Brian Murray (governor)

Rear Admiral Sir Brian Stewart Murray (26 December 1921 – 4 June 1991) was Governor of Victoria from March 1982 until 1985.

At the time of his appointment as Governor, Murray was a retired Royal Australian Navy admiral married to a former nun. He was nominated by the Liberal Victorian Premier Lindsay Thompson. Labor Premier John Cain demanded his resignation in 1985 after Murray accepted a free trip to the United States with his wife from Continental Airlines. They retired to the Doonkuna Estate vineyard at Murrumbateman, outside Canberra.



During Murray's term of office, a Labor government was elected in Victoria for the first time since 1955. Accordingly, there were some changes to the role, ceremonial and functions within Government House during hisi incumbency. The new government discontinued recommending Imperial honours. On 18 April 1984, the Governor announced that Queen Elizabeth II had approved a change in his flag: "From this day, the Governor's Personal Standard will be the State Flag of Victoria with the blue of the flag being replaced by gold. The new Standard will be flown at Government House and on vehicles conveying the Governor. The old Standard used by all Victorian Governors has been, since 1870, the Union Jack with the Badge of the State emblazoned in the centre thereof".

When Sir Brian died of cancer in 1991 he was accorded the honour of a state funeral by the State of Victoria complete with Royal Australian Navy escort, full naval honours and a eulogy by his friend Sir Anthony Synnot.