History of the Victorian Auditor-General's Office

When the Colony of Victoria was proclaimed (1 July 1851), Charles Ebden was appointed to the Legislative Council as the first Auditor-General at an annual salary of $1 200. His role was to audit the costs, charges and expenses incurred in the collection, maintenance and receipt of revenue under the direction of the UK Parliament. The Audit Office staff of 1851 consisted of 6 people.

In 1857, the position of Auditor-General was replaced by a group of 3 Commissioners of Audit, under an Act of parliament setting out the basis of public sector auditing. With Federation in 1901, and the creation of Victoria as a state, came a new Audit Act. The Act re-established the position of Auditor-General and emphasised his independence. The Act also confirmed the duties and responsibilities the Auditor-General was to perform on parliament's behalf.

By the turn of the century, the Office had 59 staff who audited over $200 million of government expenditure. Today, we have a staff of around 150, and we are responsible for auditing around $40 billion of government expenditure.

The people who have held the position of Auditor-General since 1851 are listed below:

Biographical information on all Auditors-General listed upto Wayne Cameron can be found in the publication "In the public interest - 150 years of the Victorian Auditor-General's Office".