James Gobbo

The Honourable Sir James Gobbo AC,CVO,QC
25thGovernor of Victoria
In office 24 April 1997 – 31 December 2000
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Premier	Jeff Kennett Steve Bracks
Lieutenant	Adrienne Clarke
Preceded by	Richard McGarvie
Succeeded by	John Landy
Personal details
Born	Giacomo Augustine Gobbo 22 March 1931 Carlton, Victoria
Died	7 November 2021 (aged 90)
Nationality	Australian
Spouse	Shirley Lewis
Relations	Nicola Gobbo(niece)
Alma mater	University of Melbourne University of Oxford
Occupation	Jurist

Sir James Augustine Gobbo,AC,CVO,QC(22 March 1931 – 7 November 2021) was an Australianjuristwho served as the 25thGovernor of Victoria,from 1997 to 2000.

Family and early life

James Gobbo was born inCarlton, Victoria,on 22 March 1931, to Italian parents Antonio and Regina. In March 1935 the family returned toCittadella,Padua,Italy, where a sister, Natalina, was born shortly after. Three years later the family, which also included a brother, Flavio, arrived back in Australia to take up permanent residency inNorth Melbourne, Victoria.Gobbo, then aged seven, spoke no English at the time of his return.His father, who had started a café, felt the time was right for him to receive a Catholic education.

Gobbo's early schooling includedSt Mary's Primary School, West Melbourneand laterSt Joseph's CBC, North Melbourne.In 1944 he was accepted intoXavier College.He was a member of the Xavier College crew that won the 1948Associated Public SchoolsHead of the River.After leaving Xavier College, he studied law at theUniversity of Melbourne,where he lived atNewman College.In 1951 he was awarded aRhodes Scholarship,following which he attained aMaster of Artsdegree atMagdalen College,University of Oxford.

In 1957 Gobbo married former librarian Shirley Lewis, and had five children. His son, James Gobbo Jr., was the Liberal candidate for the district ofBentleighin the2006 Victorian state election.

Judicial career

After many years as abarristerand later as aQueen's Counsel,Gobbo was appointed a judge of theSupreme Court of Victoria.He served from 18 July 1978 until he retired from the bench on 14 February 1994.

Vice-regal career

Gobbo served as Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria from 1995 until he was appointedGovernor of Victoriain 1997 byQueen Elizabeth IIon the advice of the Victorian premier,Jeff Kennett.He was the first Australian state governor of Italian descent.

Gobbo's term of office was to be shorter than the usual five years, due to the uncertain outcome of the looming1999 Australian republic referendum.If a republic had come into effect, then the governorship of Victoria would have been abolished from 1 January 2001. In August 2000 the new premier,Steve Bracks,announced that Gobbo's successor would beJohn Landy,who would take up his post in January 2001. Gobbo immediately made it known that he had had an understanding with Kennett for an extension of his term beyond 2000, and expressed deep disappointment that this was not now to occur.However, this understanding must have been private, since Kennett's letter of appointment stated that any extension beyond 31 December 2000 would be a matter for the premier of the day. Bracks said that he had no knowledge of any such understanding.

After leaving office, Gobbo took up the position of Commissioner for Italy for the Victorian government until June 2006, and continued on various boards and councils.

In 2006, Gobbo was the Chair of the Council of theNational Library of Australia,the Council of theOrder of Australiaand Chair of theAustralian Multicultural Foundation.

Honours

Gobbo was appointed aKnight Bachelorin the1982 New Year Honours;aCompanion of the Order of Australia(AC) in 1993; and aKnight of Grace of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalemin 1997. He was awarded theCentenary Medalin 2001 and was also aKnight of Malta.

Death

Gobbo died on 7 November 2021 at the age of 90.

See also

• Judiciary of Australia
• List of Judges of the Supreme Court of Victoria
• Victorian Bar Association

External links

• Papers of Sir James GobboPapers of Sir James Gobbo
• TroveJames Gobbo and parents photograph
• TroveGobbo family portrait, Italy