) financial effect of Federation on South Australia (1927)
179. Royal Commission on electoral districts (1928)
180. Local government commission appointed under the Local Government Areas Re-arrangement Act, 1929 (1930–1933)
181. Committee of Enquiry into education (1930–1931)
182. Special committee upon soldier settlement and irrigation (1931)
183. Agricultural settlement committee (1931)
184. Committee of Enquiry into the Adelaide Electric Supply Co. Ltd. (1931–1932)
185. Committee to investigate the question of debt adjustment in respect of the agricultural and pastoral industries (1932–1933)
186. Royal Commission on betting (1932–1933)
187. Royal Commission on dairy industry prices (1933)
188. Investigation committee on the Advances for Homes Acts (1934)
189. 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 (1934)
190. Royal Commission on the fishing industry (1934–1935)
191. Royal Commission on matters concerning the promotion and operations of certain companies in South Australia (1935)
192. Honorary committee appointed by the Government to report upon the Road Traffic Act, 1934 and to make recommendations relating to traffic laws (1935–1936)
193. Honorary committee on subordinate legislation (1935)
194. Royal Commission on afforestation (1936)
195. Royal Commission on lotteries (1936)
196. Inquiry commission by the South Australian Government into the system of management of libraries maintained or assisted by the State (1936–1937)
197. Committee on the operation of the South Australian Trading Stamp Act (1937)
198. The Committee on the proposed jetty at Port Victoria (1937)
199. Honorary committee on the manufacture and improvements in quality of South Australian butter (1937)
200. State traffic committee (1937–1938)
201. Soil conservation committee (1937–1938)
202. Royal Commission on transport (1937–1938)
203. Building Act inquiry committee (1937, 1940)
204. Royal Commission on betting laws and practice (1937–1938)
205. 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)
206. Committee appointed by the Government to inquire into delinquent and other children in the care of the State (1938–1939)
207. State traffic committee on main road lighting (1939–1940)
208. Education inquiry committee appointed by the Government of South Australia (1942–1949)
209. Committee of inquiry into electricity supply for South Australia (1943)
210. Country freezing works committee (1943–1944)
211. Special committee of milk-in-schools inquiry (1944–1945)
212. Royal Commission on the Adelaide Electric Supply Company (1945)
213. South Australian regional planning committee (1945–1946)
214. Pastoral and marginal agricultural areas inquiry committee (1946–1947)
215. Committee of Inquiry for consolidating the health services of the State (1946)
216. Royal Commission on state transport services (1947–1951)
217. 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 (1956–1957)
218. Royal Commission in regard to Rupert Max Stuart (1959)
219. Royal Commission into the grape growing industry (1965–1966)
220. Royal Commission into the law relating to the sale, supply and consumption of intoxicating liquors and other matters (1966–1967)
221. Royal Commission into Local Government Areas (1974–1975)
222. Royal Commission into Monarto Land Transactions (1974–1975)
223. Royal Commission into Murrie (1967)
224. Royal Commission into September Moratorium Demonstrations (1971–1972)
225. Royal Commission into State Transport Services (1967)
226. Royal Commission into Suspension of a High School Student (1974–1975)
227. Royal Commission into Allegations made by prisoners at Yatala Labour Prison (1975)
228. Royal Commission into Dismissal of Harold Hubert Salisbury (1978)
229. Royal Commission into Juvenile Courts Act and Other Associated Matters (1977)
230. Royal Commission into Law Relating to Shop Trading Hours and Ancillary Matters (1977, Relating to the Sale by Retail of Petroleum Products - 1978)
231. Royal Commission into Local Government Areas (1975)
232. Royal Commission into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs (1979)
233. Royal Commission into the Floodlighting of Football Park at West Lakes (1979)
234. 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 (1981–1982)
235. Splatt Royal Commission (1984)
236. Hindmarsh Island Royal Commission (1995)
237. Kapunda Road Royal Commission (2005)